Found extensively throughout the body, growth factors are significant proteins that move between cells. Their role is to pass on critical messages pertaining to healing and survival. They exist within all types of cells and, in the skin, this includes those cells which make up the outermost epidermal layer and the deeper dermis. Basically, this means the skin you can see in the mirror as well as those deeper cell layers underneath. When these proteins bind to receptors on cell surfaces, they send messages to replicate, repair, and rejuvenate.
Growth factors were first discovered by Stanley Cohen and Rita Levi-Montalcini back in the ‘50s. Their progress won them a Nobel Peace Prize and began a flurry of research, but dermatologists only started recognizing these super collagen-builders recently. Some researchers liken growth factors to keys, and their respective receptors to locks. When the key clicks into the lock, it encourages the cell to grow and divide. This results in more collagen and elastin being produced as well as increased blood flow.
Around our late 20s, this process starts to become less effective. The skin starts producing smaller quantities of growth factors, meaning less cell growth and less supple skin. This where the growth factor supplementation comes in. When you apply growth factors, you’re giving back to your body what it already makes by itself. This makes it a naturally safe and effective anti-aging ingredient.
Where do the growth factors come from?
But where do the growth factors in my skin care actually come from? The growth factors found in creams or gels will have been bioengineered in a laboratory or taken from human stem cells. Stem cells from any source (skin, fat, bone marrow, or umbilical cord) can produce growth factors that give rise to a variety of different cell types in the body. Growth factors manage essential tasks like replicating cells, reducing inflammation and stimulating collagen production. By applying them topically, growth factors strengthen the skin’s extracellular matrix and encourages the skin’s natural ability to heal. For this reason, many derms view growth factors as an invaluable component of anti-aging skincare.
Growth Factors effects in skincare
Benefits of ZO Growth Factor Serum
Growth factor technology gives your skin the building blocks it needs to rejuvenate itself in a totally fresh way. If you want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to anti-aging advancement, growth factors are the way to go. Most widely touted benefits of growth factors serums include improvement of skin density, increased skin firmness and elasticity, and a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles. One happy Zo Growth Factor Serum lover wrote:
Excellent product! I have been using it for three years and have seen a major difference in my skin. This is a plant-based growth factor product and has a lot of debate behind it regarding its actual benefits. I can say from experience this product is absolutely effective. The gel is lightweight and not sticky like other gel products. This product promotes healthier skin, while it strengthens weak skin reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have other anti-aging products you love, boosting your results by adding in a growth factor is easy! Growth factors pair fabulously with vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid…pretty much everything you’re already using to make your skin glow!
