An Ultimate Guide to Growth Factors for Skin Health, A Dermatologist Explains All
Let’s admit it. In our quest for youthful, radiant, and healthy skin, we often end up with products loaded with ingredients that we don’t always understand. Take growth factors, for example. Although they’re not exactly new—they were first discovered in the 50s by two scientists who subsequently earned a Nobel Prize for their work—growth factors for skin have only started to join the ranks of anti-aging elites in recent years despite its solid science and growing field of study. That’s mostly because this high-tech ingredient is often surrounded by confusion and controversy. To clear the air, we turned to board-certified dermatologist and member of Dermstore’s Medical Advisory Board Dr. Connie Yang to give us all the details growth factors in skin care.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Connie Yang - Board-certified dermatologist, fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and member of Dermstore’s Medical Advisory Board
In this Article
- What Are Growth Factors
- Role of Growth Factors in Skin Care
- Benefits of Growth Factors for Skin
- Which Skin Types Should Use Growth Factor Skin Care
- How to Use Growth Factors in Your Skin Care Routine
- FAQs
- The Bottom Line
What Are Growth Factors?
Naturally found in the body, growth factors, according to Dr. Yang, are proteins or peptides that help “repair damage, stimulate cell growth, and promote production of various components of the skin like collagen and elastin.” They work by acting as messengers and attaching to receptors that signal cells to heal, regenerate, and multiply, making them an essential skincare ingredient in promoting skin rejuvenation, reversing damage, and preventing premature skin aging.
Some of the most common growth factors for skin include epidermal growth factors (EGF), which helps in skin healing and repairing damage, and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) that stimulate collagen and elastin production to maintain and improve the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Meanwhile, platelet-derived growth factors or PDGF, transforming growth factor (TGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF are used to support tissue repair, maintain collagen levels, and encourage blood flow, respectively.
Growth factors for skin are either derived from animal and human stem cells or bioengineered in a laboratory. While some skincare fans and experts may feel iffy about their origins, it’s important to note that growth factors in skin care don’t involve the use of actual fluids or tissues—only the proteins produced by these stem cells. Alternatively, there are also plant-derived ingredients that mimic the functions of human growth factors in stimulating cell renewal and repair.
What is the Role of Growth Factors in Skin Care
Growth factors are some of the most advanced anti-aging ingredients. As messengers between cells, they serve mainly to signal healing and repair. Growth factors in skin care and medical treatments stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which boosts the skin’s natural renewal and repair process, leading to improved elasticity, tone and texture, and overall skin health.
Benefits of Growth Factors for Skin
According to Dr. Yang, growth factors f0r skin are highly versatile ingredients that work in different ways to improve one’s skin, mimicking the functions of the body’s natural growth factors. “They can stimulate cell turnover and renewal, boost collagen and elastin production, aid in wound healing and tissue repair, and improve fine lines and texture over time,” she explains.
Some of the most noticeable effects of growth factors on the skin include:
Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles - Speeding up post-procedure recovery and healing of damaged skin
- Promoting smoother skin tone and texture
- Refining the appearance of scars and post-acne blemishes
Strengthening the skin barrier and boosting its protective functions against harsh ingredients and environmental stressors like sun damage and pollution - Keeping the skin plump and hydrated by improving its ability to hold moisture
Which Skin Types Should Use Growth Factors
Growth factors are well tolerated by most skin types, says Dr. Yang, but they can be especially beneficial for those with mature, damaged, or post-treatment skin due to their inherent rejuvenating, healing, and restorative properties. Those who want to get an early start on preventative skin care should also consider adding growth factors to their skincare routine to maintain skin health and further delay signs of aging.
How to Use Growth Factors in Your Skin Care Routine
Growth factors are typically found in serums, creams, and post-procedure treatments, and picking out the right product depends on your skin goals and needs. Serums allow you to directly nourish your skin while moisturizers can provide added hydration, especially for those with dry or mature skin. Additionally, growth factors in your post-procedure routine can help speed up the healing process after microneedling or laser treatments.
Skincare products with growth factors often come in the gentlest formulations that are tolerated by even the most sensitive skin. Most products infused with growth factors should be used morning and night, with nighttime use even more important because it allows you to take advantage of the body’s natural repair process as you sleep. When using a growth factor serum, make sure to layer the product properly for best results. Apply the serum first on clean, damp skin for better absorption and wait a few minutes before adding in your retinoid and the rest of your skincare products.
Shop the Best Growth Factor Skin Care
1. SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
581 reviews
$295.00
Powered by the brand’s next-generation growth factors, this serum is all about giving your skin a youthful boost. It works by promoting cell renewal and supporting the skin’s collagen and elastin levels to smooth stubborn wrinkles and fine lines and lift sagging skin.
Key Ingredients: TNS®-MR, Renessensce (RSC) Advanced
Skin Type: Mature Skin, Normal Skin
Skin Benefits: Refines coarse wrinkles and fine lines, visibly firms and lifts sagging skin, evens skin tone and texture
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum works fast and delivers visible results in just two weeks, with progressive improvements over 24 weeks.
2. SkinMedica TNS Recovery Complex
113 reviews
$230.00
This growth factors-powered serum does some serious heavy lifting when it comes to smoothing rough spots and uneven tone and texture and keeping signs of aging at bay. With its potent and highly advanced formula, it goes deep into the skin to target blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and encourage healthier and speedier cell growth.
Key Ingredients: Human Fibroblast Conditioned Media (TNS®)
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Nourishes and rejuvenates skin, refines fine lines and wrinkles, improves skin tone and texture
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum features SkinMedica’s proprietary naturally secreted and stabilized growth factor blend.
