Epidermal growth factors are a family of several proteins naturally present in the body. They are a key component of the cell growth and regeneration process. On a daily basis, they are responsible for triggering the regeneration of micro-vascular networks and improve wound healing by initiating the synthesis of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

1. High fat diet and GLP-1 drugs induce pancreatic injury in mice

2. Cationic cell-penetrating peptides are potent furin inhibitors

3. SERS spectrum of the peptide thymosin‐β4 obtained with Ag nanorod substrate

4. Oleic acid and glucose regulate glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor expression in a rat pancreatic ductal cell line

5. C-Peptide replacement therapy and sensory nerve function in type 1 diabetic neuropathy

Skin aging is primarily due to alterations in the dermal extracellular matrix, especially a decrease in collagen I content, fragmentation of collagen fibrils, and accumulation of amorphous elastin material, also known as elastosis. Growth factors and cytokines are included in several cosmetic products intended for skin rejuvenation because of their ability to promote collagen synthesis. Matrikines and matrikine-like peptides offer the advantage of growth factor-like activities but better skin penetration due to their much smaller molecular size. In this review, we summarize the commercially available products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines for which there is evidence that they promote skin rejuvenation.

Aldag, C., Teixeira, D. N., & Leventhal, P. S. (2016). Skin rejuvenation using cosmetic products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines: a review of the literature. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 9, 411.

Senile purpura presents itself as a largely unexplored challenge as it has been long thought of as a benign condition without long-term health sequelae. It is becoming increasingly accepted that skin aging not only results in cosmetic disturbances, but as a functional ones. With modern increases in lifespan, skin atrophy associated with solar damage is presenting as a clinically significant inability to mechanically protect patients. This chronic cutaneous insufficiency/fragility syndrome was recently termed dermatoporosis and senile purpura appears to be a visible marker of early stage dysfunction.

McKnight, B., Seidel, R., & Moy, R. (2015). Topical Human Epidermal Growth Factor in the Treatment of Senile Purpura and the Prevention of Dermatoporosis. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 14(10), 1147-1150.