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Neuropeptides are tiny strings of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) which act as sophisticated intercellular messengers. As we age, these neuropeptides become less and less abundant.

Pheromones are chemicals produced on the skin that elicit non-detectible odors which affect the behavior of other people around us. The pheromones are known to activate positive changes in the areas of the brain related to cognitive skills and emotional well being.

Special Delivery

Neuropeptides are used to harness the power of pheromones; to deliver pheromones to the brain, similar to those found naturally in the body. Neuropeptides enhance the effects of pheromones by making the receptor sites (known as the vomeronasal organ) in the nose more sensitive. The increased sensitivity of the receptor sites creates a greater impact on the person receiving the odor, thereby enhancing the efficacy of the pheromone compound. The benefits of pheromones in the anti-aging aromatic are many and can personally affect us psychologically and cognitively by increasing our sense of well-being, and enhanced thinking, and socially, eliciting positive emotional responses from those around us.

Because these benefits are physiological as well as psychological there is an anti-aging component to regular use.

Benefits include
• Sharpens memory and mental clarity
• Elevates self-confidence
• Decreases stress and anxiety
• Enhances well-being

Introducing Stress and the Skin (An Alfred Hitchcock Production)

It is not just the telomeres that suffer when we are under stress. When we study stress and its effects on the skin, we can clearly begin to see the “psycho” part of psychoneuroimmunology.
For decades a great many common skin diseases and disorders were listed as having an unknown etiology—that is, dermatologists could not pinpoint the cause of the disease. But now there is a growing body of clinical and experimental evidence demonstrating that the brain can start, influence, and stop biologic skin events. Again, this clearly ties into my Brain-Beauty Connection, an exciting topic for future blogs. For example, there is evidence that psychological stress both constitutes an increased risk for atopic dermatitis, a pruritic (itching) skin disease, and also influences the disease’s clinical course. And who hasn’t had an acne breakout right before the prom, a big date, wedding or important job interview? Coincidence? Think again. Stress is clearly implicated in many skin diseases, acne included, another fascinating topic for future blogs. Tomorrow we will learn how neuropeptides and pheromones can help alleviate stress.