04/24/2026
PEPTIDES:
WHAT ARE PEPTIDES?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids—typically 2 to 50—that serve as essential signaling messengers in the body, instructing cells to perform functions like producing collagen, repairing tissue, and regulating hormones. They are smaller than proteins and crucial for health, acting as foundational components in skincare, muscle building, and specialized medical therapies
Function: They act as biological messengers. When they bind to cell receptors, they trigger specific responses, such as reducing inflammation, supporting hair growth, or accelerating wound healing.
Sources: Peptides occur naturally in the body and in food but are also synthesized for medicine (like Insulin, growth hormones, healing peptides or GLP-1s).
Uses: Widely used in skincare to stimulate collagen production and anti-aging, and in health supplements for muscle repair and joint health.
***Never purchase peptides online or from non-approved sources
Read the label, and you may be shocked by what you find. Dr. Kim shared that many online peptide products carry warnings such as “not for human consumption” or “research purposes only.”
“That means it was not made under pharmaceutical-grade conditions,” said Dr. Kim. “Independent testing has found contamination with heavy metals like arsenic and lead, sometimes at 10 times the acceptable limits for injectables. Bacterial contamination capable of causing sepsis has also been found.”
“Unregulated injectable peptide products are beyond sketchy and have no evidence of effectiveness,” added Dr. Dickie. “And no one who cares about an individual’s health and well-being is dispensing them.” weightloss