Growth Factors for Skin: What They Are and Why We Need Them

April 2025

A Guide to Unlocking the Skin’s Potential With Growth Factors for Skin

With a somewhat ambiguous name, it’s no wonder growth factors for skin are often met with confusion or a lack of awareness. Despite being developed in the 50s and undergoing decades of science and study, growth factors have only recently become a sought-after ingredient for their anti-aging properties.

Whether you’ve heard of growth factors or are just delving in, it’s important to understand what you’re buying and how it can benefit your skin.

What Are Growth Factors for Skin?

Growth factors are proteins that occur naturally in the body to help with repairing damaged skin and promoting skin cell growth, and collagen and elastin production. They do a lot for our skin, with one amazing outcome: helping our skin look healthy and rejuvenated.

There are multiple types of growth factors present in the body, and they all have different jobs.

Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF) help in healing and repairing damaged skin, these are great for post procedure healing or wound healing.
Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF) stimulate collagen and elastin production to support and strengthen the skin, these often play a role in anti-aging treatment.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (PDGF) help repair the skin’s tissues when damaged or compromised.
Transforming Growth Factors (TGF) help maintain collagen levels.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (VEGF) support blood flow to the skin, encouraging a healthy, radiant glow.

Like collagen and elastin, growth factors also decrease as we age, resulting in more pronounced fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. People often turn to supplements and topical products to pause or reverse these signs of aging, and growth factors have gained popularity as a treatment that gets results.

How Do They Work?

Because the body already produces growth factors, taking a supplement or applying them topically to the skin is simply replenishing what may be a diminishing supply in your body.

These “artificial” growth factors are typically derived from the proteins produced by animal or human stem cells and are bioengineered specifically for skincare. Growth factors with the same skin repair and rejuvenation functions have also been developed from plant-derived ingredients.

Growth factors stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. In doing so, growth factors can help your skin more quickly and effectively recover from sun or other damage, as well as signs of aging.

Collagen and elastin are essential in keeping the skin strong, tight, smooth, and supported, so as wrinkles and fine lines emerge, growth factors can send signals to your skin to reverse course.

Topical growth factors can help your skin:

Look brighter, healthier, and rejuvenated
Become tighter and stronger, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Recover more quickly from sun damage or cosmetic treatments such as lasers or chemical peels
Turn over and renew skin cells more quickly and efficiently
Better protect itself from harsh chemicals and environmental stressors by strengthening the skin barrier
Retain more moisture, staying hydrated for longer

Working Growth Factors into Your Skincare Routine

The most important first step to using growth factors is selecting the right product for your skin type and unique needs. They are available as serums and creams and are applied topically to the skin. You should always consult with your dermatology provider before starting a new skincare product, but growth factors have been found to be safe for all skin types. Some minor side effects can include dry skin or rashes.

Anyone who is interested in reducing fine lines and wrinkles and improving their skin health is a candidate for growth factors. Most people report seeing results within 4-8 weeks of treatment, with full results within 12 weeks. Optimal results rely on continued use past the initial 12 weeks, as results can continue to be seen up to several months after starting treatment.

Some top-rated products recommended by our expert medical aesthetics providers include:

Exosomes

Exosomes are a cutting-edge regenerative treatment that contains growth factors, peptides, and lipids. Exosomes stimulate collagen production, enhance cellular communication, and accelerate healing. They are commonly used to improve skin texture, tone, and elasticity, and to support recovery after aesthetic treatments like microneedling and laser procedures.

Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP)

PRP is a natural treatment that utilizes the patient’s own blood to stimulate skin and hair regeneration. After drawing a small amount of blood, it is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors. PRP is widely used for skin rejuvenation, helping to improve fine lines, texture, and overall skin health. It is also a popular treatment for hair restoration, as the growth factors in PRP can strengthen hair follicles and encourage new hair growth.

Product Recommendations

There have been a lot of studies and research over the years that indicate growth factors can visibly reduce wrinkles and fine lines and improve overall skin health. However, it’s always best to speak with a specialized provider to discuss your specific concerns and understand the best product and skincare regimen for you.

Our expert dermatologists and medical aesthetic providers are well-versed in skin care, cosmetic dermatology, and anti-aging approaches, and we encourage you to schedule a consultation to discuss your specific concerns and better understand if growth factors are for you! Book an appointment today.