Understanding Stem Cell Therapy Anti-Wrinkle and Anti-Aging Creams

At first glance, the phrase "stem cell therapy" on a bottle of anti-aging or wrinkle cream may sound pretty creepy, as if there were actual stem cells suspended in the lotion. Rest assured, however, that such face creams do not contain any human or other animal parts--save animal fats that might in the ingredients list. Rather, the title refers to the stem cells that lie beneath your own skin, the undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into more specialized cells throughout your body, including skin cells.

The major claim of companies that make stem cell therapy facial creams is this: Your body's supply of stem cells starts to dwindle in your twenties and thrities. Since these cells are necessary to regenerate new skin, the key to younger looking skin is to make sure these cells don't die. Enter anti-aging creams specially formulated to revitalize stem cells.

The $89.99 question is, do really they work? How do they work differently than other wrinkle creams and anti-aging serums? Do they truly work better than other products, or is it just another fad in the anti-wrinkle industry?

Most anti-wrinkle and anti-aging products claim to rejuvenate the skin by replenishing cells with key vitamins and minerals and increasing your skins natural collagen. Many creams also contain SPF 15 sunblock as well. You've probably heard the words retinol A, coenzyme Q10, alpha-hydroxy, and collagen elastin proteins repeated on commercials for skin creams. Laboratory tests show that these components do slow some signs of aging--at least they work well enough to garnergood reviews on cosmetics merchant websites.

Yet most of the benefit of anti-wrinkle creams comes from the moisturizers and sun screen, since the major factors in skin's health are hydration and sunlight exposure. Arguably, you could achieve the same effect just by drinking more water and staying out of direct sun.

So what do stem cell therapy wrinkle creams do differently? (not much)

According to the ingredients list on BioLogic, the most popular brand of stem cell therapy cream "as seen on TV," the three main anti-aging compounds are Phyko-AI-PF, Mitostime, and Seractin. Lab studies show that these active ingredients promote skin cell health, but no better or worse than the the ingredients in regular anti-wrinkle creams.

Eclos Regenerative Cream is another popular brand of stem cell therapy face cream; the crux of its advertising campaign is that it contains plant stem cells. Certainly many beneficial compounds are derived from plant cells, but if you believe plant stem cells can replace or regenerate human stem cells, you might as well try to grow cauliflower out of your ears.

emerginC Bio-Active Stem Cell Cream also fights wrinkles with a laundry list of essential extracts and typical face cream ingredients. Yet if you compare the ingredients list to that of regular anti-aging creams, you will see little difference.

So-called "stem cell therapy" wrinkle creams haven't been show to work any better or worse than creams that do not make claims of regenerating stem cells, so for most women, it is really a matter of spending limits. While you can pay the price of an iPod for 2 ounces of stem cell enhancing face cream, you can just as easily pay under $20 for 6 ounces of Olay Night Cream, or Ponds Resurfacing Cream. (See above.)