Although the dermatologists I spoke with are all growth factors advocates, this is still a controversial topic. Some physicians question whether topical growth factors can be effective without delivery through microneedling or laser resurfacing. the molecule is too big to effectively penetrate the top layer of the epidermis. There is also concern that because growth factors have mitotic ability, they could theoretically cause cancer cells to multiply, however, there is not any evidence for growth factors. on-site chief does it.
“Growth factors are molecules, enzymes, and specific pathways that contribute to cell proliferation, or cell growth and turnover. The reason it’s a bit controversial is that by definition, uncontrolled cell growth is cancer,” explains Henry. “So there’s always been this concern, especially in early iterations, that if we were using these growth factors, would it be possible to simulate skin cancer. Now a lot of formulations have been changed and we have a better understanding of any growth factors present in this particular serum or cream and what pathways they activate, but before that we did not know.”
There’s also the issue of where the growth factor might come from. In 2018, Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett were criticized for talking about $650 “penis face” they went to the spa of the famous esthetician Georgia Louise. The growth factors used in the serum were “derived from human fibroblast progenitor cells taken from the foreskin of Korean neonates”. SkinMedica’s serum also uses growth factor proteins that were created in the lab but were obtained from the stem cells of an infant foreskin more than 20 years ago. But if you’re curious about growth factors and don’t want to use anything that involves human cells, choose a plant-based product.
