Skin Regeneration

Skin Regeneration is the process of creating new skin, either from stem cells, in the form of a tissue-engineered skin substitute, or through traditional healing of a skin wound. Skin Regeneration techniques are becoming more prevalent and necessary in the modern medical field due to the increasing number of individuals suffering from skin conditions such as skin cancer or dermatitis. This type of skin regeneration involves clever manipulation of the healing process to create a complete and functional skin substitute. The use of stem cells is a key component to successful skin regeneration. Stem cells are powerful regenerative cells that can be grown in a laboratory setting and then implanted onto or under the skin. Through these stem cells, the body will naturally heal the area where the stem cells have been implanted and create an entirely new layer of healthy skin. Additionally, in tissue-engineered skin substitutes, artificial scaffolds are used as a support system for the stem cells to attach to, creating a replacement skin that can be as thin as a few tenths of a millimeter and is sufficiently durable to allow for the future addition of existing therapy protocols. For those who do not require a tissue-engineered skin substitute, any area on the body can regenerate on its own, most commonly in the form of a scar. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of the skin’s healing process are complex yet when stimulated and guided in the correct way, new healthy skin cells can be regenerated with relative ease. The goal of skin regeneration is to not only replace damaged skin but to also improve its barrier, metabolic, and immune functions. As the field of regenerative medicine continues to develop, more and more techniques to create whole and functional skin from stem cells are likely to arise. It is hopeful that with the current advances being made such as stem cell therapy, 3-dimensional printing of skin, and gene editing, regenerative skin therapies will soon become commonplace in medical treatments for a variety of skin conditions.