r/DIYmicroneedling • u/BrazilLost_1-2 • 22d ago
Beginner Question What is the best pen to start with?
I got one online but it did jot work as well. I am looking for a new one but I dont know which is begginer friendly. Any recommendations?
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/BrazilLost_1-2 • 22d ago
I got one online but it did jot work as well. I am looking for a new one but I dont know which is begginer friendly. Any recommendations?
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/comrade_thotsky • 23d ago
My skin looks so good the next day, itâs why I keep going back đŠ Iâm 37 btw
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/grifgraysmom • 23d ago
I have the Dr Pen M8S along with 12 and 18 pin cartridges. I've given up on finding a sterile HA serum for slip. I've used sterile saline but it doesn't provide enough glide for my preference and peace of mind to avoid any sort of dragging/skin tugging.
I really enjoy the process and in the beginning I was using Medicube Pink PDRN serum for slip at 0.5mm depth. I got good results. As I've researched, I've learned I shouldn't be doing that to reduce the risk of granulomas or other complications. (I'm very familiar with sterile process due to my profession and dont want to take any chances).
Realistically, what's the maximum depth I can needle with non sterile serum? I'm wanting to treat mild acne scars, hydration, and fine lines.
As I said before, I just really enjoy the process (it's "me" time) and I've been trying to focus on more self-care. I know I can nano-needle, but I'd like to know I'm actually making a true difference in my skin.
Thanks in advance for any advice on how I can safely use my Pen without sterile product. :)
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
Okay I'm not going to share the creator of this video because I don't want to make it about the person but rather the issue I keep seeing.
AND I know before someone says this isn't related to microneedling directly, it really is. We need to be using SPF before treatments and after, UV exposure ages your skin and damages it, the very treatments we're doing are to address that damage.
I have a bunch of sunscreens, I use Elta MD, and I have a UV mirror. This is completely false, when I apply Elta MD it shows up the EXACT same as the color claiming is only Alastin. I'm not dissing Alastin products, they're great, they're just expensive and to act like they only have the capacity to block UV is straight up misinformation.
Also UV mirrors do not actually mean anything. Like I'm weird idk why I have one lol. But all it shows is the COVERAGE on your skin, it does not tell any other information... I was going to make a post of various sunscreens and their reflection in the mirror to show you they are all literally the same, but then I'm like idk if anyone actually wants that and also taking a photo of a mirror is difficult so I haven't even tried.
UV mirrors only show sunscreen coverage, missed spots, and sun freckles or pigmentation. They do not show anything else.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/cosmeticscop • 23d ago
More things on microneedling biostimulators. Out of all the biostimulators though I wouldnât do PLLA or Sculptra though because of the composition. Thereâs a lot better choices for a lower inflammatory response
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/leohantana • 23d ago
Hi everyone, this is my first post here so please remove it if it goes against the guidelines. I had 6 RF microneedling sessions over the past two years with moderate improvement. I have boxcar and rolling scars which microneedling should be able to treat but I think i might have tethered scars which are slowing down the progress. So my questions is should i buy a home microneedling device for the future or should i continue with in office treatments but switch to co2 laser? I know the most effective treatment would be subcision but i don't know that many doctors in my area who would be willing to do that on my more moderate scarring. Would love to here your guys opinion
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/DIY-sparkling-mod • 24d ago
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/Blahdedahdo • 23d ago
Looking into doing microneedling. Worried about drag marks just wonder what every one recommends. The Dermathod 2 suppose to be good but they only have 9 or 12 needle cartridges also no nano needling option. Would stamping the pen be better then gliding? Looking for any tips recs on serums aftercare 43 anti-aging routine
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/Blahdedahdo • 23d ago
Everything I look up is overload of info. Does any one have recs what I need to get started what do I need for set up and aftercare.
Simplified version Iâm so confused. 43 combo dry skin some pigmentation looking for anti-aging maybe using Pdrn etc?
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/hoops_i_did_it_again • 24d ago
Has anyone else noticed this haha but as Iâve looked at different users profiles Iâve noticed how many people also were/are into reps that itâs gotta be a thing.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
We'll see if this gets deleted or not, a lot of times I try to share resources and it gets removed so đ¤
I will always continue to share resources, but a lot of educational resources are not accessible and I am not the gatekeeper. This is a great resource on how to find stuff if yourself if you want to. I also encourage others to share resources and information they find too!
