Excellent information. I just starting using egf mixed with canvass cream and
other anti inflammatory products from SAS. I do greatly apreciate this info, and
this is the reason why we rosaceans need each other with so many things on
different sites, and so many different trial and error products, so many
stories. Thank you dfries tamara

dfries2003 <dfries2003@...> wrote: Hi All,

One last caution. Most studies on EGF involve its short term use.
No longterm studies of continuous use really exist so be sure also to
discuss length of use issues with your doctor. I think Paula Begoun
covers this nicely on her site:

"human growth factor. It is important to make it clear that the topic
of human growth factor (HGF) is exceedingly complicated. The
physiological intricacies of the varying HGFs and their actions
challenge any layperson's comprehension. Nonetheless, because the use
of HGF seems to be the direction some skin-care companies are taking,
and because there is a large body of research showing its efficacy for
wound healing (but not for wrinkles), it does deserve comment.

HGFs make up a complex family of hormones that are produced by the
body to control cell growth and cell division in skin, blood, bone,
and nerve tissue. Most significantly, HGFs regulate the division and
reproduction of cells, and they also can influence the growth rate of
some cancers. HGFs occur naturally in the body but they are also
synthesized and used in medicine for a range of applications,
including wound healing and immune system stimulation. HGFs are
chemical messages that bind to receptor sites on the cell surface
(receptor sites are places where cells communicate with a substance to
let them know what or what not to do). HGFs must communicate with
cells to instruct them to activate the production of new cells, or to
instruct a cell to create new cells that have different functions.
Another way to think of HGFs is that they are messengers designed to
be received or "heard" by specific receptor sites or "ears" on the
cell. HGFs, such as transforming growth factor (TGF, stimulates
collagen production) or epidermal growth factor (EGF, stimulates skin
cell production), play significant roles in healing surgical wounds.
The main task of HGFs is to cause cell division, which is helpful;
however, at certain concentrations and lengths of application they can
cause cells to over-proliferate, which can cause cancer or other
health problems.

But what happens when you put HGFs on skin, particularly TGF and EGF,
which some companies claim their products contain? The risk is that
they could accelerate the growth of skin cancer by stimulating the
overproduction of skin cells. In the case of TGF, which stimulates
collagen production, it can encourage scarring. This is because scars
are the result of excessive collagen production, and if you make too
much collagen you get a scar or a knot on the skin such as a keloidal
scar. Most of the research on the issue of HGFs for skin has looked
primarily at the issue of wound healing, and at short-term use of
HGFs. In skin-care products, they would be used repeatedly, possibly
over long periods of time. A shortcoming of HGFs, according to an
article by Dr. Donald R. Owen in the March 1999 issue of Global
Cosmetic Industry, is that "The body produces these [HGFs] in
exquisitely small concentrations at just the right location and
time.... Actual growth factors such as [EGF and TGF-B] are [large]
configurations, which do not penetrate the skin.... They [also] lose
their activity within days in water or even as solids at normal
temperatures.... [Yet], even after all these complications, the
siren's song is too strong. We [the cosmetics chemists] will use
them." The research into HGFs is without question intriguing, but
there is much that's not known, especially in terms of long-term risk
or stability when they're used in cosmetics and applied to skin. In
this arena, if cosmetics companies continue to use HGFs, it is the
consumer who will be the guinea pig."


Here's a link to the Paula's Choice site:

http://www.paulaschoice-eu.com/dictionary.asp?TYPE=SEARCH&ID=H

Again, I don't mean to scare anyone. I just want to convince everyone
that it really might be best to discuss the use of EGF products with
your doctor even though these products are sold over the counter,
particularly since we have a disease associated with upregulated
inflammation to begin with.

Take care,
Dan

--- In rosacea-support@yahoogroups.com, "dfries2003"
wrote:
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I'm no expert, but just to remind everyone, since EGF has the
> potential for upregulating the growth rates of cancer cells, please be
> sure to discuss the use of any topical with EGF in it with your
> dermatologist before using. At the very least, they should be able
> to help you keep a lookout for any signs of potential skin cancer
> while you're using it.
>
> http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=32387
>
> Also, I have not read any studies which suggest that rosacea itself
> may lead to increases in skin cancer rates, but inflammation has been
> implicated in increased rates, and since rosacea involves a chronic
> inflammatory response, we should probably be extra careful:
>
> http://www.cancernetwork.com/journals/oncology/o0202d.htm
>
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/life_sciences/report-32184.html
> http://www.skincancer.org/squamous/index.php
>
> Again, I'm no expert and don't really want to scare anyone. But be
> sure to talk this over with your dermatologist before using a product
> with EGF in it...
>
>
> Dan
>









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