Skin Tone Manipulation

The color in our skin and hair is because of melanin which is produced by the melanocytes. But it has been recently shown than the behavior of melanocytes can be modified by manipulating keratinocytes which do not have any pigment of their own. The study has been conducted on bio engineered skin grafts in which the tone and color of the skin can be made to resemble the natural tone and color of the prospective recipients. It is hoped that such bioengineered skin grafts will lead to revolutionary changes in the cosmetic outcome of conditions which require skin grafting, like severe burns, epidermis bullosa, scleroderma, venous leg ulcers and diabetes. Raymond Biosy the senior researcher also believes that the quality of life in pigmentary diseases like vitiligo and melasma may improve with this technique.

The most important conclusion in this research is that the conduct of melanocytes can be manipulated through the agency of keratinocytes. This is going to affect not only the medical management of pigmentary disorders but also the development of a new generation of cosmetics in future.

The study was conducted by the scientists from Tokyo Medical University and University of Cincinnati.