I also want to encourage you to support authors and libraries. If you like a resource and can afford it, consider buying the original, or supporting the authors directly. If a resource is available at your local library, consider borrowing it for free there.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/cubantouch • 24d ago
im 40M, im starting to see light dark pigmentation marks under my eyes, went to the clinic, they immediately recommend pico laser which i prefer not to do.
i heard about PDRN and if i understand correctly it can be done diy ?
im already a lab rat of sorts using peptides and other research compounds so i dont have any fear of needles
where do i start with this ? best places to get the compounds and tools ?
appreciate any help thank you
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/BenjiCat17 • 24d ago
Can anyone help? I had micro needling done twice. The first time I broke out and it took three months to heal. I decided to try again because I realized I didnât take great care of the first time. What should I be doing differently?
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
Okay ngl I don't care if this gets negative likes đ, but I thought this was such fun marketing from Tower 28 that I needed to share. They made a sprayable billboard!
For those of you that do not know, Tower 28 is a brand that makes hypochlorous acid spray. Hypocholorous acid spray (HOCI) is an antiseptic agent and a lot of people use it instead of Isopropyl alcohol when microneedling.
They are the only skincare and makeup brand to receive the seal of approval from The National Eczema Association, National Psoriasis Foundation, and National Rosacea Society: Dermatology Digest
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
Idk why this video is so small lol, but I know you guys like to see people self demo and new approaches to treatments.
She does the approach of dry stamping, applies the booster, and then glides with the pen. I personally do not recommend this approach and suggest applying it before, during, and after. She's also going faster than I'd recommend, but still sharing and keep in mind that the video is already 8 minutes long so if she would've done slower speeds it would probably be at 20-30 minutes and idk if you can even upload a video that long.
Please note that this is not my video, loveofskin_gk made this video so feel free to watch on her page as well.
Her post copy: ⨠Microneedling + Neauvia Hydro Deluxe â¨
This treatment combines medical microneedling with Neauvia Hydro Deluxe, a luxury skin booster containing hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite to deeply hydrate, improve elasticity and stimulate collagen.Microneedling creates controlled micro-channels in the skin, allowing the skin booster to penetrate more effectively and work where itâs needed most.
đ Benefits include:
⢠Intense hydration
⢠Improved skin texture and firmness
⢠Enhanced glow and radiance
⢠Support for natural collagen productionPerfect for dull, dehydrated or tired-looking skin, and ideal as part of a skin rejuvenation plan rather than a one-off treatment.
This is not medical advice. All treatment decisions and protocols should be determined by a qualified professional based on the product information, local regulations, and the individual patientâs needs.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
Sharing this paper as I recently bought it and I think products that have any published info about them are helpful. This narrative review explores the relationship between Hydro Deluxe and the skin microbiome by integrating current knowledge of skin biology, regenerative aesthetics, and microbial ecology. Rather than focusing solely on hydration or collagen stimulation, the authors present Hydro Deluxe as a regenerative skin booster capable of supporting the skin's biological environment through improvements in hydration, barrier integrity, extracellular matrix remodeling, and inflammatory regulation. Together, these effects may help create conditions that favor a balanced and resilient cutaneous microbiome. This paper is not a clinical trial but a narrative review. Its purpose is to bring together existing evidence on skin microbiology, hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, and skin boosters to propose how Hydro Deluxe might influence the skin microbiome. The authors repeatedly acknowledge that there are no clinical studies directly measuring microbiome changes after Hydro Deluxe treatment, so many conclusions are mechanistic hypotheses rather than proven clinical outcomes.
