Skin Remodeling is the Key to Scar Removal

The removal or reduction of scars, lesions, and stretch marks from the skin depends on a process called skin remodeling. The skin is designed to heal wounds quickly to prevent blood loss and infection. Scars are manufactured from a rapidly formed "collagen glue" that the body deposits into an injured area for protection and strength.

In ideal skin healing, the wounded skin is rapidly closed, then the healed area is slowly reconstructed to remove the residual collagen scars and blend the skin area into nearby skin. Scar collagen is removed and replaced with a mixture of skin cells and invisible collagen fibers. This skin remodeling may continue in a skin area for ten years.

In children the remodeling rate is high and scars are usually rapidly removed from injured skin areas. But as we reach adulthood, this rate diminishes and small scars may remain for years. Scars develop when the wound repair process is incomplete and collagen and elastin are improperly deposited.

Scar repair involves stimulating the skin's healing mechanism to reorganizes and rebuild the collagen and elastic tissue. The process involves removing the damaged area and stimulating skin remodeling. The easiest way to diminish scars is to accelerate your skin's remodeling processes with skin healing accelerators such as skin remodeling copper peptides and exfoliating hydroxy acids.

For stronger scar reduction, the careful use of controlled skin damage techniques, such as chemical peels, lasers, and needles will greatly help. For the best results, these procedures should be combined with skin remodeling copper peptides to rebuild and remodel the skin.

However, any skin lesion that is infected or appears to be dark and have irregular borders or just seems too "bothersome" should be checked by a physician or dermatologist.

Copper-Peptides Activate the System that Removes Damaged Proteins and Scars from the Skin

John William Godward - The Tambourine Girl, 1906

During skin remodeling, the old damaged protein is removed and replaced with new collagen and elastin fibers. This removes scar tissue, restores skin elasticity, and reduces wrinkles.

Skin remodeling copper peptides (SRCPs) help activate the skin's scar removal system. The removal of scars and damaged skin proteins involves complex interactions between the metalloproteinases, a family of at least 14 proteins that remove damaged proteins such as sun-damaged collagen and elastin, and the TIMPs, proteins that inhibit metalloproteinase actions so that healthy tissue is not damaged during the scar removal process. SRCPs stimulate the production of certain metalloproteinases while inhibiting others by increasing the production of the proteins TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 that inhibit excessive and potential damaging actions of metalloproteinases1.

SRCPs Reduce the Scar-Producing Factor, TGF-ß

SRCPs also reduce fibroblast secretion of TGF-ß (transforming growth factor beta-1). This effect occurs with normal fibroblasts and keloid-producing fibroblasts. TGF-ß is a growth factor that increases wound healing but also induces scar formation. Scar free physiological healing needs both an activation of metalloproteinases plus a reduction in TGF-ß production2. Skin remodeling copper peptides both reduce the amount of scar tissue produced in the skin and help to accelerate the skin rebuilding process.

Interestingly, retinoic acid (Retin-A) is often promoted for remodeling skin and reducing scars. However, retinoic acid actually increases the production of the scar-producing TGF-ß.

Skin Becomes Smoother as Scars are Removed

Your skin is like a balloon and as the skin is rebuilt and scars removed, the elastic properties of the skin pull it into a smooth surface.

Skin Smoothing after Scar Removal

Skin Remodeling Copper Peptides work to:

REPAIR THE SKIN by activating metalloproteinases that remove the damaged proteins found in scars and blemishes and suppressing production of TGF-beta, the scar producing factor;

IMPROVE SKIN TONE by stimulating new capillary formation (angiogenesis) to improve blood vessel microcirculation (cellular nutrition);

IMPROVE SKIN ELASTICITY AND FIRMNESS by increasing the synthesis of collagen and elastin;

INCREASE THE SKIN'S NATURAL MOISTURE LEVELS by increasing the water-holding proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) that hold moisture in your skin (The only true way to moisturize(link) your skin);

SPEED SKIN RENEWAL by producing biochemical energy from nutrients in the body's blood supply;

CALM THE SKIN and reduce inflammation by blocking the damaging actions of interleukin-1;

GUARD THE SKIN against free radical damage by activating superoxide dismutase and blocking the release of oxidative iron from ferritin;

PROTECT THE SKIN by increasing the natural defense mechanism against oxidative damage through activation of the skin's anti-proteases TIMP-1 and TIMP-2(1-citation);

For scientific references on these effects and more information see Clinical Studies.

SRCPs Work Best When Combined with Hydroxy Acids

SRCPs work best with a hydroxy acid such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid. The hydroxy acid slowly loosens and dissolves the scar proteins and the SRCPs help the rebuilding skin.

How Skin Remodeling Copper Peptides and Hydroxy Acids Reduce Scars