Exosomes, the great revolution in aesthetic medicine to show off young, natural and healthy skin without resorting to punctures

Gema García Marcos

Updated Thursday, March 28, 2024-02:03

Aesthetic and regenerative medicine embrace each other in search of increasingly

less invasive, more effective treatments with more natural and lasting results

, obtained through the induction of processes inherent to our body that slow down until they are exhausted with the passage of time. years, such as the production of collagen and elastin.

In this scenario, the great revolution is marked by tiny vesicles whose extraordinary 'powers' seem straight out of a science fiction novel: exosomes.

This is what you need to know about the revolution that its application, still limited, is bringing about in aesthetic medicine, according to those who already work with them in our country.

José María Ricart, dermatologist and founder of IMR (Ricart Medical Institute)

"Exosomes are 'balls' that are inserted inside cells and have the ability to leave the cytoplasm, reach the intercellular tissue and travel to other cells to send them a message. They are like carrier

pigeons

: they deliver messages to others. cells and these, after identifying them, follow the instructions that have been entrusted to them," explains José María Ricart.

Its power is amazing. "They have the

ability to package pieces of DNA or messenger RNA and introduce them into the nucleus of other cells

. Therefore, the exosome, in itself, is a real revolution."

Ricart reports that they are already used "to treat heart and brain pathologies, in tumors (they allow us to identify what type of tumor we are dealing with), in pregnancies or in infections. Also, for tissue regeneration."

But what could come is even more astonishing. "Let's imagine that

we can tell our cells that they have to age more slowly

and, therefore, slow down aging. Or that exosomes are introduced into the cells with messenger RNA that 'tell' the rest that they have to

produce more muscle

. Although It may sound incredible, we are talking about two assumptions that are not as far away as one might think because, in fact, in the United States there are already doctors who, through exosomes, are sending the message to the cells to

produce brown fat,

the production of which is being reduced. as we get older."

Exosomes, Ricart details, can be extracted "from plants, animals, microbes and human beings", but be careful, because the subject is very delicate. "The most common thing is to obtain them through

blood platelets

. Through a special processing we remove the exosomes and then puncture them on the same patient. This technique is being carried out with very good results, in hair and other tissues body like scars".

This specialist warns us that, "despite being a promising technique for the treatment of many diseases, some doctors are

using it inappropriately,

so we must be very careful with it." And, in this sense, he emphasizes that, at the moment, "

there is no scientific literature

that confirms what may happen, within 10 or 15 years, with those patients who are injected with exosomes that are not from their own tissue, because "It is prohibited to investigate with them."

In short, "we find ourselves at a crossroads, in which, on the one hand,

technology

is going at supersonic speed while, on the other,

regulatory agents

are putting the brakes on advances."

Carlos Morales Raya, dermatologist and director of the Morales Raya Clinic

"Exosomes are vesicles produced by some types of cells and that contain different types of proteins and genetic material. It has been seen that they have great

power in stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and in tissue regeneration

," he says. Dr. Morales Raya.

Where do his superpowers come from? "Exosomes contain genetic material produced by cells to stimulate certain cellular functions: promote the production of

collagen and elastin

, release

growth factors

by the cell itself and improve cellular functions, in general. In short, one could say that are messengers that will transmit to our cells the necessary information so that they can get to work.

In dermatology, the most frequent uses are: "Treatment of

alopecia

, since they stimulate hair growth by regenerating the hair follicle;

combined with laser

to increase its effectiveness and reduce recovery time;

combined with platelet-rich plasma

to produce a "durable skin regeneration with long-term effects; and

treatments with micro needles

to improve texture and luminosity."

Although in many countries it is a widespread practice, in Europe, Morales Raya warns that "

their injectable use is not approved by the European Medicines Agency

. In Spain, they are used topically applied, favoring their penetration through microneedle devices." , fractional laser or virtual mesotherapy equipment".

Daniel Arenas, plastic surgeon at Grupo Pedro Jaén and disseminator at Merz Aesthetics

Exosomes are, according to Dr. Daniel Arenas, "the new revolution in aesthetic medicine and an alternative to

taking care of yourself without needles

."

These are, he details, "nanovesicles that

are released by stem cells from the tissues

and that act as efficient

'messenger vehicles'

by being capable of transporting bioactive molecules - such as growth factors, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids - to the target tissues." and produce a stimulating effect on all cellular functions. They regenerate, improve pores, scars, alopecia, redness or dermatitis."

Arenas details that "the product penetrates with microneedling or lasers that open microchannels" and that "the price of the session does not go below 250 euros."

Juanma Revelles, dermatologist and director of the Le Boost Clinic

"The most interesting thing about exosomes," says Revelles, "is that it is a specialty focused on the body's own ability to regenerate damaged or diseased tissue." They are, he continues, "small vesicles that have inside a

cocktail of growth factors, proteins, as well as portions of DNA and RNA

. They are formed by a lipid layer that will favor, by uniting with the lipid membrane of the cell , that the material they contain passes into the cell, triggering a series of repair and regeneration mechanisms in it."

Within the world of aesthetic medicine, its application in the treatment of aging tissue stands out. "They are ideal for treating photoaging, that sun damage that we accumulate throughout life. Their regenerative capacity causes fibroblasts and keratinocytes to proliferate and migrate,

increase the production of collagen and elastin

and reduce oxidative stress and damage. to the DNA of the cells while stimulating the production of new vessels for proper nutrition of the skin. In this way, we achieve brighter and smoother skin with a reduction in pores and an attenuation of fine wrinkles.

But, in addition, "within the world of more clinical dermatology, its incredible benefits have been proven in cases of

alopecia

, by stimulating hair growth; in

inflammatory pathologies

, such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis or rosacea, due to its immunoregulatory capacity ; in treatments of

traumatic wounds

or medical-aesthetic procedures that involve an alteration of the skin barrier, since they favor 're-epithelialization' and closure; even in cases of

melanoma

, a decrease in the tumor and an increase in life expectancy have been seen. ".

The usual form of application is "under topical anesthesia, using 'microneedling' or fractionated energy devices."

Ana Revuelta, expert in aesthetic medicine and founder of the Ana Revuelta Clinic

Great advance in regenerative therapy, Dr. Ana Revuelta says that "exosomes are tiny carriers of genetic material, proteins and lipids that have the ability to

carry information traveling to other cells

."

In aesthetic medicine and dermatology, they have represented "a true revolution in

regeneration treatment

, since they improve the function of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, favoring the

synthesis of collagen and elastin

and increasing dermal fat."

Among its benefits for the skin, Revuelta highlights "the acceleration of tissue regeneration (scars); the

regulation of inflammation

and the immune response; the early maturation of wounds; the relief of fine lines and wrinkles of expression and firming of sagging. In addition, it hydrates and improves the texture of the skin, also reducing blemishes.

For all these reasons, he concludes, "exosomes are a

perfect complement to biostimulation treatments

, since they allow us to do combined therapies, both with devices and fillers, achieving biostimulation and regeneration."