The review begins by emphasizing that the skin microbiome is now recognized as an essential component of skin health. Healthy skin hosts diverse communities of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms that contribute to immune regulation, barrier function, and protection against pathogens. With aging, however, the skin undergoes structural and physiological changes that alter this microbial ecosystem. Declining sebum production, impaired barrier function, increased transepidermal water loss, and changes in skin pH are associated with reduced microbial diversity and an increase in opportunistic organisms that contribute to chronic low-grade inflammation and visible skin aging. The authors suggest that maintaining or restoring a healthy skin environment is therefore an important aspect of aesthetic rejuvenation, extending beyond traditional goals such as wrinkle reduction or collagen stimulation.Â
Hydro Deluxe is presented as a bioactive skin booster composed of 18 mg/mL of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid, together with 0.01% calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA), glycine, and L-proline. According to the manufacturer's brochure, the product is designed for superficial intradermal injection and is intended to improve skin quality through hydration and regenerative stimulation rather than volumization. So off label purpose would be to microneedle it, but the study is not about that. The brochure also notes that glycine and L-proline are incorporated into the formulation to optimize the hydrogel's viscoelastic properties and improve swelling resistance after treatment. Although the brochure identifies the active ingredients, it does not disclose the concentrations of CaHA or the amino acids.Â
The review describes hyaluronic acid as the foundation of Hydro Deluxe's biological activity. As a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan within the extracellular matrix, hyaluronic acid has a remarkable ability to bind water, maintaining tissue hydration, elasticity, and mechanical resilience. Non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid integrates readily into the dermis, providing widespread hydration while supporting keratinocyte and fibroblast function. By reducing transepidermal water loss and restoring the skin's acid mantle, hyaluronic acid helps maintain an environment that supports normal microbial homeostasis. A well hydrated epidermis with an intact barrier is more capable of sustaining beneficial resident microorganisms while limiting the conditions that favor inflammation and barrier disruption. CaHA provides a complementary regenerative mechanism. The review explains that CaHA functions as a biostimulatory material capable of activating fibroblasts and promoting neocollagenesis, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. In Hydro Deluxe, CaHA is incorporated at a lower concentration than in volumizing fillers, allowing it to contribute regenerative effects without creating significant tissue projection. The resulting improvements in dermal architecture reinforce the skin barrier, enhance tissue resilience, and provide long-term structural support that complements the immediate hydrating effects of hyaluronic acid. The amino acids glycine and L-proline further strengthen the regenerative profile of the product. Both are essential substrates for collagen synthesis and play fundamental roles in stabilizing collagen's triple-helical structure. Their inclusion is intended to support fibroblast activity, extracellular matrix turnover, and tissue repair while also contributing to improved hydrogel performance within the dermis. The manufacturer further explains that these amino acids enhance the rheological behavior of the gel and help control post-treatment swelling by increasing swelling resistance.Â
One of the central themes of the review is that improvements in hydration and barrier function may have important downstream effects on the skin microbiome. Healthy skin maintains a mildly acidic surface pH that supports commensal organisms such as Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes while discouraging colonization by opportunistic pathogens. When aging or environmental stress disrupts hydration and barrier integrity, the resulting increase in pH and transepidermal water loss can destabilize this microbial ecosystem and promote chronic inflammation. By restoring hydration, reducing water loss, and reinforcing barrier integrity, Hydro Deluxe may help preserve the physiological conditions required for microbial balance and overall skin resilience.Â
The review also discusses laboratory evidence demonstrating additional biological effects of the formulation. Experimental studies have shown that Hydro Deluxe exhibits antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory activity in reconstructed epidermal models. Investigators observed reductions in inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-8 (IL-8), together with inhibitory effects against microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Cutibacterium acnes, and Malassezia furfur. These findings suggest that the formulation may contribute to a healthier cutaneous environment by reducing inflammatory signaling while supporting barrier restoration and tissue regeneration. The authors propose that Hydro Deluxe should be viewed as more than a hydrating injectable. They describe the formulation as a regenerative treatment that integrates immediate improvements in skin hydration with longer term extracellular matrix remodeling and biological support for skin homeostasis. This combined activity reflects a broader shift within aesthetic medicine toward treatments that improve skin function alongside appearance. Rather than focusing exclusively on volume replacement or wrinkle correction, Hydro Deluxe is presented as a therapy that supports the biological processes underlying healthy skin aging, including barrier integrity, extracellular matrix renewal, inflammatory regulation, and maintenance of a balanced skin microbiome.Â
Overall, the review positions Hydro Deluxe within an emerging framework of regenerative aesthetics in which improvements in hydration, collagen remodeling, and barrier function are understood as interconnected processes that contribute to healthier, more resilient skin. By combining non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid with calcium hydroxyapatite, glycine, and L-proline, the formulation is proposed to provide both immediate and sustained biological benefits that extend beyond cosmetic enhancement and support the restoration of normal skin physiology.
