CARNOSINE

Carnosine is a dipeptide consisting of the amino acids alanine and histidine. It occurs naturally in high concentrations in muscle and brain tissue. Carnosine is a powerful antioxidant that promotes wound healing and can minimize redness. (1)

In an ex-vivo study, a cream containing 0.2% carnosine also exhibited remarkable anti-glycation properties.

Glycation is a reaction between proteins and sugars that leads to the formation and accumulation of certain glycation end products. These end products have also been found to be associated with extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and elastin. Glycation of collagen I, an essential structural protein in the dermis, impairs its function in a variety of ways. Studies have shown that glycated collagen and elastin exhibit altered biomechanical properties that lead to loss of elasticity and increased stiffness, which in turn promotes the appearance of wrinkles. (2)

(1) Schagen SK. Topical Peptide Treatments with Effective Anti-Aging Results. Cosmetics. 2017; 4(2):16. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics4020016

(2) Narda, M., Peno-Mazzarino, L., Krutmann, J., Trullas, C., & Granger, C. (2018). Novel facial cream containing carnosine inhibits formation of advanced glycation end-products in human skin. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 31(6), 324-331.