Stanford team (briefly) reverses skin aging

Blocking a single critical protein reversed the effects of aging on the skin of mice, suggesting that researchers may be on to a short-term therapy that could help older people heal from an injury. Howard Chang, MD, PhD, assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, says his work highlights that the effects of aging on skin is a genetic process, not the result of wear and tear. And that genetic process can be reversed by blocking the protein NF-kappa-B, but possibly for only a short time.

"The implication is that the aging process is plastic and potentially amenable to intervention," Chang said. "We found a pretty striking reversal to that of the young skin." But he doesn't believe that he may be on to a new cosmetic procedure.

- check out the release for more

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