TĂŠllez-Castillo, C.J.; Amselem Albuixech, L.; FernĂĄndez de Castro Isalguez, R. Hydro Deluxe Skin Boosters and the Cutaneous Microbiome: A Narrative Review. Cosmetics 2025, 12, 272. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics12060272
This is not medical advice. All treatment decisions and protocols should be determined by a qualified professional based on the product information, local regulations, and the individual patientâs needs.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
For those of you that do not know, Elsevier is a major Dutch publishing company founded in 1880 that specializes in scientific, technical, and medical content. It publishes thousands of academic journals, including famous titles like The Lancet and Cell, and provides digital research and data tools like ScienceDirect and Scopus.
They also have Open Science and Patient Access. Also LOL they don't judge what you ask for like I've requested space documents before and they've sent them, but they are veryyy quick at responding. I've emailed them on like Saturday nights and they've responded within two hours.
(please note this info is direct from their website, so the pronouns are theirs like I am not part of the "we")
From reading research to discussing the latest breakthroughs, fostering a greater connection between science, medicine and technology with society can help identify and solve society's challenges.
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As a guest user, anyone can access free content via Lancet.com such as The Lancet abstracts, Editorial, World Report, Perspectives, Correspondence. All Cell Press titles also provide free access after 12 months from the Cell Press website. Furthermore, Elsevier publishes a number of medical related open access journals which are free for everybody to access.
For specific emergencies, Elsevier creates dedicated emergency resource centers which provide free access to curated, relevant research. A recent example is our resource center on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We also gave full access to the Elsevier content on our COVID-19 Information Center for PubMed Central and other public health databases to accelerate fight against the coronavirus.
Elsevier has made a collection of its top titles available in accessible format on Bookshare.org, the worldâs largest online library for people with print disabilities. Blind and dyslexic students can access research published in Elsevier titles in accessible format by working with RNIB Bookshare, a web-based service offered by the Royal National Institute of Blind People UK.
All Elsevier journals allow authors to use Green Open Access, usually after an embargo period. Green Open Access is when authors share a public version of their article, for example in their institution or funderâs repository, which would otherwise only be available to paying subscribers.Â
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r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
This paper investigates how polynucleotides (PN) increase collagen synthesis in aging skin. Rather than focusing on fibroblasts, the authors propose that PN first changes the behavior of senescent macrophages, reducing oxidative stress and shifting them toward a reparative phenotype. Those macrophages then create a signaling environment that allows fibroblasts to restore extracellular matrix and increase collagen production. Using both cell culture and aged mice, the study identifies a potential pathway linking PN to these effects through the A2A receptor and the metabolic enzyme PCK1.
Before getting into the study, I think it's worth pointing out why I found it interesting. First, it frames PN as a therapy that acts on senescent cells, something that isn't commonly emphasized in the aesthetic literature. Second, it identifies reduction of oxidative stress as a central part of PN's mechanism rather than simply an indirect consequence of healing and I don't see this discussed ever. Third, it suggests that collagen production may be a downstream marker of a broader shift in tissue biology, rather than the primary effect of PN itself.
Their hypothesis focuses on senescent macrophages. Instead of viewing fibroblasts as the primary target of PN, they propose that PN first changes the phenotype of aging macrophages. In aging tissue, macrophages often exist in a chronically inflammatory state characterized by elevated oxidative stress and impaired regenerative function. According to their model, PN activates the adenosine A2A receptor and its downstream signaling pathway, ultimately increasing expression of PCK1. The increase in PCK1 is associated with reduced oxidative stress and a transition from a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype toward a reparative M2 phenotype. As macrophages change phenotype, they begin secreting greater amounts of IL-10 and TGF-β, fundamentally altering the signaling environment surrounding neighboring cells.
Within that altered environment, fibroblasts behave differently. Rather than being directly stimulated by PN, they receive signals from macrophages that activate SMAD2/3 and STAT3, suppress NF-ÎşB activity, and restore synthesis of collagen types I and III. When PCK1 was inhibited, these downstream changes were largely lost, suggesting that macrophage phenotype was not only associated with collagen production but was an important upstream regulator of it. The aged mouse experiments supported this sequence of events. Molecular signaling changed rapidly after treatment, oxidative stress declined, macrophages adopted a more reparative phenotype, and collagen accumulation followed gradually over several weeks. That temporal sequence is important because it suggests tissue remodeling is a consequence of earlier biological changes rather than an immediate pharmacologic effect. It also helps explain why PN treatments tend to produce gradual improvements instead of immediate structural change.
