Regenerative aesthetics has moved in three broad steps: PRP, then exosomes, and now the complete secretome. Each step has brought practitioners closer to the signals cells use to communicate, and made those signals easier to use in the treatment room.
Step one: PRP
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, uses the patient’s own blood. A sample is taken, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, and then applied or injected. Platelets carry growth factors, which is why PRP became popular in aesthetic clinics.
PRP has practical demands. It needs a blood draw and preparation at every appointment, and the result can vary from one sample to the next.
Step two: exosomes
Exosomes brought cell signalling into ready-to-use products. They are extracellular vesicles, tiny packages that cells release to carry molecules to other cells. Exosome products removed the need for a blood draw and made cell-derived signals easier to use.
Exosomes are, however, one part of a bigger picture. Cells release far more than exosomes alone.
Step three: the complete secretome
The secretome is everything a cell releases: growth factors, peptides, cytokines and extracellular vesicles together. Secretome products keep this mix intact rather than isolating one component.
| PRP | Exosomes | Secretome | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Patient’s own blood | Cultured cells | Cultured cells |
| Blood draw needed? | Yes | No | No |
| What it contains | Platelets and their growth factors | One type of extracellular vesicle | Growth factors, peptides, cytokines and vesicles |
| Ready to use? | No, prepared each time | Yes | Yes |
Why the source matters
Cell-derived ingredients vary with how and where they are made, which makes the origin and quality of any cell-derived ingredient an important question for clinics and patients alike. Sekretome uses secretome that is ethically sourced and produced by a specialist biotechnology partner, then formulated and manufactured in the UK.
What comes next
Research into secretome has moved from the laboratory into the clinic. A 2021 review in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology brought together 90 studies across skin ageing, wound repair and hair growth, and clinical studies are now looking at secretome alongside in-clinic treatments. In a 2023 randomised split-face study, the side treated with stem cell conditioned medium after laser showed lower water loss through the skin and less redness than the saline side. As that evidence grows, expect more attention on quality, consistency and how these ingredients are best used alongside clinic treatments.
Explore the science behind Sekretome, or find out how clinics are adding secretome aftercare to their treatments.
Frequently asked questions
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma is prepared from a sample of your own blood, spun to concentrate the platelets, then applied or injected.
Is secretome the same as PRP?
No. PRP is prepared from the patient’s own blood at each appointment. Secretome is produced from cultured cells and is ready to use.
Do I need a blood test for secretome?
No. Unlike PRP, secretome products do not need a blood draw.
Does secretome replace exosomes?
Secretome includes exosomes along with growth factors, peptides and cytokines, so it offers a broader mix of signals.
Is secretome skincare new?
Secretome has been studied for some time, but its use in professional aftercare is newer.
Why does the source of the ingredient matter?
Cell-derived ingredients vary with how and where they are made, so the origin and quality of any cell-derived ingredient is an important question. It is worth asking where a product’s active ingredient comes from and whether the product has had a safety assessment.
Is the research on secretome settled?
It is a newer ingredient, so the evidence is still building. Secretome has been studied at every level, from skin cells to randomised clinical studies alongside laser and microneedling. Our science page sets out what each level has shown.
Can clinics offer secretome alongside PRP?
Yes. Some clinics offer both. Secretome aftercare is designed to sit at the end of existing treatment protocols.
Sources
- Ahn HJ, Kim YJ, Myeong S, Huh G, Kim WS. Clinical evaluation of conditioned media of human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells for improvement of symptoms of sensitive skin: prospective, single blinded, split-face study. Annals of Dermatology. 2023;35(3):165-172.
- Damayanti RH, Rusdiana T, Wathoni N. Mesenchymal stem cell secretome for dermatology application: a review. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2021;14:1401-1412.
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