The dangers of exosome treatments in skin care

There's no shortage of trending procedures for aging and wrinkles, and products to preserve skin and hair health.

One such treatment is found in exosome products and therapies, though experts say more research and oversight are needed.

Exosomes are tiny messages that your cells send to each other, according to Dr. Gina Maccarone, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon and founder of The Surgeonista in Cincinnati.

"The key difference between stem cells and exosomes is that a stem cell is a living cell that can divide and turn into other cell types, while an exosome is not alive and cannot reproduce," Maccarone said. In the world of aesthetics, some seek them out for skin rejuvenation, inflammation reduction, improving recovery after procedures like lasers or microneedling, and potentially aiding hair loss through injections into the scalp, she adds.

Most treatments are topical, though.

Experts say there isn’t extensive or long-term data to prove exosome treatment improves skin or hair.

“Most of what we have consists of small, short-term, open-label studies, so I can't give you a reliable answer on how long results last, because the durability data essentially doesn't exist yet," Maccarone said. "I would be wary of anyone promising dramatic or…

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