What are stem cells?
Stem cells are unique powerful cells which are the precursors of all cells in the human body. What makes stem cells unique is they have wonderful ability to regenerate and replicate themselves to repair tissues in the human body.
Some tissues in the human body (skin for example) need continuous renewal; stem cells are responsible for such like this vital process. On the same side, stem cells play the main role in repairing of the damaged body’s tissues, as in rebuilding of muscle fibers. Also, some studies suggest that stem cells dysfunction lead to many health issues including cancerous lesions.
Nowadays, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is used as medical treatment for blood and immune disorders such as; leukemia and lymphoma. Also it can be used as supportive complementary treatment in other types of cancer. Studies and researches still try to approve other therapeutic uses of stem cells and make sure of their safety and effectiveness.
Generally, there are many promising results and potential clinical researches on stem cells in dermatology and cosmetic medicine, which will be applied within few years, they include:
- Treatment of various types of skin cancer, especially melanomas.
- Treatment of chronic skin diseases, especially psoriasis.
- Rapid skin repair in cases of severs skin damage as in burns of the 3rd degree, deep stab wounds and traumas.
- Stem cells will be used as an effective therapeutic and preventive option as anti-aging factor to keep skin healthy and younger.
- Enhancement of hair growth in cases of alopecia. Also it will used as the best permanent solution for hair loss.
On the other side, stem cells will be also used in endocrinology for treatment of hypo-functioned glands, which will help in treatment of diabetes (by repairing of the pancreatic tissues), hypothyroidism (by repairing tissues of thyroid gland)… etc.
Oncology will have a big part of the studies applied on stem cells to develop a therapeutic and preventive measure for cancer. The initial results of these studies are very promising.
Scientists wish to develop a technique derived from stem cells for regeneration of body organs, which will be very helpful in treatment of congenital anomalies, organ failure (renal, hepatic, cardiac… etc), accidents and traumas.
