A recent report says that GHK, my first SRCP, reduces sebum production in sebocytes but does not affect the production of cell membrane lipids. Drugs such as retinoic acid (retin-A) reduce sebum production but also reduce the production of lipids needed for the skin barrier and this leads to skin redness and irritation.

The authors suggest that GHK might be helpful as a treatment for acne or seborrhea. This might reduce skin oil production without the extreme dryness and irritation that occurs with retinoic acid or accutane.

Reference: S. Schagen, R. Voegeli, D. Imfeld, T. Schreier and C. Zouboulis, "Lipid Regulation in SZ95 Sebocytes by Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine", 16th Congress Vienna, 16-20 May, 2007, European Academy Dermatology and Venerology.

The material is from Silke Schagen's PhD thesis at the Univ. of Basel.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr. Pickart,

Now, I'm confused...

Dr. Pickart you have said MANY TIMES that Copper Peptides make the skin "act" younger and that often means increased production of the skin's oil content...and now this?

Which is it? Do CPs increase or decrease the amount of oil in one's skin??

THANKS!

John

That is a good question. In general, the SRCPs (copper peptides) seem to increase skin oil. The abstract did not look a copper peptide but copper-free GHK which may act differently.

Sebum contains triglycerides (41%), wax monoesters (25%), fatty acids (16%), squalane (12%)and 6% other fats and help waterproof the skin.

It may be that the copper peptides increase oil product and copper-free binding peptides reduce oil production.

We could make a serum with copper-free peptides and see how it works on reducing acne outbreaks. Our SRCP products are used for helping reduce acne scars but not acne itself. Some people have reduced acne but this made be due to cleansing with 2% salicylic acid pads.

Dr. Pickart,
i have been using Cp serum for about two months now, and I had VERY dry skin before. Now my skin is much better, not that dry at all, and in general the color is healthier...I love this product. But, suddenly, on the second month I noticed whiteheads, more and more whiteheads and slowly... my entire face is now covered with the little whiteheads that are not going away that fast even if I use glycolic peels. Do you think that I have to stop using CP serum?( I use just 2 drops on entire face and cover it with emu oil lightly). Do you think that my breakouts are due to the excess of sebum production as the result of using cp serum? I would like to continue using this serum because it did help my skin a lot, but at the same time I want to stop whiteheads.
Or may be it is just a period of uncovering of what I had in the lower level of my skin, because I just started using glycolic peels. ( I have done 4 peels so far, 1 peel a week...30% strengh). Thank you in advance for your opinion.

Sometimes people report a breakout of whiteheads when starting glycolic peels. But glycolic peels can often reduce whiteheads with time.

Two drops of CP Serum should not cause problems but you might stop it for a time.

I was under the impression that the srcps normalise skin behaviour according to each person's genetics. So therefore those with naturally oily skin will not get reduced oil production, but those with unusually oily skin will.

That seems to be what the SRCPs do - normalize skin biochemistry. But the molecular ratio of peptide to copper is another factor that alters the effect.

For example, GHK without copper increases stem cell production. Stem cells replicate only under conditions of very low copper. But GHK-Copper increases stem cell differentiation into cells needed by the tissues. It now appears that during aging, there are adequate stem cells in the tissues but they not being differentiated into adult cells needed for tissue repair.

In about a month, we will make a CP Serum without the copper and give it away to people with acne outbreaks and see if it helps reduce the outbreaks.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Pickart:
A recent report says that GHK, my first SRCP, reduces sebum production in sebocytes but does not affect the production of cell membrane lipids. Drugs such as retinoic acid (retin-A) reduce sebum production but also reduce the production of lipids needed for the skin barrier and this leads to skin redness and irritation.

The authors suggest that GHK might be helpful as a treatment for acne or seborrhea. This might reduce skin oil production without the extreme dryness and irritation that occurs with retinoic acid or accutane.

Reference: S. Schagen, R. Voegeli, D. Imfeld, T. Schreier and C. Zouboulis, "Lipid Regulation in SZ95 Sebocytes by Glycyl-Histidyl-Lysine", 16th Congress Vienna, 16-20 May, 2007, European Academy Dermatology and Venerology.

The material is from Silke Schagen's PhD thesis at the Univ. of Basel.

