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.

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.

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