https://medicalxpress.com/skin-hair-news/ en-us Latest health news and information about Skin & Hair Care Interest in plant-based wound treatments has grown due to traditional method limitations, antimicrobial resistance, and the need for safer options. Coniferous resin from Norway spruce (Picea abies) has been used in Northern European folk medicine for treating skin wounds and infections for centuries. Recent studies have validated these applications, with clinical trials showing refined spruce resin products effectively treat complex wounds and demonstrate antimicrobial properties against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-qa-coniferous-resin-wound-folk.html Thu, 30 Apr 2026 17:20:01 EDT news696783421 In some African countries, more than 50% of women regularly use skin-lightening products. In South Africa, the rate is 32%, while in Nigeria it's 77%. This dwarfs rates in other regions of the world. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-african-women-skin.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:20:03 EDT news696606421 Collagen has become a staple of skincare advertising and social media wellness trends. But it is not just a buzzword. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-menopause-collagen-cliff.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:20:06 EDT news696513781 A new study finds that how high school students perceive the "costs" of sun protection and the "rewards" of tanning play a significant role in whether they practice sun-safe behaviors. The work will help inform more effective skin cancer prevention efforts during adolescence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-teen-views-tanning-sunscreen-skin.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:00:05 EDT news695894782 A natural compound made by Australian bees to seal their hives may help stop scarring in human skin after surgery, injury and burns, according to University of the Sunshine Coast researchers. The scientists say the laboratory finding has "immense potential" for future applications in people with scarring ranging from shallow and cosmetic to deep and debilitating, known as hypertrophic. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-australian-bee-scar-compound-scars.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:40:04 EDT news695461023 Instead of applying ointment and attaching a bandage, a "smart patch that regulates treatment intensity on its own just by being attached" has appeared. A research team has developed a "self-regulating OLED wound healing patch" that combines light and drugs to pull up the wound recovery speed by about twice. It is expected to develop into an intelligent treatment technology where light regulates drug release according to the patient's condition in the future. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-oled-patch-automate-drug.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:40:03 EDT news695305461 Injectable peptides are the new anti-aging trend sweeping the beauty industry. These compounds are promoted on social media as tools for skin repair, collagen production and "cellular rejuvenation." They are widely available online from overseas sellers, despite many peptides being unregulated in Australia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-peptides-antiaging-trend-evidence-theyre.html Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:00:04 EDT news694950542 Scientists have long known that our skin is home to vast communities of bacteria, fungi and viruses. But knowing which microbes are present only tells part of the story. What matters just as much is which microbes are active, what genes they switch on, and how they interact with one another on the skin. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hidden-skin-microbe-revealed-real.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:40:02 EDT news695041309 Keratin is the fibrous, waterproof protein that builds everything from our hair and nails to a rhino's horn. However, a tiny glitch in it can have problematic outcomes. A new study has found that changes in a keratin gene called KRT16 can lead to a rare condition known as pachyonychia congenita (PC). This disorder affects the skin, nails, and the lining of the mouth, and often causes painful, thick patches of skin—especially on the hands and feet. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-protein-k16-inflammation-stressed.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:20:03 EDT news695037258 A hair growth product is being recalled because it could pose a serious risk to kids. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hair-growth-product-recalled-child.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:00:01 EDT news694950833 They're oily. They're bony. They have a strong fishy smell, salty taste and soft texture that doesn't appeal to many. Yet, canned sardines appear to be having a moment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sardinemaxxing.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:40:01 EDT news694944141 There's very little parents can do to prevent their kids from developing eczema, according to new guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Research hasn't shown that common tactics like special diets, skipping baths, breastfeeding and probiotic supplements can help children avoid eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, researchers report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-good-ways-childhood-eczema-treatment.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:40:01 EDT news694944153 Research behind the skin cancer prevention campaign "If You Could See UV" has found that evoking fear of ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure—through a visually striking metaphor—helped motivate young adults to protect their skin. By visualizing UV as something immediate and ever-present, the campaign aimed to prompt young adults to think and feel differently about everyday sun exposure, and to take practical steps to protect themselves. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sun-safety-ad-visuals-messaging.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:10:01 EDT news694707651 Folks with severe plaque psoriasis often have to choose between convenient pills that don't work very well or highly effective injections that come with the hassle of needles. That trade-off may soon change. New clinical trial data suggests a once-daily pill called zasocitinib may provide the clear skin once only expected from shots. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pill-plaque-psoriasis-treatment.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:30:03 EDT news694337401 Fibrosis is the body's way of patching up damage—a bit like fixing a pothole. When skin is cut or a muscle is injured, fibroblast cells rush in to make fibronectin and collagen, which are two major extracellular matrix proteins in tissue. They pull the wound edges together and build a temporary scaffold to let tissue heal. Once the job is done, the body slowly removes the extra fibers and the tissue softens again. This type of normal wound healing is essential. However, problems arise when fibroblasts do not stop making fibers. Instead of healing and calming, the tissue becomes thicker, stiffer, and less able to work. This long-term, uncontrolled scarring is called pathological fibrosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-uncontrolled-scarring-reveals-cell-sensor.