A Dermal Clinician’s Guide To Growth Factors And How They Can Benefit Ageing Skin
Yads Cauchi is a Dermal Clinician, Nutritionist (BHSc, MSc) and Beauty Journalist. She's also a mum of four. Evidence based skin health and nutrition are her thing and she works from her own skin clinic based in Canberra - you can find her there, or on Instagram and TikTok @yadscauchiskin.
Imagine your skin is a garden and your cells are the flowers...
Growth factors then, are like little messengers that deliver special packages (proteins) to the flowers (cells) and help them grow. Make sense?
And yes, we are chatting about growth factors today so if you’re interested in age management focused skincare this is for you.
What Are Growth Factors For Skin.
You see, growth factors are like little messengers that tell your skin cells to make more collagen/elastin, in turn making your skin look younger, healthier and smoother.
They can also help with tissue repair following an injury, hence why you will likely find them in clinic as recommendations following clinical procedures like microneedling and/or laser treatments.
In fact, we actually have growth factors throughout our entire body, and they’re created by all types of cells - including the skin at both the epidermal and dermal layer which is super interesting.
For e.g. fibroblasts in the dermis produce growth factors that regulate skin repair and renewal, while keratinocytes in the epidermis produce growth factors that help with skin cell turnover and wound healing.
Anyway, we don’t need to get too science-y here, but like most good things, as we age, our bodies produce less growth factors alongside a decrease in collagen/elastin which = ageing.
However, we are lucky because today the skincare world invests a lot of money to formulate cutting edge products to ensure growth factors can be applied topically so we now have fun innovative products to play with that can boost the management of ageing concerns.
Which is why we are discussing growth factors today - because they’ve landed at Adore Beauty.
Growth Factor Benefits Skincare.
The thing is, growth factors in skincare are generally manufactured in a lab or made from human stem cells and this means they cost a lot to research and therefore cost a lot of money so you will never find growth factor products on sale cheaply.
The science is still out on which option is better too and further studies are needed.
What we do know however, (apart from the fact that they can be an investment), is that when formulated well, they can give you a major boost in your skincare routine and are beneficial for the people willing to tackle age management concerns from a multitude of ways.
Why? Because studies indicate when well formulated, growth factor skincare products applied topically, show increases in growth factor output which = an increase in collagen and elastin, and improvements in skin moisture, thickness, pigment and texture.
Meaning, including growth factors in a skincare routine can lead to glowier, healthier skin.
So yes, use your vitamin A’s, wear your sunscreen, use a chemical exfoliant and jump on the peptide train.
But if you’re doing all of that and still want more, then let me introduce you to the world of growth factors, and one of the best growth factor skincare serums, PCA Skin’s latest product.
Want the 411 on the ABCs of cosmeceutical skincare? Watch the YouTube video below:
What Is The PCA Pro-max Age Renewal Serum.
PCA Skin's pro-max age renewal serum is all about their patent-pending Micro Growth Factor Technology (MGF) which involves a unique process of culturing plant cells to produce growth factors that are similar in structure and function to those found in human skin.
It’s a unique skincare innovation designed to deliver powerful age-management benefits.
Again, think of MGF like a tiny delivery system.
This delivery system is designed to penetrate deep into your skin, where it releases a specific type of growth factor which then helps to stimulate collagen and elastin production, in turn helping you to maintain healthy, youthful looking skin, reduce fine lines/wrinkles and improve your skin’s firmness and elasticity.
It will also:
- Enhance your skin’s hydration: MGF can help to improve your skin's ability to retain moisture, leaving it feeling hydrated and supple.
- Encourage long-term anti-aging benefits and hydration, using their proprietary blend HA-Pro Complex™
- Instantly hydrate and visibly plump the skin’s surface.
- Help to reduce look of fine lines with the addition of hydrolysed hyaluronic acid.
So essentially, MGF is a new technology designed to tackle age-management concerns; and personally I would be combining it with in clinic procedures such as chemical peels, needling and laser treatments.
My PCA Skin’s Pro-max Age Renewal Serum Review.
Would I personally use PCA Skin’s Pro-max Age Renewal Serum if money was no issue and I could be consistent with it - yes.
At $478 would everybody be willing to invest? In this economic climate? Probably not.
However, we can still talk about this serum. Can’t we?
Honestly I love growth factors in clinic and my skin was so glowy and healthy when I was using this.
I combined it with my pigment blockers, C and vitamin A and I used it morning and night.
My skin recovered so quickly after needling and laser treatments and it was super easy to add into my routine.
It didn’t pill, it was a gel like formula and it would be great for anybody who can’t tolerate vitamin A but would love to ensure effective age management skincare - including sensitive skin.
I also think this would be a great investment for anyone that wants to up the ante on their skincare and can’t make it into clinic.
Honestly, a clinical treatment can be the equivalent of the cost of this serum, and it will benefit your skin when used every day.
As for everybody else, well, maybe we could pop it on a vision board for now.
You can read more of Yadira's expert skin care advice below:
