Breakthrough drug reverses skin aging and dramatically speeds healing

Scientists from Boston University tested the drug ABT-263, which removes aging and damaged cells from the skin. In a study published in the journal Aging, researchers applied this drug to the skin of older mice for five days. Results showed that 80 percent of treated mice had completely healed wounds by day 24, compared to only 56 percent in untreated older mice. The drug increased the activity of genes responsible for collagen production and new blood vessel formation. The treatment also temporarily increased inflammatory activity, which helped activate the skin's regenerative processes. Although the results are promising, the study was tested only on animals and further research is needed before application in humans.