Skin rejuvenation is often associated with wrinkles and lines, but it is much deeper than wrinkles. Skin becomes more fragile and thus more prone to damage as it ages. Damage to the skin affects its protective barrier function and can also increase the risk of infection. Research in this context can only affect ways to strengthen skin, make skin look younger, and protect people from serious medical conditions. So far, most skin rejuvenation research has mostly focused on collagen and other large skin proteins. However, recent research studies suggest that short peptide molecules, like epithalon, may hold more promising results in preserving and rejuvenating the skin.
What is Epithalon?
Epithalon, also known as, Epitalon, is short, that is just four amino acids long, a peptide that has suggested by researchers to possess anti-aging and anti-cancer properties in laboratory studies conducted in rodents. Because of the short size of the Epithalon, it may enter the cell membrane without the help of transporters and can make its way to the nucleus of cells. This is of utmost importance because, once it is in the nucleus, Epithalon can theoretically effect the regulation of genes, activating some and deactivating others to cause cell-wide changes.
Previous research studies have indicated that Epithalon has the potential to stimulate immune system functioning that may have been lost in the test subject due to natural aging. Investigation of the mechanism of this action uncovered the potential of Epithalon to interact with the promoter region of the interferon-gamma gene. By promoting interferon-gamma production, a key immune regulator, Epithalon may potentially boost T cells’ functioning and overall immunity and well-being.
The idea that short peptides might affect the DNA-level processes has caused a boom in the investigation and research of Epithalon and other short peptides in animal models. Those investigations have led to the understanding that Epithalon may possibly impact skin aging by activating the cellular repair processes, which often enter the dormant phase with aging.
Epitalon Peptide and Skin Aging
Research by scientists in Russia has posited the theory that Epithalon may activate skin fibroblasts, the cells responsible for repairing and maintaining the extracellular matrix that strengthens skin. Collagen, elastin, and other skin proteins can be found in the extracellular matrix in the skin. Research studies in rats have suggested that Epithalon may activate fibroblasts and cause a potential increase in their numbers by 30-45%.
Strengthening collagen is one of the many ways that skin aging creams have been shown to work. These creams work perfectly well in the laboratory, but their ability to enter the skin to any depth and affect collagen is sometimes limited. This means that the creams work but that their effects are very superficial. Epithalon works differently. Epithalon may potentially enter cells and stimulate the growth and development of fibroblasts that secrete proteins like collagen. This would produce a much stronger effect which leads to skin regeneration at multiple levels, but this hypothesis requires further scientific investigation.
Scientific institutes and healthcare providers have strongly promoted the fact that preventing aging in the skin is much more than just improving appearance. Aged skin is brittle, prone to tears, and often subjected to chronic insults that lead to pressure ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and many more. The ability to boost skin rejuvenation will not just benefit appearance, but it will also actually ward off damage, disease, and infection.
Epithalon is still undergoing scientific research studies and has not yet been approved for human use. It is available here strictly for research and laboratory purposes, only.
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Dr. Marinov (MD, Ph.D.) is a researcher and chief assistant professor in Preventative Medicine & Public Health. Prior to his professorship, Dr. Marinov practiced preventative, evidence-based medicine with an emphasis on Nutrition and Dietetics. He is widely published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and specializes in peptide therapy research.