All About Peptides - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly!

A Major Public Health Concern, and our Children are at Risk

The Good about Peptides 

Peptides are interesting because they’re something your body already understands. At their core, peptides are small chains of amino acids, which are the same building blocks that make up proteins. You can think of them as fragments of proteins that act like messengers. Instead of doing the heavy structural work that full proteins do, peptides often send signals that tell cells how to behave. Because of that, they tend to work in ways that feel more “natural” to the body.

One of the biggest advantages of peptides is how targeted they can be. Many peptides are designed to communicate with very specific receptors on cells, which means they can encourage certain actions—like repairing tissue, producing collagen, or regulating hormones—without affecting everything else at once. That precision is part of why peptides are so attractive in both medicine and wellness: when they’re used correctly, they can support the body’s own processes rather than overpower them.

In skincare, peptides have become especially popular because of how gentle yet effective they can be. Some peptides signal the skin to make more collagen and elastin, which helps improve firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines over time. Others help calm inflammation or strengthen the skin barrier. They’re often seen as a softer, more supportive option compared to harsher ingredients, making them appealing for long-term skin health.

Peptides also play an important role in medicine. Some well-known treatments are actually peptide-based, even if people don’t think of them that way. Insulin, for example, is a peptide, and it has been life-changing for people with diabetes. Other peptide medications are used to regulate blood sugar, manage inflammation, influence appetite, or help the body heal. This medical use gives peptides a lot of credibility—they’re not just a trend, but a real part of modern healthcare.

Another reason peptides are appealing is that the body can usually break them down into amino acids once they’ve done their job. That means they may have fewer lingering side effects compared to some synthetic drugs, though this depends heavily on the specific peptide and how it’s used. At the same time, this doesn’t mean all peptides are automatically safe. Many supplements and experimental peptides sold online aren’t well regulated, and their benefits aren’t always backed by solid evidence.

Overall, what’s good about peptides is their ability to work with the body rather than against it. When they’re well-studied and properly manufactured, they can support repair, balance, and communication within the body. 

The key is understanding which peptides are safe for human use, even if still not FDA approved. The only way is to keep them in the hands of physicians who send a specific prescription in the name of each patient to a license certified pharmacy. These pharmacies are regularly inspected by the department of health of each state that reports to the FDA. Their quality control measures are strict. They use a clean room which can cost more than 1 million dollars and provide several testing results from certified analytical laboratories. These reports exist for each batch before they release the peptides for medical prescription.   

Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read was among the first physicians in the Los Angeles area to begin prescribing peptides, doing so only after completing extensive education and carefully reviewing the available scientific literature for each peptide. Her approach is grounded in evidence-based medicine and a strong commitment to patient safety. Her office works exclusively with certified, licensed compounding pharmacies to ensure quality and compliance. Before any prescription is issued, patients receive thorough educational materials and provide informed consent, with a clear discussion of potential benefits as well as possible risks. Ongoing, regular follow-up is a priority in her practice, allowing for close monitoring and long-term safety for every patient.

The Bad about Peptides

Since the founding of the United States and for much of its history, physicians primarily relied on compounded medications to treat patients, but over the past three decades regulatory efforts have increasingly restricted what can be compounded and, by extension, what physicians can prescribe. 

Research only- Non-human grade peptides

In the wake of recent FDA restrictions on peptides, a large and expanding grey market of non-human-grade injectable drugs has emerged, a trend examined in a recent Guardian article. The journalist explains that these peptides are typically sold online and usually labeled “for research purposes only” exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to be marketed and sold online despite being used by patients, even though they do not undergo the same quality control standards required of licensed pharmacies and should be labeled “not for human use.” 

Many of these products are sourced by purchasing cheap drugs form unknown sources, and the FDA has warned that they may pose serious safety risks, including contamination, immune reactions and unknown side effects. Compounding the problem, research laboratories often print the “for research use only” disclaimer in extremely small, barely legible text on the vial, leaving many patients unaware that the substances they are using are not approved or intended for human use. 

