Right now everyone is talking about Peptides. The’re definitely having a major moment in health and wellness—but understanding what they actually are (and what they aren’t) is key.
At their core, peptides are short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Your body naturally produces thousands of them, and they act as biological messengers, directing cells on what to do. Well-known examples include insulin, which regulates blood sugar, and GLP-1, which plays a role in appetite and weight regulation. My skin care company, YOUN Beauty, uses the collagen-stimulating effects of peptides in our best selling Peptide + Bakuchiol Moisturizer.
So peptides can be highly effective and very safe. But in the wellness world, peptides are currently the Wild West—promoted for all sorts of benefits, like anti-aging, fat loss, muscle growth, improved sleep, and faster recovery.
This is where things get complicated.
Many of the peptides trending in wellness—like BPC-157, CJC-1295, and Ipamorelin—are not FDA-approved and have limited human research. Much of the support behind them comes from animal studies, not large-scale clinical trials in humans. That means we still don’t fully understand proper dosing, long-term safety, or potential risks. Some experts have raised concerns about immune reactions, toxicity, and even effects on cancer-related pathways.
Despite these unknowns, a booming “gray market” has emerged. Many peptides are sold online labeled as “research use only,” which allows companies to sidestep stricter regulations—while consumers still use them personally. This lack of oversight raises concerns about purity, contamination, and whether the product contains what it claims.
Regulation is where the controversy intensifies.
Compounding pharmacies were once able to produce certain peptides with a prescription. But in recent years, the FDA restricted many popular peptides, citing safety concerns. As of now, the landscape remains in flux:
- FDA-approved peptide drugs are legal and widely used.
- Most wellness peptides are unapproved and considered experimental.
- Many fall into a gray zone—not allowed as supplements and increasingly restricted for compounding.
At the same time, there’s growing pressure to expand access, creating ongoing debate between innovation and safety. The current HHS Secretary, RFK, Jr. has recently stated that he was planning to lift some restrictions on peptides very soon.
The bottom line: peptides aren’t typical supplements—they act more like drugs. Some are proven and essential, while others are promising but untested. Until research and regulation catch up, injecting peptides for longevity or wellness should be approached with caution and only under the care of a real physician.
I wanted to have a discussion on my podcast about the latest in peptide therapy and other cutting edge (and possibly controversial) treatments, so I invited one of my good friends, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and co-founder of the popular medspa The Aesthetics Bar, Dr. Steven Svehlak, to join me. Along with his wife (the other co-founder), on this week’s podcast we discuss treatments they offer like:
- PRX Biostimulation
- VAMP PDRN (salmon DNA) treatments
- Exosomes combined with microneedling
- Stem cell treatments
- IV Peptide therapies
- And more!
It’s an interesting discussion that I think you will enjoy! Check out The Newest Cosmetic Treatments from Hollywood and Beverly Hills with Dr. Steven and Wendy Svehlak. To listen on Apple devices, click HERE. To listen on Spotify, click HERE.
