Copper in skin and cosmetics

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Anna Margolina, Candidate of Biological Sciences (USA)

Polina Shteiman, Director of Development, Magiray® Cosmetics (Israel)

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Cosmetic products containing precious metals - gold and silver - are in constant demand and arouse great interest. And this is easily understandable, since gold has always attracted people. However, for the cells of our skin, the most valuable is a much more modest metal - copper. However, for all its value, copper at the same time harbors hidden dangers, which you should also be aware of before including this metal in cosmetic products.

Copper and enzymes

Copper is one of the main elements, the chemical properties of which have enabled the very existence of living organisms. Copper in the human body exists in two states - Cu1+ (monovalent) and Cu2+ (divalent). Thanks to this, it can participate in many oxidation-reduction processes necessary for the vital activity of the body.

Copper deficiency in the skin and its consequences

The most obvious symptom of a lack of copper in the skin is a violation of collagen synthesis.

Another important consequence of copper deficiency in the skin is the disruption of the important antioxidant enzyme - superoxide dismutase (SOD). The main function of this enzyme is the neutralization of the most dangerous of free oxygen radicals - the superoxide anion radical, which, in particular, is formed in the skin under the influence of UV radiation and to a large extent causes most of the damaging effects of solar radiation.

A lack of copper in the skin also leads to an increase in the reaction of non-enzymatic glycosylation of proteins. In the course of this reaction, proteins such as collagen and elastin spontaneously bond with sugars, losing their elasticity and firmness.

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