Skin rejuvenation using cosmetic products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines: a review of the literature

• Published in: Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology Vol. 9; pp. 411 - 419
• Main Authors: Aldag, Caroline, Nogueira Teixeira, Diana, Leventhal, Phillip S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Aging; Aminolevulinic acid; Backup software; Biosynthesis; Cancer; Collagen; Cosmetics; cytokine; Cytokines; Elastin; Epidermal growth factor; Extracellular matrix; Fibroblasts; growth factor; matrikine; Peptides; Proteins; Review; Skin; Skin care; Skin care products; Tensile strength; cytokine; growth factor; skin; aging; matrikine; cosmetics
• ISSN: 1178-7015; 1178-7015
• DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s116158

Skin aging is primarily due to alterations in the dermal extracellular matrix, especially a decrease in collagen I content, fragmentation of collagen fibrils, and accumulation of amorphous elastin material, also known as elastosis. Growth factors and cytokines are included in several cosmetic products intended for skin rejuvenation because of their ability to promote collagen synthesis. Matrikines and matrikine-like peptides offer the advantage of growth factor-like activities but better skin penetration due to their much smaller molecular size. In this review, we summarize the commercially available products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines for which there is evidence that they promote skin rejuvenation.