Two Professional Beauty staffers put Xytide’s Exomide exosomes to the test to learn just how much of an impact the innovative treatment has on the skin and scalp.
What are exosomes?
Exosomes are small nano-sized vesicles that are produced and released by cells in the body. Exosomes contain a variety of molecules including proteins, RNA (ribonucleic acid), lipids (fats) and other bioactive substances. The contents of exosomes vary depending on the type of cell they were derived from.
The term exosomes may be unfamiliar territory to many, but make no mistake this potent formula in a bottle is leading the charge when it comes to turning back the clock and the tell-tale signs of sun damage.
Exomide™ exosomes for skin
As told by Professional Beauty’s former Editor, Anita Quade:
“Dr John Sullivan from Kingsway Dermatology & Aesthetics invited me to trial the new Exomide treatment and help explain the science behind exosomes. Dr Sullivan reveals that “exosomes will be able to be produced with a specific and tailored range of signals and actives to better address and target different skin problems and enhance their potential benefits further. This is an exciting area of ongoing research and potential.”
Kingsway Dermatology & Aesthetics is nestled in the bustling south Sydney suburb of Miranda. I am welcomed at reception by the friendly staff. First stop is a photoshoot, using their incredible 3D imaging that captures photographs from every angle. The images are displayed on screen in a matter of minutes and reveal in detail my skin’s condition, from spots and wrinkles to pores and sun damage. The evidence is confronting but is incredibly thorough and allows the doctor to see precisely the areas that need to be targeted in the treatment.
A thick layer of numbing cream is applied to my face and neck, and then I am taken to a quiet pod that is complete with a luxury leather chair and privacy screen. It almost has the feeling of settling into a first-class flight! The cream takes around an hour to have an effect before Dr Sullivan greets me and analyses my skin.
We hear all too often from skin specialists that the treatments have no downtime and aren’t particularly painful, and after realising this is not always the case he explains in-depth the procedure that utilises the 1927mm ultra laser by Lutronics. “This laser is good for treating many of the photoageing changes seen in Australians, including age spots, sun spots, uneven pigment, along with fine lines and skin texture and overall quality (new collagen production and dermal matrix repair),” he tells me.
It is ideal to use a laser in conjunction with Exomide exosomes to help with the delivery of the formula into the skin. They help the benefits of treatments go deeper into the skin while reducing the oxidant damage by our environment including ultraviolet light and pollution. “Exomide exosomes help to settle inflammation associated with laser treatments while preserving or increasing skin treatment benefits. They can also help inflammatory skin problems including rosacea and acne.”
The laser treatment is relatively tolerable – a six-out-of-ten on the pain scale. But each individual is different. “The coagulation or heating of the epidermis through to the upper dermis provides channels that allow actives like Exomide to better penetrate into the skin’s living layers where they are needed for their benefits and actions. The coagulation zone also works as a reservoir and slowly releases the actives deeper in the skin in a sustained way. These channels stay open for longer than needling with enhanced absorption over the next five days.”
The treatment takes about 20 minutes and has little downtime. The remaining Exomide is then massaged into the skin and will be actively working for the next 24-hours as they seep into the dermis. A gentle moisturiser and cleanser is recommended to be used for the next five days, and it’s advised to avoid any actives during that time. Results can take up to six weeks to be seen by clients, but the before-and after-images are promising.
He gives me syringes filled with Exomide to be used for the next four days with instructions to use on cleansed skin. He recommends allowing around ten minutes for these to take effect before applying any moisturiser. Makeup is to be avoided for at least two days. The downtime is minimal and is more of a weekend cosmetic treatment as the skin can be quite red afterwards and has the feeling of sunburn for almost 24 hours. After day three – as the skin is healing, the texture has almost a ‘sandpaper’ feel and the targeted sunspots are much darker. As Dr Sullivan reassures, it is all part of the process and within a week should be completely healed.
There is good evidence that Exosomes speed healing after laser and other skin treatments. This makes them safer as delayed healing increases risks such as infection or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. He recommends a check-up after six weeks to view the results. Clients can have three to five follow-up treatments with maintenance sessions every one to three months.
“The future is exciting in regard to exosomes” he declares.
Exomide™ exosomes for scalp
As told by Joe, the husband of Professional Beauty’s Editor-in-Chief, Hannah Gay:
“I’ve undergone four Exomide exosome scalp treatments at Innaskin Face Body Inject in Sydney’s Redfern. I’ve been treated by clinic founder Maxine every 4-6 weeks. And the results have certainly been apparent.
At my first visit, I was instructed to fill in a pre-consultation form so Maxine could flag any potential contraindications. Maxine assessed my hair and scalp, and discussed my specific hair goals with me. Interestly, she also ran me through the benefits of Exomide exosomes and compared to another scalp treatment, PRP.
To provide me a clear idea on what to expect, Maxine showed me several before-and-after images of successful Exomide scalp results on her clients. She then explained what the Exomide scalp treatment would involve.
At each session, Exomide exosomes were applied topically to areas of my scalp where thinning hair was present. No numbing solution was applied because follicles’ receptors tend to close off and tighten up, creating a barrier to solution entry, Maxine explained. The solution penetrated the scalp via a needling device that was used for a period of just ten minutes. I have to admit, this was the painful part – a solid 8-out-of-10 on the pain scale. Maxine tapped my forehead as a distractor. But as my wife reminds me, beauty is pain! And despite this, I’ve had no qualms about returning for further treatments. To finish, I caught some shut eye under a red light for 15 minutes. Maxine includes this as part of the treatment to further help hair growth, reduce inflammation, and encourage healing.
After my very first treatment, the rate at which I was losing hair visibly decreased. By treatment #3, my hair was noticeably thicker and – dare I say – there was more of it. I highly recommend this treatment protocol to people looking to help restore their hair, without taking the extreme route of undergoing an invasive hair transplant.”
To deep dive into the science behind Xytide’s innovative Exomide exosomes for skin and scalp, watch our webinar!
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