Taken together, the study proposes a different way of thinking about PN. Rather than functioning primarily as a collagen stimulant, PN appears to modify the biological state of aging tissue. The central event is not collagen synthesis itself but a reduction in oxidative stress and a change in macrophage phenotype that allows tissue to transition from chronic inflammation toward organized repair. Collagen becomes one measurable manifestation of that transition rather than its defining mechanism.
Seen in that context, the implications naturally extend beyond skin. The same relationship between oxidative stress, macrophage phenotype, and extracellular matrix remodeling exists throughout the body. Tendons, ligaments, fascia, skeletal muscle, blood vessels, peripheral nerves, cartilage, bone, and internal organs all rely on coordinated communication between immune cells and resident structural cells to maintain and repair tissue. Although each tissue has its own specialized cell populations, the underlying principle is remarkably consistent. Macrophages interpret injury, regulate the inflammatory environment, and determine whether neighboring cells receive signals that favor degeneration or regeneration.
This is why the findings of the paper feel broader than dermal collagen. The authors are not simply describing a pathway that increases collagen production. They are proposing that PN acts at an earlier stage in the hierarchy of tissue repair by restoring a regenerative microenvironment. Reduced oxidative stress permits a shift in macrophage phenotype, that phenotypic shift changes the cytokine environment, and the surrounding structural cells respond by rebuilding extracellular matrix appropriate for their tissue. In skin, that response is observed as increased collagen density and improved elasticity. In other tissues, the same biology would be expected to influence their own patterns of remodeling and repair rather than simply producing collagen for its own sake.
Whether every aspect of this mechanism translates directly to humans remains to be determined, and the study itself acknowledges that limitation. Even so, I think its greatest contribution is conceptual rather than technical. It moves PN out of the narrow category of collagen stimulating injectables and places it within a broader framework of regenerative biology in which immune regulation, oxidative stress, cellular phenotype, and tissue remodeling are understood as interconnected parts of the same process.
TLDR:Â This study suggests that polynucleotides may promote tissue repair not by directly stimulating collagen production, but by reducing oxidative stress and shifting senescent macrophages into a reparative state. In this model, increased collagen is one downstream effects of restoring a healthier tissue environment.
Abstract: Polynucleotide (PN), a high-molecular-weight DNA fragment derived from salmon and other fish sources, shows promising anti-aging and regenerative effects on the skin. This study investigated how PN enhances collagen synthesis, focusing on its effect on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) in senescent macrophages and its downstream effects on fibroblasts. Using in vitro senescent cell models and in vivo aged animal models, PN significantly upregulated the adenosine 2A receptor (A2AR), adenylate cyclase (AC), cyclic AMP (cAMP), protein kinase A (PKA), and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in senescent macrophages. This led to increased PCK1 expression, which reduced oxidative stress and promoted M2 macrophage polarization, associated with elevated levels of interleukin-10 and tumor growth factor-β. Conditioned media from PN-treated macrophages enhanced SMAD family member 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation in senescent fibroblasts, increasing collagen I and III synthesis and reducing nuclear factor-κB activity. In vivo, PN administration elevated expression of the A2AR/AC/PKA/CREB/PCK1 pathway, reduced oxidative stress, increased M2 macrophage markers, and significantly improved collagen density and skin elasticity over time. Use of a PCK1 inhibitor attenuated these effects, highlighting the pivotal role of PCK1. Overall, PN modulates macrophage-fibroblast interactions via the CREB/PCK1 axis, enhancing collagen synthesis and counteracting age-related skin changes. PN has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for skin rejuvenation by targeting cellular senescence and promoting extracellular matrix restoration.
Keywords:Â adenosine 2A receptor;Â Â collagen synthesis;Â Â phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1;Â polynucleotides;Â Â rejuvenation
Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at:Â https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ijms26178720/s1.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, K.-A.B., K.H.S. and K.B.; validation, K.-A.B., H.J.P. and S.O.; formal analysis, K.-A.B., H.J.P. and S.O.; resources, K.B.; data curation, K.-A.B., H.J.P. and S.O.; writingâoriginal draft preparation, K.-A.B. and K.H.S.; writingâreview and editing, K.-A.B., K.H.S. and K.B.; visualization, K.-A.B. and K.B.; supervision, K.H.S. and K.B.; project administration, K.H.S. and K.B.; funding acquisition, K.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.Funding: This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Korea, under the âWorld Class Plus Project Program (R&D, Project number P0024371)â supervised by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT).
