Are stem cells the secret to great skin?
Introducing Calecim’s bestselling wonder serum — it’s pink and pricey and could be potentially groundbreaking for the future of luxury skincare
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New-generation skincare comes packed full of powerful formulas that appear to be delivering impressive results.
Some of the latest developments in skincare include the use of stem cells and exosomes — messengers between cells that are said to have the ability to transport molecules such as proteins and lipids, growth factors and even genetic material to potentially help renew the appearance of skin. Unsurprisingly they have become the new beauty buzzword.
The key problem with stem cell-derived products on the market (which use adult or plant stem cells), however, is that the cells are difficult to draw and even harder to harvest. So it was big news when a researcher began drawing neonatal stem cells from the umbilical cord lining of red deer — a substance said to be rich in vibrant stem cells.
For several years cord lining stem cells had been explored principally for wound-healing purposes, and it wasn’t long before experts began to draw a connection between the cellular repair process and anti-ageing benefits. Consequently the company holding the patent for this stem cell source launched a cosmeceutical line called Calecim.
“Calecim’s PTT-6 contains a unique mix of growth factors, cytokines and proteins derived from umbilical cord lining stem cells,” says Dr Manav Bawa, a cosmetic doctor and plastic surgeon who runs the Time Clinic in London.
Bawa, who has been using the Professional Serum in clinical practice, notes that this “skin repair” ability of stem cell extract translates into faster skin recovery and visible improvement in fine lines, elasticity and skin tone on his patients. “It supercharges the healing process and collagen response —reducing redness and swelling significantly while enhancing overall outcomes. Patients who’ve had microneedling, both with and without the serum, can clearly see the difference. In my opinion it’s a game-changer.”
Patients were coming back long after they had recovered from their treatments just to get their hands on the serum to maintain the results they were seeing, including less sensitivity and healthier-looking skin with more elasticity. Requests for it to become accessible for home use kept stacking up and so the plan to take this tech beyond the walls of clinics and labs began. Now the Professional Serum as well as the brand’s range of other PTT-6-enriched products, which include a hair-growth treatment, are available without the need for a prescription or a clinical procedure.
“It’s something that traditional formulas can’t match in terms of precision and biological effectiveness,” enthuses Dr Munir Somji, an award-winning cosmetic surgeon and the founder of the Dr MediSpa Clinics in the UK. “Exosomes are like a key unlocking the skin’s potential to heal from within.” Like many other medical professionals, Somji says he has seen impressive results using the Professional Serum on his patients, particularly noticing improved skin texture, a reduction in fine lines, faster recovery from clinical aesthetic treatments and overall healthier-looking skin.
For home use, the serum can be added to a daily skincare routine to supercharge results: simply apply after cleansing and before moisturiser, or after microneedling, peels and even dermabrasion to increase efficacy and reduce downtime.
The brand’s clinical trials back up the results that many devotees, both in clinic and at home, have been talking about, and have made the serum its bestselling skincare product. Calecim’s in vitro studies demonstrate beneficial effects on the appearance of aged skin using active stem cell-derived exosomes. One study highlighted when the serum was used alongside Calecim’s Multi Action Cream, some patients saw an improvement in fine lines, elasticity, pigmentation.
This indicates that PTT-6® may just have cracked the code on delivering plumper, firmer, lifted and healthier-looking skin.
