Why Everyone Is Talking About Peptides

WSJ What’s News

The Wall Street Journal

Daily News, News

4.1 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2026

⏱️ 13 minutes

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Summary

Flawless skin. Thicker hair. A snatched jawline. Better sleep. These are some of the benefits social media users claim peptides can deliver. But many of these uses are not FDA-approved, and consumers are increasingly turning to the grey market. WSJ’s Sara Ashley O’Brien, who covers the business and culture of wellness, joins host Alex Ossola to discuss the reality behind the hype and the risks involved. Further Reading The Explosive Rise of Unapproved Peptide Injections Teen Boys and Young Men Are Injecting Peptides in Search of Perfection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, What's News listeners. It's Sunday, May 31st. I'm Alex O'Sullough for the Wall Street Journal.
0:09.4	This is What's News Sunday, the show where we tackle the big questions about the biggest stories in the news.
0:14.7	On the show this week, we're talking about peptides, the drugs that have taken social media by storm for people who say they help them look
0:21.7	and feel better. It's the sort of promise that people always want, like you want to not get the
0:26.5	sun exposure, but you want to look tan and glowing. But taking the drugs comes with more risks
0:31.5	than some users may have bargained for.
0:40.3	Peptides are having a moment. If you spent time online, you've probably seen posts from users who say the drugs can do everything from improve their skin to helping them get better sleep to simply just feeling good in their bodies.
0:51.3	Hey, so I take peptides and I I have since November, and I have four kids.
0:58.0	I have never been this confident, felt this good, looked this good, not since I was at least 19 years old.
1:05.0	Let's go over GHKCU, otherwise known as the Pretty Boy peptide.
1:09.0	This is known to give you the glass skin effect that everybody's been talking about. For the top five peptides, I'd recommend to get jacked and shredded before summer and flex on your ex, respectfully. But it's not just influencers who are into peptides. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also touted their use and vowed to make them more accessible. Here he is on Joe Rogan's
1:28.6	podcast earlier this year. Yeah, I mean, I'm a big fan of peptides. I've used them myself
1:33.2	and used them with really good effect, you know, with a couple of injuries. Even the DJ and record
1:41.0	producer Diplo was talking about them on stage at the WSJ's Future of Everything
1:45.3	Festival earlier this month.
1:47.1	I think I met 40 people yesterday that was talking about peptides at the Metball after parties.
1:50.8	But here's the thing.
1:52.2	Many of the uses that people say peptides are great for are not scientifically proven and
1:57.3	may come with side effects or dangers we don't know about.
2:00.6	Once more, users are
2:01.6	increasingly finding the drugs on the gray market, which presents its own set of risks.
2:06.4	I discussed all this with Sarah O'Brien, who covers the business and culture of wellness for the
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