Stem cell research
Stem cells require the proper surrounding environment to divide correctly and to become a cell type that they actually need. To illustrate, imagine that stem cell is a blind cell and it cannot go anywhere or do anything, because its blind. It needs to have directions and instructions to do anything at all. Surrounding cells send signals (like saying words) to the stem cells, helping them to divide when it is needed, to become other cell types or just not to do anything. To manipulate stem cells artificially (like to divide into functional skin tissue), we need to know how, when and why surrounding is communicating with stem cells. Currently, scientists are trying to understand the order of signals, to identify the signals and to discover new properties of the stem cells that will help to create cells or tissues for medical use.
Current treatments and research
Regenerative medicine is stem cell therapy, during which stem cells are grown in the laboratory and are manipulated using known signals and their order to become a cell of interest. There are a few applications of regenerative medicine in dermatology, one of them is to improve wound healing. For example, as a result of injury or medical condition, there is a huge traumatic wound or burn on the skin that will leave a scar or can be life-threatening. Stem cells can be placed or sprayed on the wound and they will remake normal cells of the skin more efficiently. Despite the fact that it may sound like an easy thing to do, it is a very complicated process. For better results, scientists tried to apply not only stem cells but stem cells with their surrounding cells. Even though the outcome improved, there are still questions about scarring formation and how to control stem cells. Interestingly, it is possible to grow artificial skin in a laboratory and transplant it to the patient, but the skin would not have all complicated features of natural skin.
Future prospective
As of future prospective use of regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy proved to decrease inflammation associated with difficult inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis and lupus, without side effects on mice. In addition, some research was done on scaring, which can be gained from trauma, acne or chronic dermatological conditions. It showed to increase in blood flow to the region with the scar, which could help with decreasing scar size. Another exciting perspective of stem cells is using them as anti-agent therapy. Aging is a natural process that is most noticeable through skin aging signs. With age stem cells start to function improperly and skin loses elasticity and wrinkles are formed. Currently, scientists are working on methods to make anti-aging therapies with distinct stem cells and some progress was noted. Hopefully in the future, stem cells could be used for aging, scaring, any wound types, skin inflammation, chronic and genetic conditions of the skin.
Skin Regeneration 