Here at Singularity Hub, we are just a little bit vain. Like, what’s the point of doing all this science and technology stuff if you’re not going to look good while doing it? Well, it’s high time that technology made us look prettier. Thankfully, researchers at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor have heard our call and noticed a peculiar coincidence that could eradicate our wrinkles and sun damaged spots much better than any store-bought product. Patients treated with a topical chemotherapy drug have shown that a side effect of treatment is wrinkle-free, ageless skin. Yes, toss out that cocoa butter and prepare for eternal youth through chemotherapy.
Look this "good" without spending millions at your local plastic surgeon!
Think it’s a bit bonkers, using chemotherapy drugs to knock a few years off of the face? Well, it really is. The research published shows that the skin rejuvenation is a mere side effect. The initial intent of the study was to determine the efficacy of the drug Fluorouracil, which is used to remove pre-cancerous actinic keratoses: lesions that could cause cancer. Aside from the fact that most people willing to plunk down their dollars for this type of treatment would not actually have the actinic keratoses, patients in the trial experienced severe discomfort during and after the trial.
As the saying goes, you have to get worse before you can get better, and it indeed holds true for a pretty face. In fact, patients endured itchiness, redness and fiery irritation of their skin for weeks while the treatment was taking place. The topical ointment works in much the same way (albeit quite a bit cheaper) as laser therapy and chemical peels, intentionally destroying the outer skin layer in order to force the body to regenerate new and healthy skin. It is only after the weeks of pain and leprous looks that the clear and rejuvenated skin starts to show.
This painful method of treatment, however, did not fight off the seeds of vanity planted in the patients. Of the 21 tested in the Michigan study, 17 said that they would consider doing the treatment again solely for the purpose of improving the look of their skin. Of those, 11 claimed that they would even pay money for such a treatment. That’s great, right? No pain, no gain. Well, doctors are advising against marketing this drug as a beauty care product because of the high risk of severe reaction to the product. And the news gets even worse for those living in the European Union, where fluorouracil use is not allowed for cosmetic applications.
Don’t expect to see this anti-aging cream on the shelf at the local pharmacist anytime soon. The risks are just too high to make it an over the counter product. But there is some light to be shed through this shameful cloud of vanity that we have brought over ourselves. Man’s understanding of the body and its surrounding environment is ever increasing. This topical ointment might not be the cure to ageless skin, but the knowledge of such a mechanism can be further refined and may perhaps one day contribute to a safe and inexpensive way to get rid of wrinkles and sunspots. It’s not just about the big technological breakthroughs that rocket us forward into the next generation of technology, but the little things that add up to make a big impact. This new drug just so happens to be a little thing, but it’s still a pretty interesting way of learning about the body.
Tags: aging, cream, skin, wrinkles, younger
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“In fact, patients endured itchiness, redness and fiery irritation of their skin for weeks while the treatment was taking place.”
Sounds a bit similar to the initial side effects of tretinoin as well. The first two or three weeks I was on it felt like a combination of constant sunburn and some of the most uncomfortable dryness I’ve ever felt in my skin. Not to mention feeling like a shedding cat with all the skin flakes that were falling off my face at the time.
I’ll be more impressed when they figure out a cream that will make hair follicles let go. Not burning ‘em out like Nair, just making them say “no more hair here for a while.”
You could make billions, if the razor-industrial complex conspiracy theory didn’t get you first. The porn industry could fund the research and provide a test-bed, they’re always looking for the easiest way to remove hair from the earlobes down.
[...] story here Andrew Kessel Studies Highlight a Revolutionary New Method of Treating Post [...]
Awesome. I was looking for anti aging stuff for a while now.
[...] unintentionally launched an unofficial expose into the world of vain medicine. We last covered the chemotherapy cream that kills wrinkles (among other things) and now it’s time to move from the face to the next lowest body part of [...]
[...] surprises come standard with studies this large. For instance, who could have predicted that chemotherapy would help with wrinkles? In five years, we may all be rushing outside to soak up more sun or eating more sushi to prevent [...]
[...] Chemotherapy Skin Cream Fights Wrinkles, Knocks Decades off Your Face (singularityhub.com) [...]