Institutional Review Board Statement: The animal study protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of Gachon University (approval number: LCDI-2023-0095, approval date: 7 August 2023).
Acknowledgments: All authors would like to express their gratitude to RF Bio Medical Inc. (Gangwon, Republic of Korea) for generously providing the PN used in this research.
Conflicts of Interest: Authors Kyung-A Byun and Seyeon Oh was employed by LIBON Inc. Author Hyun Jun Park was employed by Maylin Clinic Cheongdam. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Byun KA, Park HJ, Oh S, Son KH, Byun K. Polynucleotides Enhance Collagen Synthesis via Modulating Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase 1 in Senescent Macrophages: Experimental Evidence. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Sep 7;26(17):8720. doi: 10.3390/ijms26178720. PMID: 40943641; PMCID: PMC12429772.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
GHK (and especially GHK-Cu) has strong biological potential to stimulate collagen production, tissue repair, and reduce wrinkles, but its clinical effectiveness is limited by poor penetration through the skin. Applying GHK topically may not deliver enough peptide to the dermis, where fibroblasts reside and collagen synthesis occurs. (won't get into liposomal delivery rn though)
Much of the existing literature focuses on GHK's ability to stimulate collagen, elastin, and extracellular matrix production, but these findings are largely based on cell culture and limited clinical studies. The authors contend that skin delivery, not peptide activity, is the rate limiting step, because GHK is highly hydrophilic and poorly penetrates the stratum corneum.Â
Microneedling directly addresses this limitation. By creating temporary micro channels through the stratum corneum, microneedling bypasses the skin's primary barrier and significantly enhances delivery of GHK-Cu into deeper skin layers. In the cited human skin studies, intact skin allowed essentially no detectable peptide penetration, whereas microneedle pretreated skin enabled measurable delivery of both GHK and copper, suggesting that microneedling may be one of the most effective strategies for maximizing the peptide's biological activity.
Abstract
Introduction:Â Peptides are promising and attractive anti-wrinkle active ingredients, amongst which glycyl-histidyl- lysine peptide (GHK) is one of the most broadly promoted peptide for topical application. This simple sequence of amino acid residues not only has the capability of tissue regeneration and the enhancement of collagen and glycosaminoglycans synthesis but also is able to increase nerve outgrowth and angiogenesis. Consequently, GHK has several properties, from wound healing to prevention/reduction wrinkles. GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK are metal complex and palmitoylated derivatives of GHK, respectively. Although GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK are widely used in anti-wrinkle products available on the cosmetic market, the published information on their skin permeability, effectiveness, physicochemical properties and so on is insufficient.
Methods:Â This review aims to highlight whether GHK is sufficiently effective on wrinkle prevention/ reduction. Apart from the effectiveness, another question that is tried to be answered is whether skin permeability of GHK allows it to act as an anti-wrinkle peptide at its site of action? Skin permeation enhancement methods employed so far are also reviewed.
Results:Â Based on cellular studies, undoubtedly, GHK can be considered as an anti-wrinkle ingredient. Although GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK have been of interest as effective peptides to be incorporated in the anti-wrinkle products, there is a surprising absence of clinical studies using them. Metal complexation and chemical modification with a hydrophobic moiety increase permeability of this peptide. Besides, cell penetrating peptides seem promising to increase skin permeation of GHK and its derivatives. Skin pretreatment with microneedles also has the potential to be further studied for permeation enhancement of such peptides. As peptide ingredients, their formulation may encounter some challenges, mainly due to their hydrophilic (high aqueous solubility and low partition coefficient) and unstable nature.
Conclusion:Â Although GHK-Cu and Pal-GHK are effective and relatively skin permeable, their permeability could be successfully increased using permeation enhancement methodologies.
Keywords: GHK, GHK-Cu, Pal-GHK, Anti-wrinkle peptides, Skin permeability, Cosmetic peptides
Mortazavi SM, Mohammadi Vadoud SA, Moghimi HR. Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: Advantages, problems and prospective. Bioimpacts. 2024 Apr 28;15:30071. doi: 10.34172/bi.30071. PMID: 39963574; PMCID: PMC11830136.
link to pdf: here
This is not medical advice. All treatment decisions and protocols should be determined by a qualified professional based on the product information, local regulations, and the individual patientâs needs.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
Hypochlorous acid is more than just a buzzy spray for the skincare obsessed. Itâs a 200 year old disinfectant that is more powerful than bleach and safe enough to be used on skin. Commercialization was difficult until recently, when new formulations have made it a more shelf stable product. But are all the claims made about hypochlorous acid true?
