Growth factors play a pivotal role in maintaining firmness and elasticity in your skin. Daily use of skin care products containing growth factors is known to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and improve skin tone and texture. But, not all products containing growth factors have the same benefits. Erin Azia, founder of Defy Nature Med Spa in New London, CT (a strong advocate in using growth factors following cosmetic treatments), explains why growth factors are imperative for skin rejuvenation.
What Are Growth Factors and Why Do We Need Them in Skin Care Products?
Growth factors are natural substances made by plant and skin cells to maintain healthy skin. They are responsible for supporting the repair of damaged skin, making components that provide firmness and elasticity to the skin while helping to maintain skin’s protective functions. They are NOT Growth Hormones! Aging and sun-damaged skin require growth factors to maintain itself. However, cells in aging skin make less growth factors than cells in youthful skin. One approach to support the levels of skin rejuvenation is to regularly use skin care products with a high concentration of stable growth factors like the products we sell here at Defy Nature.
Where Do Growth Factors in Skin Care Products Come From?
Advances in biotechnology over the past decade have created multiple sources of growth factors. They can be derived from several different human cells grown in a laboratory (skin cells, bone marrow stem cells, fat stem cells), extracted from one’s own blood (PRP – Platelet Rich Plasma) or from non-human sources such as snails and some plants. While all cells can produce growth factors, the composition of the growth factor blend they produce is likely to be ideal for the health of cells that produce them.
For example, fat stem cells are likely to produce growth factors that help the functioning of fat cells and bone marrow stem cells are likely to produce growth factors that help with the functioning of bone marrow. Similar logic can be applied to growth factors or growth factor-like substances derived from non-human sources. Therefore, to maintain optimal skin health, ideal growth factors would be produced by skin cells, called fibroblasts, whose main function is to produce the components necessary to support the skin.
Do Growth Factors Really Work?
Several clinical studies, over the past 15 years, have highlighted the benefits of topically applied growth factor products showing improvements in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, texture, and discoloration. The studies show that, depending on the quality of skin, good results take 6-12 weeks of twice a day use. The diligence is definitely worth it as the improvement in skin appearance is very impressive! Most studies show a visible reduction in crow’s feet lines, under-eye skin texture, and overall radiance. Combinations of growth factors with strong antioxidants tend to show results sooner, typically within 4-8 weeks. NeoCutis Micro Essential line® sold at Defy Nature (and only available at physicians’ office) provides a combination of stable growth factors with strong antioxidants (powered by MPC-Micro-Protein Complex) designed to provide this rapid effect. NeoCutis has used its expertise to create a new generation of peptides to help support not only collagen but also Elastin and Hyaluronic Acid(HA). Clinical studies have been conducted looking at cosmetic efficacy with results showcasing its ability to improve the overall appearance of skin. These are more studies than any other topical cosmetic growth factor product in the market today. Don’t be fooled by what is being sold and marketed at the drugstore and the department stores or in fashion magazines. Remember, not all skin care products containing growth factors are the same! They often make claims to instantly improve your skin but in truth will only contain small amounts of active ingredients, like growth factors, resulting in minimal improvement & benefit to your skin overtime.
Speak with the experts at Defy Nature today to learn more about how skin care products containing growth factors and the science behind skin rejuvenation.
Call 860-271-0039 to schedule your personal, private, and complimentary consultation.
