As we continue to enjoy the tail-end of the summer season, patients concerned with anti-aging may begin to see the impact summer has on their skin. A combination of UV exposure, humid environments and drying ACs not only aggravate existing skin conditions, but they can highlight fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, flaking and discoloration.

In trying to visibly improve signs of aging, you may have noticed a new ingredient making its way to the top of many medical-grade skincare products: growth factors.

WHAT ARE GROWTH FACTORS?

Simply put, growth factors are proteins that are already naturally produced and found in the body. These proteins bind to receptors on cells and communicate crucial messages. In the skin, various growth factors tell your cells to “produce collagen” or “create more elastin”. Unfortunately, as we age, like most things, our body produces lower quantities of growth factors. This results in a decrease in collagen production and a weakening of elastin, which then translates to signs of aging like lines, wrinkles, and sagging, thinning skin.

WHAT BENEFITS DO GROWTH FACTOR PRODUCTS OFFER?

Adding products with a high concentration of growth factors into your daily skincare routine can support skin rejuvenation. Growth factors are a sensitive skin-friendly alternative to retinol, and they are safe for all skin types. Many clinical studies have been done in the search for a new hero in anti-aging—the benefits of topically applied products with growth factors show improvements in the appearance of aging skin, as well as a slew of other skin issues, like skin texture and discoloration.

En ZO^® Skin Health, we offer growth factor technology in the form of Suero de factor de crecimiento y Sérum para ojos con factor de crecimiento, both of which contain plant and enzymatically derived growth factors. Growth Factor Serum leverages ZO’s clinically proven growth factor technology in a powerful, yet gentle, solution that helps patients restore a more youthful appearance to skin by visibly improving fine lines and wrinkles, supporting the appearance of natural fullness, and restoring hydration from within.

Sérum para ojos con factor de crecimiento also contains ZO’s clinically proven growth factor technology but designed specifically with ingredients that target the delicate eye area. It helps to improve the look of dark circles and to re-invigorate the look of tired eyes by plumping, visibly filling creasing and hollows.

Patients experience fast-acting results and long-term benefits by incorporating this product duo into their daily protocol. In a 12-week clinical study of Suero de factor de crecimiento, ZO^® Skin Health found the following:

• 95% of patients reported improvement in texture and smoothness after 8 weeks.
• 78% of patients said skin appeared tighter and firmer after 12 weeks.
• 92% of patients reported improvement in overall appearance of the skin after.

Suero de factor de crecimiento y Sérum para ojos con factor de crecimiento pair well with other products you may already use, such as vitamin C, which is a proven antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals to boost the benefits of growth factors. If you’re a retinol lover, even in the summer, you can still use growth factors in combination, which will provide you with enhanced anti-aging results. Of course, no good skincare regimen is complete, summer or otherwise, without the regular use of a good sunscreen. Growth factors are an ingredient skincare staple you can keep and continue to reap the benefits of year-round.