Rapamycin is a drug commonly used for transplant surgery to help the patient’s body accept a new organ, but recent studies find that it may also help reduce how quickly human skin shows signs of aging. This includes the following obvious signs of older skin:
- Wrinkles
- Sagginess
- Discolored skin
The idea to use it came as a result of medical professionals wondering what other potential benefits the drug could have. As the largest organ, skin became an obvious choice to see what Rapamycin could do to help. They asked 13 people over 40 years old to apply it to one hand and a placebo to the other. The application was to be done once every 24 to 48 hours for eight months. Researchers checked the reaction of the participant’s skin, including a blood test and biopsy after six or eight months. When the study concluded, the hands that had been covered with Rapamycin showed fewer signs of aging.
The researchers are seeking to do an even more important study than the one regarding participants’ hands looking younger; researchers are planning to study whether Rapamycin can be used to help prevent and treat skin cancer. The study indicates that the drug may reduce inflammation, which would possibly help prevent skin cancer.
To learn more about how this medication may help slow the aging of your skin, check out the Study Finds article.