[tt] Scientists find way to balance skin color and tone | Science Blog

[Brian Atkins]

http://www.scienceblog.com/cms/scientists-find-way-balance-skin-color-and-tone-13990.html

In the timeless quest for healthier, younger looking skin, scientists from the 
University of Cincinnati and Tokyo Medical University have made an important 
discovery toward manipulating skin tone and color. The implications of this 
research range from helping doctors develop more natural looking bioengineered 
skin grafts to helping cosmetics companies develop new products for achieving 
the “perfect” sunless tan. The research study, published in the September print 
issue of The FASEB Journal, shows for the first time how to manipulate skin 
color and tone using cells previously thought to play no significant role in 
this function.

“Most immediately, this study should lead to bioengineered skin grafts that more 
closely resemble the natural tone and color of recipients, which may help reduce 
the appearance of scarring,” said Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor-in-Chief of The 
FASEB Journal. “Down the road, however, this study opens doors to new types of 
cosmetics based on our understanding of how and why ‘skin deep’ differences in 
appearance evolved over millions of years.”

In the article, researchers describe how cells responsible for pigmentation, 
called melanocytes, can be controlled by the most commonly occurring skin cells, 
called keratinocytes, which produce no pigment of their own. Working with 
bioengineered skin, which is used for some types of skin grafts, the researchers 
juggled various mixtures keratinocytes from people with different types of skin 
colors. In turn, the keratinocytes produced chemical signals to “tell” 
melanocytes to produce more or less pigment, called melanin, as well as how to 
distribute that pigment. The researchers found that using keratinocytes from 
light-skinned individuals had a lightening effect on the bioengineered skin 
graft material, while keratinocytes from dark-skinned individuals had a 
darkening effect. This is a significant finding as it shows a conclusive link 
between keratinocytes and melanocytes and because keratinocytes are much easier 
to manipulate than melanocytes.

Medical conditions that sometimes require the use of bioengineered skin grafts 
include severe burns, scleroderma, epidermis bullosa, diabetes, and venous leg 
ulcers. In addition, the study’s senior researcher, Raymond Boissy, says this 
study also could “help the quality of life for people with pigment diseases such 
as vitiligo, melasma and age spotting by making their skin more healthy looking.”

http://www.faseb.org

-- 
Brian Atkins
Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/