Botox in a bottle?

Everything you want to know about Acetyl Hexapeptide- 8

If you see a cosmeceutical claiming that it is 'Botox in a Bottle' (somewhat contensiously) then two things are almost for certain: one, the product is highly unlikely to deliver and two; it contains Acetyl Hexapeptide-8.

Acetyle Hexapeptide-8 (also known as Argireline in the ingredients list) has been touted to have similar 'muscle freezing' effects to anti-wrinkle injections, but withou tht einvasive procedure or hefty price tags - possibly making it a more accessible alternative to Botulinum Neurotoxin type A.

It is a topical, short-acting synthetic peptide that is mainly used in skin care products. Formerly known by tis original trade name Argireline, it has water-binding properties and skin-resporitng abilities that play a role in helping skin look appreciably younger.

But what is Acetyle Hexapeptide-8, and is it really Botox in a bottle? Could it ever really replace Botox injections?

Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8 is marketed as 'Botox in a jar' because it has the same modus operandi as the neurotoxin- in that it targets dynamic wrinkles (those caused by muscle movement) however it does this in a very diferent way. It is a neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide, meaning it works within the skin's surface layers to help support skins collagen and interup the appearance of expressions lines, and stufies have shown that Argireline really does work in a similar way - just no as well - as botox!

Studies

There have been studies (on a small scale) that have shown that using 10% Arireline solution around the eyes for 15 days decreased wrinkle depth by 17%, while a 5% Argireline formula applied for 28 days decreased in wrinkle depth by 16%

A Spanish university also did some research and found that Argireline increased the elvel of skin moisutirsation and decreased both the depth and width of wrinkles 'significantly'. This means that Acetyl-Hexapeptide-8 does have some ability to smooth wrinkles .... just not as well as Botox.

What are the benefits of Acetyle Hexapeptide-8?

peptides such as Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 are generally well tolerated and safe for most skin types. Its main appeal is that it offers a potential non-invastive alternative to neurotoxins that you can get off the shelf. It also comes with the additional enefit of restoring your skins natural barrier as well as improving skin elasticity. However, there are limitations! When it comes to topical products and injectable formulations, there is a distinct difference between applying a product on the surface of the skin and injecting it.

Botulinum neurotoxin exerts its wrinkle-relaxing effect by inhibiting the localised release of a specific neurotransmitter requried for mucle contrcation. Seruo applied to the surface of the skin CANNOT travel to this neuromuscular junction, so cannot be as efficacious. However, this is not to say that Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 is without merit. In fact, for anyone wanting to experiment with topical solutions before (or instead of) opting for Botox, ther eis absolutely no harm in investing in peptides.