Skin stem cells renew differently in females and males, study finds

· Science · Belgium · United Kingdom

By filming skin stem cells in living mice over five months, researchers at the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, found that in females these cells renew the skin in a more coordinated way than in males. The difference is controlled by sex hormones and goes beyond what was previously understood about skin maintenance. The work points to a biological basis for sex differences in skin biology, with potential implications for wound healing, skin aging and how dermatological treatments might need to differ by sex. The study was conducted in mice, so translation to humans remains to be established.

Why it matters：Sex differences in tissue maintenance could reshape how dermatology, wound care and regenerative medicine are studied and treated, moving the field beyond one-size-fits-all assumptions.

Key points

  • Researchers filmed skin stem cells in living mice over five months
  • Females showed more coordinated skin renewal than males
  • The difference is controlled by sex hormones

Sources (original reporting)

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