The Best Skin-Supporting Peptides for Barrier Repair, Inflammation, and Cellular Renewal

Your skin is more than what you see in the mirror. In fact, it is often a window into what is going on beneath the surface. Skin problems like acne, rosacea, and even signs of aging like wrinkles, are signals from your body that something needs to be addressed internally.

That’s why when people come to me struggling with skin problems, I’m thinking about the deeper physiological factors driving these skin issues and how we can address them from the inside out. Of course, as a functional medicine practitioner, I make sure to assess and address any underlying gut and hormone imbalances first, but I also look to the current research to take my recommendations to the next level. 

One of the most exciting areas of modern wellness, dermatology, and regenerative medicine is the emerging science around skin supporting peptides and how they can rejuvenate and repair various aspects of poor skin health. From skin barrier repair to anti-aging, let’s explore the best skin supporting peptides, the science behind each one, and why they may just become your secret beauty weapon.

What are peptides?

Before diving into the benefits of peptides and the best ones, we first need to learn what they are in order to better understand how they can improve skin health. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as the building blocks of proteins like collagen, elastin, and keratin — all of which are essential for healthy, glowing skin. 

In functional medicine, we often think of peptides as signaling molecules — like tiny biological messengers. They communicate with cells and help direct biological processes such as immune function, energy production, and in relation to skin health specifically, tissue repair.

Not only does your body naturally produce thousands of different types of peptides, your cells also have receptors that respond specifically to those different kinds of peptides. (1) The problem occurs when there is a breakdown in this cellular communication, causing important physiological processes to stall or slow down. When this happens, peptide therapy can be helpful. (2)

Peptide therapy involves introducing exogenous (derived from external sources) peptides into the body to mimic the natural actions of our endogenous (produced within the body) peptides. Peptides used therapeutically are designed to bind to specific cell receptors in order to trigger the specific responses that have slowed down, like collagen production. 

Do peptides actually help your skin?

Many people don’t realize is that there are actually four different categories of skin peptides, each with their own specific use cases:

• Carrier peptides: Transports specific minerals directly to your skin cells to promote wound healing, collagen synthesis, and more.
• Signal peptides: These let your cells know to produce elastin and collagen.
• Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides: Limits muscle contraction by inhibiting the release of chemicals that cause your face to contract. Think of these like the “botox” of peptides.
• Enzyme-inhibiting peptides: These peptides work to stop the enzymes that actively break down collagen.

This is what I love about peptides. Unlike many trendy skincare products in a typical skincare routine — ranging from basic sunscreen to complex actives — that tend to overpromise and underdeliver, peptides work to support your skin’s own regenerative intelligence instead of just masking symptoms. Peptides target the root cause by telling your cells exactly what they need to do to reverse whatever is driving your particular skin issue, regardless of your skin type or if you have sensitive skin. Peptides truly work from the inside out and can be a great anti-aging tool.

READ MORE: Is Peptide Stacking The Future Of Functional Medicine? Benefits For Metabolism, Immune Function, Skin Health, and More

The best skin supporting peptides

Now let’s get into the information you’ve been waiting for — the best peptides to support healthier skin and achieve a more glowing, youthful complexion. With over 7,000 different peptides in existence, these peptides are backed by the most research for improving skin health. (3)

1. Collagen

Collagen is the foundation of our structural integrity and makes up the majority of our skin, connective tissues, and bones. However, as we age, our body’s natural production of collagen starts to decline by 1-1.5% every year. (4) This results in visible signs of aging as well as joint discomfort and mobility restrictions. Therefore, collagen is one of the most vital peptides we should be consuming on a regular basis for both our skin and overall health.

One of my favorite ways to support this process is through high-quality, clean collagen supplementation sourced without unnecessary fillers or inflammatory additives. That’s why I formulated holi ( m a n e ) alongside Agent Nateur that combines pearl powder and marine collagen with highly bioavailable amino acids to support optimal hair, skin and nail health.

2. GHK-Cu 

Also known as copper peptides, GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex) is a carrier tripeptide renowned for its ability to stimulate collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance skin texture and elasticity. (5) Similar to collagen, levels of this naturally occurring peptide drop significantly as you age, starting around 200ng/mL at age 20 to 80ng/mL by age 60. (6)

Most of the research surrounding GHK-Cu’s focuses on topical use. One study in particular found that participants who applied GHK-Cu topically daily over the span of three months experienced a 28% increase in collagen density, with the top participants seeing as much as a 51% increase in collagen density. (7) Additionally, GHK-Cu can inhibit inflammatory pathways like TNF-α and interleukin-6 to help improve inflammatory acne and other skin conditions. (8) 

3. Matrixyl

One of the most well-researched signal peptides, Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4), encourages your body to produce more collagen by mimicking your body’s skin repair signals to trick your fibroblast cells to produce more collagen. One study found that just 12 weeks of Matrixyl use was able to significantly increase both collagen density and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. (9) Matrixyl can also boost hyaluronic acid which in turn can boost hydration and improve skin dryness.

4. BPC-157

BPC-157 (Body Protection Compound-157) is a powerful peptide known for its tissue-healing properties, specifically its ability to accelerate wound healing! (10, 11) While research is currently limited in this area to animal studies, this early research shows a lot of promise for use of this peptide for healing wounds to alleviate the appearance of scars.