Well, following this advice, I have used GHK serum for three nights on my T zone (many thanks, KathyC, for your suggestion), always affected with large, oily pores in the morning, and, magically, my skin appears normally dry when I wake up, as in my 30's. However, I cannot put emu oil over GHK, because, if I do it, in the morning my pores are large again.
So, first of all, many thanks, dr. Pickart, for all your wonderful products. I have suffered of seborrhea in the last 2 years (I'm 42 now) and I have used retin a in the night, but the results in the morning are nothing compared to your GHK. Now I have stopped retin a for a very strong reaction to the sun (I wrote you a post "for an emercency", for this problem).
Now I go on only with a microdermabrasion cloth and GHK in the evening, Super cp + emu+ day cover in the morning, and my skin loooks wonderful (I think I will not come back to retin a in autumn, I will use Lacsal at its place).
Thank you again, and, please, help us European customers for buying yor products from a European reseller, 'cause our customs house sometimes stops them. But, I cannot stay without skinbio products !!
Anna Maria

Hello Dr Pickart,

First of all I would like to say I really enjoyed your products. I have oily skin with ocassional breakouts and some acne scarring. I am currently use Super CP in the morningSuper GHK in the moring and evening around the eye area and LacSal Serum in the evening. My face is still oily at times but it seems to change some days I might be more oily than others. My question would be since I use the Super CP serum for acne scarring wouldn't it also control breakouts since it does contain Salicylic Acid? When you do produce a CP Serum w/out Copper will you post on this forum how those with acne issue's can get their free sample? Many thanks, JC

Yes, we will tell everyone about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Roke:
I was under the impression that the srcps normalise skin behaviour according to each person's genetics. So therefore those with naturally oily skin will not get reduced oil production, but those with unusually oily skin will.

I think it's the other way. Copper peptide and Exfol regimen normalizes (both increase and decrease) oil production for those with marginal dryness and oiliness. As someone with combination acne-prone skin (normal but more oily in the summer), I was less "oily" after consistent regular use of CP Serum and Exfol. Therefore, I would say SRCPs can normalize sebum/oil production for those with normal to slightly oily skin, but the possible normalizing effect may not change sufficiently for those (like John) with unusually high sebum production.

Dear Dr. Pickart,

Would such copper-free serum still be considered a GHK or SRCP skin active?

Based on my own initial positive skin remodeling experience from an accidental short-term low intensity but high frequency use of CP Serum and Exfol (less oil production, reduced nosed pores, and elimination of nasal labial lines), I would tend to agree with the paper cited that there may be some reduction/regulation of sebum production without reduction in cell membrane lipids (maybe even increased skin barrier lipids or other rebuilding activities) even if SRCPs I used were are not GHK.

As you may remember, my skin also either did not get a net positive visible skin remodeling result or periodically broke out unusually badly with a milder once-a-day or maintenance regimen with SRCPs.

From my perspective, it appears that both SRCPs and GHK have sebum reduction effect in theory and in practice; on the other hand, SRCPs use (or Exfol) can also cause unusual acne conditions. Thus, it would be interesting to know by what mechanism (by sebum reduction strictly?) that GHK and not SRCPs could be effective in treating acne or seborrhea, since we know that high sebum production isn't the only cause or the cause of acne. For example, someone like John who has high sebum production yet may not experience acne, but someone with normal sebum production or dry skin can still experience acne.

It may be due to the ratio of copper ion to copper-binding peptides.

We will make a peptide only serum and give it to our clients to see if this reduces oil production.

It may be like stem cell proliferation. GHK increases stem cell production but GHK-Cu causes the stem cells to be transformed into differentiated cells (fibroblasts, nerves, keratinocytes, etc).

Hi Dr. Pickart,
When will the peptide-only serum be available? Of course I would like to try it.
Thanks very much-
John

In about three weeks. We are just getting ready to give away for testing our new Two Timing Tightener with DMAE plus algae mucopolysaccharides.

Hi Dr Pickart

I would very interested in this serum!

Thanks
Dennis

Hi Dr Pickart

Are you still planning to make this available?

Thanks
Dennis

Yes, like the current Two Timing Tightener

Thanks Dr Pickart

Any chance it will be available before you discontinue the free trial of T.T.T.? I'm holding off on any new orders until the new serum is available but it would be nice to try both!

Also will you make it available to try for Canadian customers?

Thanks again!

We probably will bring it out in October. We have produced some but it is very thin and we are looking at the best way to thicken the serum.