Medical science has made some astonishing advances in the treatment and prevention of a host of diseases, but so far it has been unable to hold back the signs of ageing. That seemed set to change according to a recent spate of articles in the press about the possible discovery of a cure for wrinkles. Maintaining a youthful complexion is something of a Holy Grail in the western world and the media jumped on the story, proclaiming that wrinkles might soon be a thing of the past.
Too Good to be True?
The Telegraph offers just one example of the excited headlines proclaiming that scientists have discovered a way of reversing the skin’s ageing process. The truth is actually a little different.
The research was conducted by a group of research scientists from universities across the US and Europe headed up by Professor George Cotsarelis. Their aim was to study the way in which mice are able to heal wounds to their skin so effectively that no scars remain. The hope was that a potential solution could be found for reducing scar tissue in humans. Professor Cotsarelis commented that the findings could potentially lead to anti-ageing treatments in the future, but this is the aspect of his research which grabbed the attention of the media.
The Reality of the Study
According to the results of the study, the hair follicles of mice are quick to regenerate following injury, which in turn triggers the production of bone morphogenetic protein. This in turn stimulates the production of adipocytes, which contain skin-plumping fat.
We already know that it the loss of these adipocytes in human skin as we age that create wrinkles. Unfortunately damaged human skin does not produce hair follicles, which is something that science is currently unable to tackle.
Even if further research can uncover a wrinkle ‘cure’, the process would take several years to come into effect. There are of course treatments available to help give you a more youthful complex that do not require you to undergo full surgery. These include those treatments offered by a Thread Lift Cardiff clinic such as cathedralfacialaesthetics.co.uk/non-surgical-facelift/thread-lift/main
Of course, it’s possible that the research study will lead to a greater understanding of human skin, but the idea that we might be able to say goodbye to wrinkles in the near future is still a pipe dream at the present time.
