Local interactions between skin cells, skin immune components and neuronal tissues occur specially through neuropeptides … Neuropeptide-related functions on skin and immune cells, as well ...nerve fibers in cutaneous inflammatory responses, hypersensitivity reactions and dermatoses, namely psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, leprosy and alopecia."

Now that you know that a neuropeptide has a function in central nervous system and that a pentapeptide might also be a neuropeptide (having five amino acids in its chain) but not all neuropeptides are pentapeptides, how can you decide whether to pay extra money for exciting new neuropeptide creams?

You want some evidence that they are sufficiently more effective to justify higher price, right?

In sorting through all peptides currently touted for antiaging skin care, I decided they can be placed into one of three groups depending on amount and quality on published research and development behind their use in skin care.

Some peptides have a lot of published scientific research behind them. They were developed for medical use and because of their success, found their way into antiaging cosmeceuticals.

Copper peptide falls into this group since it has been studied and employed in wound healing since 1970s. Palmitoyl pentapeptide also falls into this group. Doctors were already prescribing Strivectin-SD for stretch mark and scar removal when clinical studies of its superior wrinkle-reducing properties were presented at 20th World Congress of Dermatology in 2002.

Other peptides have been developed within cosmetic industry and quickly brought to market. The companies are careful to make no medical claims in order to avoid lengthy FDA review process for a drug. Argiriline, a.k.a. acetyl hexapeptide-3, falls into this group. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence that, similar to Botox, it reduces a muscle’s ability to tense and form deep lines of expression. Customer reviews are quite positive and more companies are incorporating ingredient into their treatment lines.

In third group are peptides that are very new or are proprietary and not widely available. Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s neuropeptide creams fall into this category. His neuropeptide variants all contain prefix “CL”. No research labs I could locate are studying or making CL variants. Of course, as we saw above in case of palmitoyl pentatpeptide, he may have just given an already known nuropeptide a different name.

The consumer has little to go on except Dr. Perricone’s word. That is, unless you consider his track record and broad following. He hasn’t yet failed to deliver. His previous antiaging developments have met with broad acclaim and his three books have been on New York Times Bestseller list.

Dr. Perricone explains his work with neuropeptides in his third book "The Perricone Promise" thus. “In 'The Wrinkle Cure' and 'The Perricone Prescription', I introduced a major theme of my research: Inflammation-Disease-Aging Connection.

Because inflammation is a great contributor to accelerated aging, it has been an important focus of my ongoing scientific research. And we now know that neuropeptides and peptides play an important role in mediating inflammation.”