Prometheus 6

Scientists weigh in on skin creams and their claims of harnessing the power of stem cells
Skin creams tout stem cells' restorative powers. But the science isn't there yet.
By Shari Roan
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 21, 2008 

"Restore and renew." "Significantly reduces the loss of cells in the epidermis." "Regenerate cells and repair tissue."

The newest skin creams beckon with an air of scientific gravitas, holding out the hope that now, at last, medicine has triumphed over the visible aging process. With tantalizing biological references and understated packaging, the products are among the first on the market to capitalize on the public's insatiable appetite for stem cell technology.

"The goal of these products is to create a more youthful cell that would replenish elastin and collagen," says Dr. Kenneth Beer, a West Palm Beach, Fla., dermatologist. A clinical instructor at the University of Miami, he conducts clinical trials on skin-care products.