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 14:40:02 EDT news694354584 Chronic wounds affect approximately 2% of the population in developed countries. Existing treatments are expensive and may cause side effects. In his doctoral thesis, Amal D. Premarathna shows that a promising alternative to synthetic wound care treatments may come from nature—namely, algae. Some beneficial algae species are also found in Estonia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-algae-derived-sugars-anti-inflammatory.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:10:01 EDT news694101836 Collagen supplements have become one of the bestselling products in the wellness industry, promising everything from smoother skin to stronger joints. But do they actually work? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-collagen-supplements-skin-joints-large.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:04 EDT news693580890 Using computational modeling, a research team has developed a novel peptide (MLPH) that promotes hair growth without the side effects of existing drugs. This achievement, accomplished through a joint research project led by Prof. Young Kwan Sung and Dr. Mihee Kwak from Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, is regarded as opening a new horizon for next-generation hair loss therapeutics that are safe for both men and women. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-hair-loss-therapeutic-agent-safe.html Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:50:01 EDT news693575041 Mount Sinai researchers have published the first organ-wide human skin spatial atlas from across the body. It provides an unprecedentedly detailed view of healthy human skin, revealing cellular composition and functional mechanisms of skin from more than a dozen unique sites on the body, including the scalp and sole. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-spatial-atlas-reveals-unique-cell.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:20:01 EDT news693499441 Scientists have identified the transporter protein that allows essential fats in the bloodstream to enter the skin, reshaping understanding of how the skin maintains its protective barrier. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-scientists-uncover-key-lipid-skin.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:16:33 EDT news693486961 The mystery of how stress exacerbates atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema, may be closer to being understood. A new study published in the journal Science has identified a specific nerve pathway that helps explain the link. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-stress-pathway-reveals-nervous-contributes.html Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:02 EDT news693221723 A topical cream activated the skin's immune defenses and suppressed tumor growth in two preclinical models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-enzyme-blocking-cream-growth-common.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:01 EDT news692612641 A new study led by investigators at National Jewish Health and published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology shows that treatment with dupilumab significantly restores skin barrier function and reduces inflammation in children ages 6 to 11 with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema). Using advanced, noninvasive techniques, researchers found improvements not only in visible eczema lesions but also in clinically unaffected skin, highlighting the systemic nature of the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-dupilumab-skin-barrier-function-children.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 15:10:01 EDT news692546162 The rise in invasive cosmetic procedures demands tighter regulation, better consumer protection, and greater awareness to protect patient safety and reduce cosmetic tourism, argue experts in The BMJ. The global market for cosmetic procedures is growing rapidly and is projected to exceed $180bn by 2033, note Danielle Griffiths at the University of Liverpool and colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-cosmetic-procedures-tighter-experts.html Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:30:01 EDT news692445062 A new study published in JMIR Dermatology shows that TikTok has become a major source of education and support for people with skin of color living with hidradenitis suppurativa—a chronic, painful inflammatory skin disease that disproportionately affects people of color. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-doctors-patients-conversation-tiktok-hidradenitis.html Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:10:06 EST news691678705 The most comprehensive study to date into the health effects of collagen supplements found benefits for skin health and significant relief from osteoarthritis symptoms—but no meaningful improvements in sports performance. Collagen supplements have surged in popularity in recent years, driven by claims relating to anti aging, beauty and well-being. The new umbrella review, published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, brings together evidence from 16 systematic reviews, 113 randomized controlled trials and almost 8,000 participants around the world. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-collagen-benefits-skin.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:40:05 EST news691410950 Consumers can protect their skin from damaging ultraviolet (UV) light rays for as little as $40 a year—or as much as $1,400 a year—depending on how expensive a sunscreen they buy and how much of their skin they protect with hats and clothing, according to a new analysis by researchers at UC San Francisco. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-skin-uv-year.html Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:50:02 EST news691349701 When you scratch an itch, something tells your brain when to stop. That moment of relief, when scratching feels "enough," is not accidental. Scientists have now identified a key molecular and neural mechanism behind this built-in braking system, shedding new light on how the body regulates itch and why this control fails in chronic conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-scientists.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:00:13 EST news690818570 The risk for nonscarring hair loss (NSHL) is increased in association with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) use, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-nonscarring-hair-loss-association-glp.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:00:02 EST news690652651 You may have noticed an unexpected wellness trend gaining traction online. People are claiming a daily cup of hot water (with nothing else in it) can deliver everything from weight loss and clearer skin to relief from menstrual cramps and sore throats. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hot-weight-skin-cramps.html Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:01:34 EST news690030061