31 citations,
September 1996 in “Differentiation” The upper dermal sheath can regenerate hair in rats.
87 citations,
January 2016 in “Development” Blocking β-catenin in skin cells improves hair growth during wound healing.
January 2019 in “Advances in stem cells and their niches” Skin health and repair depend on the signals between skin stem cells and their surrounding cells.
129 citations,
May 2015 in “Cell Stem Cell” Different types of stem cells exist within individual skin layers, and they can adapt to damage, transplantation, or tumor growth. These cells are regulated by their environment and genetic factors. Tumor growth is driven by expanding, genetically altered cells, not long-lived mutant stem cells. There's evidence of cancer stem cells in skin tumors. Other cells, bacteria, and genetic factors help maintain balance and contribute to disease progression. A method for growing mini organs from single cells has been developed.
February 2022 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology” Newborn skin cells can change into wound-healing cells more easily than adult ones, which might explain why baby skin heals without scars. Understanding this could help treat chronic wounds and prevent scarring.