Copper

Products containing copper have gained increasing popularity in the anti-aging skin care market over the past several years. In humans, copper binds to the high-affinity tripeptide glycyl- l-histidyl-l-lysine (GHK) to form a copper- GHK complex [67]. This copper-GHK complex plays a vital role in human tissue repair, and its ability to accelerate wound healing has been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, copper is a vital cofactor in the activation of the powerful antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase [68, 69].

The ability of the copper-GHK complex to stimulate the production of both collagen and glycosaminoglycans in a dose-dependent fashion has been demonstrated in cell-culture studies of human fibroblasts. Other observations include the fact that the copper-GHK complex may also play a role in angiogenesis during wound healing. The role of copper-GHK as an anti-aging ingredient may be explained by its role in wound healing and its ability to stimulate extracellular matrix proteins.

A number of clinical studies have been performed using copper-GHK-containing products. Significant clinical improvements in photoaged skin were demonstrated in patients treated with facial and eye creams containing the copper-GHK complex [70, 71]. These improvements include a decrease in skin wrinkling, laxity, and roughness. These changes, as well as the lack of irritancy, give copper an important role in the anti-aging skin care market.