5. Argireline

Often referred to as a natural alternative to botox, Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) is a neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide that acts as a potent inhibitor of muscle contractions. To achieve its botox-like effects, it works by blocking the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that controls the contraction of your facial muscles. Limiting (not completely stopping) these contractions can result in less visible lines over time since the lines are not being created in the first place. Plus, unlike botox, this peptide is generally safe and has limited (if any) side effects.

LISTEN: Functional Medicine Is The Cake: Longevity Labs, HRT, Peptides, DEXA Scans & What Actually Is Worth Your Money | Dr. Robin Berzen

How to use peptides?

There are multiple ways to take peptides depending on the specific peptide and its particular benefit. For example, collagen can be taken orally in the form of capsules, tinctures, or powders or as an ingredient to a topical moisturizer, peptide serum, cream, or lotion. These are readily available and can be found at most health food and vitamin stores.

Peptides can also be taken sublingually, applied topically, or administered through injections. This last option is less common though and requires more guidance from a doctor or dermatologist who is familiar with peptide therapy, administration, and dosage.

It’s also important to note that just like other supplements, not all peptide products are created equal. You’ll want to follow a lot of the same recommendations when vetting peptides as you would with other supplements. Make sure to avoid formulations that contain unnecessary added ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, fillers, gums, and synthetic dyes and look for brands that have third-party testing.

Bringing it all together

Even though peptides can help support healthier looking skin, it’s important to remember that peptides alone can’t always fix your skin problems. The health of your skin is deeply influenced by the health of your gut, nutrient deficiencies, sleep quality, mitochondrial function, inflammation levels, hormone balance, and more. Ultimately, peptides work the best when your body has the nutritional and metabolic foundation necessary to facilitate repair. That’s why, in my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we specialize in comprehensive health plans that emphasize a holistic approach to skin health. Addressing underlying dysfunctions in addition to leveraging the best skin supporting peptides can often be the winning combination to achieving vibrant, healthy skin.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. 

Photo: Unsplash.com

Sources

• Barman, P., Joshi, S., Sharma, S., Preet, S., Sharma, S., & Saini, A. (2023). Strategic Approaches to Improvise Peptide Drugs as Next Generation Therapeutics. International journal of peptide research and therapeutics, 29(4), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-023-10524-3
• Wang, L., Wang, N., Zhang, W., Cheng, X., Yan, Z., Shao, G., Wang, X., Wang, R., & Fu, C. (2022). Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions. Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 7(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-00904-4
• Barman, P., Joshi, S., Sharma, S., Preet, S., Sharma, S., & Saini, A. (2023). Strategic Approaches to Improvise Peptide Drugs as Next Generation Therapeutics. International journal of peptide research and therapeutics, 29(4), 61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10989-023-10524-3
• Dakhovnik, A., Mantovani, M., Knufinke, M., Brügger, V., Pramono, I., Statzer, C., Saravi, B., Demidenko, O., Budovskaya, Y., Rümmelein, C. B., Chabloz, S., & Ewald, C. Y. (2025). A collagen amino acid composition supplementation reduces biological age in humans and increases health and lifespan in vivo. npj aging, 11(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41514-025-00280-7
• Dou, Y., Lee, A., Zhu, L., Morton, J., & Ladiges, W. (2020). The potential of GHK as an anti-aging peptide. Aging pathobiology and therapeutics, 2(1), 58–61. https://doi.org/10.31491/apt.2020.03.014
• Pickart, L., Vasquez-Soltero, J. M., & Margolina, A. (2012). The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2012, 324832. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/324832
• Practical Dermatology. (2023, May 25). Epigenetic mechanisms activated by GHK-Cu increase skin collagen density. https://practicaldermatology.com/news/epigenetic-mechanisms-activated-by-ghk-cu-increase-skin-collagen-density/2461744/
• BenchChem. (2025). Investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of GHK-Cu: A technical guide [PDF]. BenchChem. https://pdf.benchchem.com/237/Investigating_the_Anti_inflammatory_Properties_of_GHK_Cu_A_Technical_Guide.pdf
• Robinson, L. R., Fitzgerald, N. C., Doughty, D. G., Dawes, N. C., Berge, C. A., & Bissett, D. L. (2005). Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. International journal of cosmetic science, 27(3), 155–160. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00261.x
• Gwyer, D., Wragg, N. M., & Wilson, S. L. (2019). Gastric pentadecapeptide body protection compound BPC 157 and its role in accelerating musculoskeletal soft tissue healing. Cell and tissue research, 377(2), 153–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-019-03016-8
• Seiwerth, S., Milavic, M., Vukojevic, J., Gojkovic, S., Krezic, I., Vuletic, L. B., Pavlov, K. H., Petrovic, A., Sikiric, S., Vranes, H., Prtoric, A., Zizek, H., Durasin, T., Dobric, I., Staresinic, M., Strbe, S., Knezevic, M., Sola, M., Kokot, A., Sever, M., … Sikiric, P. (2021). Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 and Wound Healing. Frontiers in pharmacology, 12, 627533. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.627533