3. Dr. Diamond’s Metacine INSTAFACIAL PLASMA Bioactive Growth Factor Serum
$200.00
With its advanced bioactive ingredients that mimic the functions and benefits of platelet-rich plasma growth factors, this serum goes deep into the skin and straight into action by targeting blood vessels, reducing inflammation, and boosting collagen production to renew and rejuvenate sensitive, mature, and damaged skin.
Key Ingredients: 9 Bioactive Peptides, Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Improves the appearance of crow’s feet and stubborn lines and wrinkles, smooths and refines texture, firms and lifts skin for a more youthful appearance
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply this serum to clean, dry skin in the morning and evening. At night, pair with INSTAFACIAL® EMULSION RETINOPRO Growth Factor Night Cream to achieve clinically proven results.
4. BIOEFFECT EFG Serum
7 reviews
$175.00
At the heart of this award-winning serum is its groundbreaking barley-derived EGF, making it the ultimate anti-aging miracle worker: it visibly erases signs of aging, revives dull and tired complexion, and quenches even the most parched skin.
Key Ingredients: BIOEFFECT EGF, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Icelandic Water
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Visibly reduces wrinkles and fine lines, boosts hydration and moisture retention, improves complexion and skin tone, plumps and smooths skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Clean beauty fans will love that this serum is formulated with only seven ingredients, highlighting purity and efficacy.
5. Allies of Skin Multi Peptides and GF Advanced Lifting Serum
11 reviews
$188.00
If you’re looking for a serum that can lift, firm, and restore your skin’s youthful appearance, then this one is for you. Gentle and lightweight, this anti-aging powerhouse goes hard at lifting, firming, and tightening the skin on the face and neck while refining the look of fine lines and wrinkles, improving texture and radiance, and boosting moisture and hydration.
Key Ingredients: 3% Growth Factor Complex, 9% Lifting Peptide Complex
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Delivers instant hydration, smooths and plumps skin, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, lifts and firms skin
Beauty Insider Tip: Its gentle and nourishing formula also makes this serum a great addition to your post-procedure skincare routine.
6. Glo Skin Beauty BioRenew EGF Drops
2 reviews
$138.00
Featuring vegan EGF as its star ingredient, this age-defying serum treatment is all about imparting a youthful look and natural radiance to the skin. It restores and supports the skin barrier and improves texture in just one week, so skin looks brighter, softer, and younger-looking over time.
Key Ingredients: Vegan EGF, Bioactive Peptide Recovery Complex, Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Supports skin barrier function, improves skin density and texture, softens and brightens complexion, reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum features a smart dropper to make sure you’re applying the right amount for your skin’s needs. Use four to six drops twice daily when using it as an all-over serum, or mix two to three drops with your moisturizer, primer, or foundation as a skin-repairing boost.
7. BIOEFFECT EGF Eye Serum
9 reviews
$99.00
We know that under-eye woes are some of the trickiest to deal with, but this serum is the perfect reminder that all is not lost. Specifically formulated with a higher concentration of BIOEFFECT EGF, it targets the most stubborn skin under-eye skin concerns like crow’s feet, puffiness, sagging, and dark circles.
Key Ingredients: BIOEFFECT EGF, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Icelandic Water
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Skin Benefits: Reduces puffiness, crepiness, and saggy skin; diminishes fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet; brightens and improves radiance; hydrates, plumps, and smooths skin
Beauty Insider Tip: This serum comes with a rollerball applicator that helps cool and depuff the under-eye area.
FAQs
Are Growth Factors Better than Retinol?
As an anti-aging ingredient, growth factors work best when used with other wrinkle-fighting ingredients like retinol, says Dr. Yang. “Growth factors are very promising for anti-aging, but retinol has been used and studied for much longer with much more data to support its efficacy. I recommend using the two in conjunction,” she explains. “Choose a growth factor serum that is manufactured by a trusted brand with studies to back their efficacy.”
Can You Use Vitamin C with Growth Factors?
Yes, absolutely! Growth factors and vitamin C share similar functions and complement each other well. Both ingredients help in brightening the complexion, improving texture, boosting the skin’s defenses against environmental damage, and amping up the skin’s production of collagen.
Do Growth Factors Really Work?
Although research on growth factors is still not as robust as other well-known ingredients, plenty of clinical studies over the last couple of decades point to their effectiveness in addressing signs of aging, texture and elasticity concerns, and post-procedure needs. That said, like any skincare product, how well growth factors work depends on a few factors, including the product’s delivery system, dosage or potency, consistency of use, and other active ingredients used alongside them. To achieve your desired results, it’s always best to follow a well-rounded skincare routine and choose evidence-backed products from reputable brands.
The Bottom Line
Growth factors for skin play a key role in skin healing and repair, making them one of the most advanced and impressive anti-aging ingredients. Well-tolerated by most skin types, they are especially beneficial for those with dry, damaged, or mature skin, all thanks to their regenerative and restorative benefits that involve signaling the production of collagen and elastin to improve tone and texture, reverse damage, and speed up the skin’s natural healing process.
Janeca Racho is a Journalism graduate with over 15 years of writing experience. After getting her start in public relations and advertising, she made the switch to freelance writing and began working for various lifestyle, fashion, and travel brands. Her love for all things skincare has led her to beauty reporting and research for the last ten years. Writing for several hair and beauty blogs, she reports on anti-aging staples, trending brands and products, must-have ingredients, and health and wellness.