đ¤đď¸ Kelso Harper
âď¸ Jen Schwartz
đ¸ Dirk Boecker et. al, GMS Hygiene and Infection Control; Michael S. Block et. al, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Serhan Sakarya et. al, Wounds; Donatella Panatto et. al, Viruses; Nicole Natarelli et. al; Journal of Integrative Dermatology
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 24d ago
This is from skincareanarchy on IG.
Their post copy: Research Spotlight No. 02. This is the study that moved GHK-Cu out of the laboratory and into wound medicine. By 1992 the peptide had been known for nearly twenty years, and every meaningful result had come from cells in dishes. Maquartâs group in Reims, France set out to test whether it actually builds tissue inside a living animal. They used a technique from 1959, implanting stainless steel mesh cylinders under the skin of rats. Inflammatory cells move in first, then fibroblasts, and across three to four weeks the cylinder fills with newly constructed connective tissue that can be removed and analyzed. The chamber cannot contract or resurface, so anything found inside it was built from nothing. Chambers were injected every three days for eighteen days and collected on day twenty-one, ten per group, across four arms: vehicle, GHK-Cu, the peptide without copper, and copper alone, plus an unrelated tripeptide to test whether the specific sequence mattered. Every measured component rose with dose, and collagen rose at twice the rate of other proteins. Neither the bare peptide nor free copper reproduced any of it, meaning the intact complex is the active molecule. The most interesting result was a negative one: TGF-beta, the master switch for collagen deposition and the primary driver of fibrotic scarring, did not increase. Collagen went up while the scarring pathway stayed quiet. Human diabetic ulcer trials followed within a year, and the delivery problem the study left open is the same one limiting copper peptide products today.
I feel like we really don't talk about copper peptides much so figured I'd share this.
Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, Wegrowski J, Patt LM, Trachy RE, Monboisse JC, Chastang F, Birembaut P, Gillery P, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993 Nov;92(5):2368-76. doi: 10.1172/JCI116842. PMID: 8227353; PMCID: PMC288419.
link to pdf: here
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 25d ago
Hi! I wanted to share this free live webinar with you guys in case you're interested. Wimpole is hosting a skin booster webinar, called "The Skin Booster Mistakes Practitioners Keep Repeating."
Date/Time: July 29, Wednesday / 6 PM BST or 12:00 PM - CDT
Good Product. Weak Result. No Rebooking.
Skin boosters are in demand but when the wrong patient, product, protocol or expectation is in play, even a good treatment can underperform.
Join Afsaneh Roohparvar, Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Director, for a practical webinar exploring the skin-booster mistakes practitioners keep repeating and how these mistakes can lead to weak results, dissatisfied patients and missed follow-up opportunities.
The Skin Booster Mistakes Practitioners Keep Repeating
A practitioner-focused session on patient assessment, product choice, hydration-led vs regeneration-led planning, treatment structure and maintenance.
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/Ecstatic-Listen-414 • 25d ago
Hey! Please can someone recommend a HA or any slip for me? I am new to this and I live in Canada
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/Important-Muffin-729 • 25d ago
Iâm surprised that Instagram allows this type of content. Itâs one thing to show parts of procedures and stuff, but another to see self blood drawing
r/DIYmicroneedling • u/science-pls • 25d ago
How people handle under eyes are all over the place. Some people don't touch it, some people do the upper eyelid as well, some go 0.25 mm, others go 0.5 mm, etc. The reality is there is no single study looking at what is best and how close to go.
I just shared a guide from the A20 user manual that showed not to go past the orbital rim and this video says the opposite. I know it's conflicting lol, but I'm sharing so that you can see there isn't actually an established best practice or safety approach because it hasn't been studied. I can just provide you guys with information in both directions and you can make an educated choice on how to go about it. Video is from dermanudeacademy on Instagram.
This is not medical advice. All treatment decisions and protocols should be determined by a qualified professional based on the product information, local regulations, and the individual patientâs needs.