Introduction to Cellular Degeneration
There are many ways that exposure to sunlight can damage the dermal layer of the skin both structurally and with respect to normal functioning. The photo-aging of the skin has a significant and negative impact on a person’s quality of life. It damages the skin and results in premature aging of the skin. It also has a negative psychological impact on a person who loses control over the aging process of the skin. There is an overwhelming need for dermatological solutions that create true cellular regeneration instead of the temporary cosmetic solutions that currently exist. There is a need for solutions that can be disruptive to the field of dermatology. There is an inevitable need to address the permanent deficiencies in the dermis layer of skin. PhytoCellTec Technology now addresses cellular degeneration of the stratum corneum layer of the skin. Innovative technology in the domain of plant-based stem cell technology offers dermatology solutions that can restore skin health and reduce the aging of the skin in a truly regenerative and sustainable way.
The Deep Molecular Mechanism
The damage to cellular microenvironments caused by photo-aging of the skin is the result of prolonged exposure to massive amounts of ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation alters the structure of cellular DNA. In the cellular microenvironment, there is an overabundance of free radicals. This is the result of the failure of the cellular microenvironment to maintain oxidative balance. Overabundance of free radicals activates the matrix metalloproteinases which destroys cellular structures including elastin and collagen which are critical for the integrity of the cellular microenvironment. After a prolonged imbalance in the microenvironment of the cell, degradative enzymes and fibroblasts begin to inhibit the synthesis of the cellular structures. This is the secondary cause of aging of the skin and becomes evident trauma caused by photo-aging requiring PhytoCellTec Technology. Failure to address three-dimensional matrix structures does result in a dermal network that is non-functional, rigid, and fibrous. To address deep structural injuries, it is vital to influence cellular pathways by down-regulating metalloproteinases and increasing fibroblast activity, which would restore the integrity of the tissue. Specifically, fibroblast senescence is essential because cells that are senescent and exhausted have lost their capacity to divide. Therefore, the primary pharmacological challenge in combating photo-aging is restoring the cellular viability and reversing the phenotypic symptoms of cellular loss using PhytoCellTec Technology.
Conventional Therapies – Existing Limitations
So far, the devastating effects of photo-aging have been managed by dermatologists using topical retinoids, chemical peels, and ablative laser resurfacing. The use of retinoids has been discouraged by patients due to their adverse effects of increased erythema and desquamation of the skin. As a result of these events, the integrity of the skin barrier is compromised. Chemical peels remove the superficial layers of skin to eliminate the compromised barrier, and cause the unhealthy skin to be exposed, but do result in thinner skin and increased sensitivity. Even with laser therapies that damage the dermis and promote remodeling of collagen, the damage burns that result in color changes and prolonged healing of the skin are of major concern, especially in the darker Fitzpatrick skin types. The major therapies available today all cause damage to the skin in order to promote a healing response, and do not address the protective healing response and nourish the endogenous stem cell populations. These impaired therapies all show a significant need for PhytoCellTec Technology as non-ablative regenerative treatments to combat photo-aging.
Botanical Epigenetic Intervention Strategies
The major limitations of all of the ablative therapies for photo-aging are counter-balanced with a therapeutic approach that focuses on empowering the cells of a healing response, which is based on the PhytoCellTec Technology. This highly specialized strategy uses the regenerative potential of the Plant stem cells in special Bioreactors. These Plant stem cells contain Epigenetic Factors and also have the potential to interact with the human stem cells in the epidermis. Using PhytoCellTec Technology allows practitioners to prolong the lifespan of endogenous skin stem cells and delay natural senescence. Bioactive compounds in the botanical cell cultures activate the cellular repair mechanisms and shield the human cells from ultraviolet-induced oxidative stress. Transitioning from damage repair to biologically supported restoration is vital in treating photo-aging at the source. PhytoCellTec Technology also promotes the regeneration of the dermal matrix and avoids severe inflammatory effects as a result of traditional treatments.
Figure 1: photo-aging cycle and PhytoCellTec Technology repair mechanism
Trends in Thailand
The intense tropical climate puts individuals at exposure to high levels of ultraviolet radiation making the local population highly vulnerable to early photo-aging. Consequently, Thailand, with the rapidly expanding biomedical sector, makes a good starting point for the implementation of PhytoCellTec Technology. Thailand is also an area of interest for those working in skin science and for those selling skin therapies. With a wide variety of dermatological research and therapies focused on plant stem cells, the incorporation of PhytoCellTec Technology into local clinics and the highly effective delivery of cell technology also fits well to target the highly cosmetic market.
Restorative Dermatology
While the sun can irreversibly damage skin through photo-aging, PhytoCellTec Technology can promote regeneration and restoration of the skin. The sophisticated interventions are required because natural repair of the entire skin barrier is compromised by photo-aging. Leveraging the epigenetic potential of PhytoCellTec Technology, medical professionals are positioned to offer a new and advanced therapeutic option that circumnavigates the challenges of traditional ablative methods. This approach promotes the extended longevity of human epidermal stem cells and ensures an authentic structural repair from the inside. As the therapeutic technique is implemented with more frequency, particularly in instances of high UV exposure, this approach will likely extend the limits of what is possible in dermatological restoration and sustain positive changes to the physiology of the skin in the long term.