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2026/feb/05/injectable-peptides-trend?CMP=share_btn_url

These research laboratories often “stack” several peptides together in one bottle given then attractive names as Wolverine, Glow... These practices seem to ignore the laws of biochemistry. Stability is a major concern when combining peptides, as some may interact negatively, leading to degradation or decreased potency over time. Physical incompatibility is also a risk, since mixing peptides with differing pH or solvent requirements can cause denaturation or precipitation, rendering them ineffective or potentially harmful. In addition, compounded mixtures raise regulatory and safety issues, as they are more difficult to test for purity and potency compared to single-peptide preparations and can result in unexpected side effects. A patient at VitaLife-MD was able to request the data sheet of a peptide that she purchased though one of these so-called laboratories connected to a pharmacy. Visible contaminants were identified in the product including endotoxins and mycotoxins, several procedures in the process to manufacture safe products were not performed, procedure to educate technicians appropriately were lacking and the facility had no cleaning records for more than a year when the peptides were made. 

Unregulated Chinese peptides invading the Silicon Valley

The New York Times Magazine reported on January 3 that a growing gray market for unproven, unregulated peptides has taken hold in parts of the tech world, where these substances circulate casually in hacker houses, startup offices and even so-called “peptide raves” sponsored by suppliers, reflecting a broader culture of self-experimentation and regulatory skepticism. The article describes how some enthusiasts openly talk about buying “cheap drugs directly from Chinese manufacturers.” While the appeal is their low cost and the promise of benefits like better focus, faster recovery or weight loss, the Times emphasizes that most of these peptides lack solid clinical evidence, are not FDA-approved and may carry serious health risks due to unknown side effects, contamination or improper dosing, raising concerns among regulators and medical experts about safety, legality and the normalization of drug experimentation outside traditional medical oversight.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/business/chinese-peptides-silicon-valley.html 

Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read expressed surprise after reading the article at seeing educated, intelligent businesspeople attempting to buy drugs directly from overseas manufacturers, seemingly unaware that doing so without proper controls can carry serious health and legal consequences. Such actions can expose individuals to unsafe or counterfeit products with incorrect dosages or contamination. Given how difficult it is to import products legally from abroad, consumers attempting to bypass proper channels may face illicit drug charges in the United States and other countries, customs seizures, and significant fines. In addition, there is a substantial risk of shipping scams or supplier fraud, highlighting how even sophisticated individuals can underestimate the medical and financial dangers of circumventing regulated pharmaceutical systems and the consequences of sourcing peptides through gray-market channels.

A young generation at risk

Another growing concern surrounding the online sale of peptides is the increasing number of college students purchasing and using them freely. In several cases, syringes have been found in dormitories, initially raising fears of illicit drug use. However, in some situations, students were not injecting narcotics but peptides bought online. 

Even worse, high school students have started a small business selling peptides to their peers, encouraged by TikTok videos.

Many young men report using these substances for muscle growth and performance enhancement, while many young women are drawn to them for rapid weight loss.

Independent testing has shown that some products contain inaccurate dosages, contaminants, or even entirely different substances than what is advertised. When students inject these substances without understanding their hormonal effects, potential cardiovascular risks, or long-term consequences, they are placing themselves in significant danger.

This trend also reflects broader social pressures. Social media culture frequently promotes unrealistic body standards, quick transformations, and influencer-endorsed performance enhancement. As injectable products become normalized in fitness spaces, the perceived risk decreases, even though the actual medical risk may be substantial. What makes this especially concerning is the normalization of injection-based body modification among young adults who may not fully understand the health implications.

Although it may not yet meet the formal definition of a public health epidemic, the pattern resembles earlier waves of unregulated performance enhancers that spread rapidly before oversight and education caught up. Without proactive education, clearer regulation, and open conversations on campuses, the misuse of peptides could expand quickly.

Using injectable peptides without medical oversight and without verified quality control places our young generation at unnecessary risk. If this trend continues unchecked, it has the potential to become a serious and widespread health issue among college students.

