Theories proven by a few dermatological studies have shown us that it may be possible to slow down the skin’s aging process by boosting support of the dermal extracellular matrix.
As the skin ages, the extracellular matrix, which acts as a scaffold for skin cells, becomes fragmented, according to researchers with the University Of Michigan Medical School. Fibroblasts shrink and less collagen is produced causing the support structure to decline. In a new study conducted at the UM Medical School the researchers found that injecting the space between the skin cells with a filler enhances the structural support of the extracellular matrix.
Investigators injected a dermal filler into the facial skin of 21 volunteers aged 70 yr.s or above during a three month study. Data indicated that the filler stimulated fibroblasts to begin producing more collagen and boosted the support structure of the extracellular matrix. The researchers noted, that this increased support, appeared to further stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and increase epidermal thickness, as they published it in their abstract. The entire layer of skin grew thicker with more blood vessels, which nourished the cells.
By altering the matrix using an external filler and increasing the internal pressure, they’ve shown that we can essentially trigger a signal for cells to wake up. This shows that skin cells in elderly people have the capacity to respond robustly in a very positive way to alterations in the mechanical property of their environment. We still need to know more about how these cells sense their environment, but in general it appears we have made a real difference in the structural integrity of skin. The detailed findings of the study were published in the October issue of the Journal Of Investigative Dermatology.