Okay first we need to understand there is a difference between preventing contraction and relaxing a muscle. Botox works by paralysing the muscle. Any muscle that is not worked is going to atrophy over time. Although everyone dubbs Agireline as “Botox in a Jar” they do not work the same way. Agireline does not work by causing face muscle paralysis.

 

One of the reasons for which Botox is not that much loved is because it can interfere with the way the neurotransmitters communicate with muscle movement to a point that the face ends up looking like a mask. When the injections are not appropriately administrated, they end up causing paralysis, a consequence you will not encounter in the case of argireline.

If you search the internet they are abound with fears that Argireline will make your skin sag with long term use. I haven’t found any explicit evidence of this.

I want you to think about something if it caused paralysis then if you applied it to your arm you technically should not be able to lift your arm and the hand you applied it with should be paralysed and not work so you couldn’t pick up that glass of wine at the end of the day. This definition that they are muscle relaxers, as we have just seen, is not true. They prevent muscles from contracting rather than causing them to relax. Quite a different thing. The way Agireline works is that there is more energy required to contract the muscle. The muscles still contract but it is harder for them to do so. It is electrical impulse that is required for contraction. With agireline you need more electrical impulse.

There was a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy 2013 That measured the histological structure of skin and found that Argireline reduces the degree of existing facial wrinkles and helps prevent their development. The abstract is as follows:

“Argireline ®, a synthetic peptide, which is patterned from the N-terminal end of the protein SNAP-25, can both reduce the degree of existing facial wrinkles and demonstrate effectively against their development. In our past studies, we found out that Argireline had a significant anti-wrinkle effect in Chinese subjects and that it was safe and well tolerated.” They observed the effect of Argireline on histological changes in the skin comparing the amount of type I and of type III collagen fibers in skin with topical Argireline and skin without. The results were; “there was an improvement in the histological structure of skin tissue …. the amount of type I collagen fibers increased, while that of type III collagen fibers decreased”. 

The researchers conclude that “this study reveals that Argireline improves the histological structure of skin tissue and rejuvenate the aging skin.”  So the bottom line is no, it doesn’t cause atrophy.

 

About the Author

Jacine Greenwood is an internationally recognised educator who is known within the industry for her up to date knowledge and her ability to deliver training in an easy to understand method.

Jacine holds 6 Diplomas and a Bachelor of Nursing and her knowledge is well respected by her peers.  With over 22 years experience in the industry and a background of cosmetic formulation, Jacine has an immense knowledge of current trends in research and new developments in the industry.

Jacine has been continually educating herself in all aspects of skin function and cosmetic chemistry for the past 21 years.  Jacine’s knowledge is current and has a vast knowledge   of the active ingredients that are being released onto the market.

 

References:

Wang, Y. Wang, M. Xiao, X, Huao, J. and Zhang, D. “The anti-wrinkle efficacy of Agireline” (2013) Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy.