There’s no question that we should love ourselves as we are, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look and feel our best. Time can be a cruel mistress, so feeling like a snack often includes trying to maintain or regain a youthful complexion. Behold the buzziest beauty the anti-aging holy grail, or the closest thing to it, growth factors.
Dr. Marina Peredo, a Board-Certified Dermatologist and owner of Skinfluence is here for this trending ingredient. “Growth factors are proteins that are responsible for maintaining homeostasis,” she shares. “The benefit of growth factors is that they increase collagen production, skin elasticity, and rejuvenate the skin.”
Next, she breaks down the “four main growth factors” in skincare.
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF):
These stimulate cell growth by promoting wound healing and tissue repair. They helps improve skin texture and firmness, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF):
These stimulate fibroblast proliferation, which are cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin. They help enhance skin elasticity and firmness and support wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF):
These promote cell growth and accelerate wound healing by creating new blood vessels and increasing collagen production.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF):
This stimulates angiogenesis which promotes the formation of new blood vessels. They also enhance skin oxygenation and nutrient delivery.
So how do you know if growth factors are the right addition to your routine and what type of product should you use to stimulate the skin? Dr. Peredo recommends them to patients who are 40 and up, and to anyone whose skin shows signs of aging with fine lines, wrinkles, or dull skin. “Serums are effective at delivering growth factors directly to the skin. Serums typically have a lightweight and fast-absorbing texture that allows the growth factors to absorb deeply into the skin.”
With multiple products on the market, her tip for determining which to purchase is to judge it by its label. “Ideally, when the growth factors are listed toward the top of the ingredient list on the bottle, they have a higher concentration,” she explains.
“Also, look for indications of technologies with liposomal encapsulation or exosome delivery systems. These technologies can improve the delivery of growth factors to target cells, increasing their effectiveness.”
To tap into growth factors’ fountain of youth, consistency is key. “You can start to see improvements in fine lines and wrinkles within 2-4 weeks, but long-lasting results would take about 3 months,” she says.
While growth factor serums are safe for use in your morning and evening skincare routines, Dr. Peredo suggests the latter because “your skin is in repair mode at night.”
This product may be an anti-aging miracle in a jar, but the application is important to get that youthful, radiant look. “Apply it to damp skin right after cleansing. I recommend waiting 10 to 15 minutes before layering with a retinoid or moisturizer.” She adds growth factor serums play well with other products so there’s no need to worry about interactions or reactions.
Shop our serums collection:
Author Bio:
The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.
Up next, be the first to know our weekly content and sign up for our Poosh newsletter.
The post Get to Know Growth Factors appeared first on Poosh.