What is Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)? 

You may hear about it all the time, this is especially true if you read our blog. Epidermal growth factor is a very important active at Skin Actives Scientific. We’ve championed the use of this protein since day one, way back when hardly anyone else was talking about it. Now the world has awakened to the potential of EGF as an active ingredient and it seems like it’s more places now than ever. But what does that mean? What does EGF do for you, and more importantly, how does it do it?

We often talk about epidermal growth factor stimulating the growth of your skin cells through topical application. But what does that mean, how does it work?

To answer this question, we have to go back to high school biology class. But this isn’t meant to be triggering! Let’s discuss some of these basic concepts together.

Oh No, Mitosis!

Do you remember mitosis? I bet like Celine Dion and Meatloaf said, it’s all coming back to you now.

If you need a brush up, mitosis is the process of cell division. It has 5 stages Prophase, Prometaphase, Metaphase, Anaphase and finally, Telophase & Cytokinesis. We’ll save getting into what each step means for when you have to help someone with their biology homework, suffice it to say that mitosis is caused by mitogens and growth factors, among other things.

Fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are the most common type of cell that composes connective tissue. Not only is the connective tissue of your body made of fibroblasts, but fibroblasts also determine the shape of connective tissue itself. So that’s right, the fact that your arms are arms and your skin is skin, is all because of fibroblasts working together to build the proteins in your body.

There is no way to know how many cells compose an individual human form, but it is theorized that a typical human has perhaps up to 15 TRILLION cells composing them, the most common of which is the fibroblast.

But this isn’t the only reason that fibroblasts are important. 

Fibroblasts actually secrete collagen and elastin proteins. Collagen and elastin proteins not only give your body form and substance, they also give your elasticity, resilience and strength. There are no less than 16 types of collagen proteins but the first four, Types I - IV constitute over 90% of the composition of your body, all the way from your bones, to your internal organs, to your body’s largest organ, your skin.

Diminishing Returns

Our body’s ability to produce these vital proteins actually peaks very early in life.

Would it surprise you to learn that you literally hit max protein production at 20 years old! You aren’t even over the awkwardness of adolescence yet, and your body is already peaking. Every year after age 20, your body loses up to 1 percent of its ability to manufacture and maintain collagen and elastin production.

The result is clear: physical aging. As our body produces less collagen and elastin proteins our skin becomes thinner and more brittle. Our oil production decreases and we become more dry and in need of lipids. 

So really, when you are looking at skin care, it’s hard to start too early! Even if you are enjoying the lustre of beautiful skin in the dawn of your third decade, you are already losing your body’s ability to maintain it. Working on your skin now, will help prevent aging that hasn’t happened yet.

Getting Back On Track With Epidermal Growth Factor

So why epidermal growth factor, and why now?

We’ll answer the second question first. For many years the science to bring EGF into skin care didn’t exist. The developments that made this possible are relatively recent. Then, it was a matter of time, getting the word out and getting people to understand what EGF could do for them, leading to now when epidermal growth factor is one of the industry’s hottest trends.

But why should you use it?

This goes back to mitosis.

EGF is, by definition, a growth factor, that means it signals for cells to begin the process of mitosis. In a certain way, EGF is telling your skin to “wake up” and start doing the work it was designed to do, but that it has been doing with less and less energy since you turned 20.

Collagen and elastin are not just good for body health, they are good for skin health! While you are communicating to your skin to get back in the game, epidermal growth factor has displayed no side effects when applied topically. 

Some skincare companies want to call what EGF does “the Fountain of Youth”. But at Skin Actives Scientific, we’re not fond of hyperbole. We are, however, big fans of hard science, and real results you can see in the mirror. The science on epidermal growth factor is good. It works. We believe in it and you should too. 

Introducing Hyaluronic Acid Serum with EGF

Skin Actives has combined two of the hottest trends in skincare today to reinforce our Glowing line of products. Now you’ll be able to get the top-shelf hydrating action of hyaluronic acid with the skin cell renewing action of epidermal growth factor.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum with EGF brings the power of epidermal growth factor to our Glowing line for the first time. The functionality of this great new product works on a couple of principles, backed up with active ingredients you know to look for:

Hyaluronic Acid - works by locking in hydration early so that you don’t lose it unnecessarily over the course of the day. 

Sea Kelp Coral - provides unsurpassed skin nutrition, dense in vitamins and minerals.

A Host of Antioxidants - calm and soothe angry skin, reducing redness and irritation.

Epidermal Growth Factor - binds to receptors on your skin’s cells and instructs them to begin reproducing.

Use this thin, lightweight, silky feeling serum immediately following your cleansing step to get the most out of all these great actives. Or, make the most of the amazing texture your skin will feel and use it as a make-up primer!