The Ugly about Peptides

Once confined to niche bodybuilding and biohacking forums, the peptide market now includes firms that sell exclusively to medical providers, including wellness clinics, nutritionists, naturopathic doctors, and even physicians. 

Research labs are now selling directly to wellness clinics and various health care providers 

Some laboratories have contacted Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read directly, attempting to have VitaLife-MD recommend their products to patients. While some of these companies present themselves as affiliated with FDA-registered pharmacies, their peptides are often not included in the official list of compounds available at those pharmacies and are suspected to be for research use only, rather than manufactured under pharmacy standards. Additionally, some laboratories now claim that their peptides are “physician grade” or safe for human use. Dr. Fradin-Read is skeptical of the term “physician grade,” noting that none of the representatives she contacted could clearly explain what it actually means, highlighting the ambiguity and potential risk associated with these products.

Private labeling of research-use only peptides

Several patients came to Dr. Fradin-Read’s office carrying their bottles of peptides, and with the help of a magnifying glass, it was easy to show them the often-overlooked “research use only” label on most of these products. What was particularly disturbing, however, was seeing some of these bottles offered to patients under a private label bearing the name of the clinic or the physician. No prescription peptides can legally be sold to patients under a private label by a clinician, raising serious questions about the clinic’s involvement. It is unclear whether the doctor was misinformed and genuinely believed the products were safe, or if there was an intentional attempt to distribute products that do not comply with regulations for pharmacy-dispensed peptides. In either case, patients are denied informed consent, believing they are receiving human-grade medications, when in reality they are injecting substances likely manufactured in a warehouse or research lab rather than a regulated cleanroom subject to inspection. 

One patient called Dr. Fradin-Read one night in an emergency after consulting with a reputable longevity clinic in New York and returning home with four privately labeled peptides to inject. Within a few hours of administration, she developed severe side effects, including shortness of breath, heart palpitations, mood changes with dissociative feelings, and extreme anxiety about her condition.

Both Dr. Fradin-Read and the patient’s psychiatrist spoke with her by phone for an extended period, and her symptoms gradually resolved overnight. However, the episode caused a significant scare for the patient and underscored the potential risks associated with unsupervised or insufficiently monitored peptide use, even when obtained through clinics perceived as reputable. The experience left the patient shaken and far more cautious about pursuing experimental longevity therapies without close medical oversight and clear safety protocols.

And now pre-loaded syringes offered for a month in Ziplock bags

Another disturbing fact came from patients who brought the peptides they received from their provider pre-loaded into plastic syringes and handed them in Ziplock bags. The bags were usually intended to last a month at a time. There was no pharmacy labeling, and in some cases not even the name of the product was marked on the bag. Aware of the potential risks associated with microplastics and nanoparticles entering the body, Dr. Fradin-Read questioned the safety of these practices, which she has observed in multiple clinics across the Los Angeles area.

Need for more public health protection  

The rapid growth of bootleg injectables presents a major public health threat with potentially catastrophic consequences. Authorities are beginning to take action against clinics and providers distributing “illegal and unsafe drugs” to patients.

For example, one clinic in Ohio lost its license for selling peptides purchased from a laboratory that did not have a proper pharmacy license in Ohio and were misbranded. Another clinic in Alabama was accused of selling research-use only peptides and had to close as part of a settlement with the state. According to the suit, "the gray market semaglutide and tirzepatide were ineffective in causing weight loss or reducing inflammation," and, "Plaintiffs suffered physical injury." (25-CV-2025-900456.00 Circuit Court of Cullman County, AL).

We hope that more can be done to protect the public and reduce the sale and abuse of unsafe, unregulated peptides in the United States. This should start with proper education of both patients and medical practitioners, so they understand the risks of continuing with these peptides and the potential long-term consequences for patients’ health. 

This approach could also involve urging the FDA to authorize broader access to certain peptides through licensed compounding pharmacies. This would allow patients to obtain these therapies legally, rather than resorting to unregulated research labs, ensuring both safety and proper medical oversight.