Are all stem cells the same? Where are they in the skin?
Each individual organ of the body has its own specific adult stem cells. The skin, for example, is not one unit as many people think but rather is comprised of two different layers, the outer Epidermis and the inner Dermis. Therefore, it has two distinct populations of stem cells: epidermal stem cells and dermal stem cells.
Although the dermis is the important layer of the skin where all the collagen & elastin are manufactured, the exact location in the skin of the dermal stem cells’ reservoir was very hard to find and was only recently discovered in December 2009.
What do stem cells do?
Stem cells, which can also be called “mother cells”, regenerate and repair organs and tissues, and are fundamental in keeping each organ young. They are the time machines of each organ and tissue; this is why researchers and Doctors view them as the holy grail of medicine for the next decades (at least!). Importantly, each organ and tissue has its own unique stem cell population. So it is important to know and understand the specific stem cell in order to leverage this incredible cell. In the skin, epidermal stem cells regenerate the outer epidermis layer while dermal stem cells regenerate the skin’s fibroblasts, those ‘factory-cells’ which produce the collagen & elastin, two of the most important natural wrinkle-fighters in the skin !
As we get older, what is the influence of age on the skin’s stem cells?
It is proven that the activity and “quality” of skin stem cells deteriorate with time and that stem cells become ‘tired and worn-out’. This is considered one of the most important causes of ageing skin and of the appearance of wrinkles.
Whether the number of skin stem cells decreases with age or not is not certain. However, the decreasing activity of skin stem cells is universally recognized as a major source of skin losing its youthful appearance and therefore boosting our skin stem cells’ activity is believed necessary to both stopping as well as reversing skin ageing.
When does the activity of stem cells start to decrease?
There is still no exact answer to this question. Yet, since the ageing process starts at approximately 20 years-old, one can postulate that stem cells also start to age at around 20 years old.
Some dermatologists claim that we can reverse the skin cells aging process. Is this true?
Research on this topic is relatively recent and still ongoing, yet the data strongly points to a clear yes. Whether in the skin, the heart or other organs, scientists have recently proved that stem cells have an extraordinary capacity to repair damage, regenerate tissue and that stem cells can themselves be rejuvenated. They can be seen as the organ’s own time machine. So the idea is that if we can successfully and safely revitalize the stem cells’ activity, we might achieve extraordinary anti-ageing results. And data seems indeed to point in this direction: as recently as November 2011, French scientists were able, in vitro, to make 101 year-old skin cells indistinguishable from those of newborns!
What products or treatments can help to activate dermal stem cells in my skin?
Scientifically speaking, to properly demonstrate activation of the skin’s stem cells, different ingredients would have to be rigorously tested in laboratory against a pool of human dermal stem cells (harvested simply by miniscule biopsies). This sophisticated and complicated laboratory process has only been available since December 2009, and precisely, Dr. LEVY Switzerland®’s Intense Stem Cell treatments are the world’s first cosmeceuticals proven to activate & vitalize human dermis stem cells in vitro. This is why our formula was granted an international patent.
