Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Antiaging World: Stem Cell Extracts and Skin Care

Antiaging World: Stem Cell Extracts and Skin Care BY DRJOE  

In a previous post, “Stem Cells and Anti-Ageing: Looking and Feeling Your Best” we touched on the growing trend in the field of aesthetics of the use of stem cells for treating aging skin. This involves harvesting stem cells from fat and then subsequently injecting the stem cells into wrinkled or damaged skin.

While injections of collagen and other fillers can provide excellent results these treatments are not permanent and need to be periodically repeated.  Use of stem cells provides a longer lasting solution to aging skin.

Another option of treating aging or damaged skin with stem cells is now available: topical application of stem cell extracts.

International Stem Cell Corporation has discovered a new class of pluripotent stem cells called parthenogenic stem cells.  Parthenogenic stem cells have similar characteristics of embyronic stem cells.  Parthenogenic stem cells do not, however, involve the destruction of an embryo avoiding the controversy and ethics surrounding that practice.

Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate or turn themselves into any cell needed by the body.  In skin they have the ability to become the cells that produce proteins like collagen and elastin which are necessary for healthy functioning and healthy appearing skin.  In the case of stem cell extracts, the stem cells are cracked open and the proteins and peptides within the stem cells are extracted and used to make a topical skin cream.

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