Exploring the Rejuvenating Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Skin Aging
Skin biopsy is a method of studying how aging affects skin tissues and cells. Recent research has shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can impact aging signs, such as telomere shortening, reduction of aging cells, and the formation of new blood vessels.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment method where a patient is placed in a special chamber filled with a high concentration of oxygen at elevated pressure. This process allows the body to receive more oxygen than under normal conditions and increases the oxygen pressure in tissues.
HBOT is used for medical purposes to treat various conditions, such as burns, gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, tissue necrosis, non-healing wounds, irradiated tissues, and even some infections. Increased pressure and oxygen concentration promote healing and improve blood supply to damaged tissues.
In 2021, a group of scientists from Israel conducted a study among aging individuals to assess how HBOT affects their skin. Participants underwent an initial assessment and then participated in a three-month course of HBOT. We took skin biopsies at three points: before the start, after three months without intervention (control period), and 1-2 weeks after completing HBOT. Staining was used to assess collagen, elastic fibers, aging cells, and blood vessels.
Participants who underwent HBOT showed a significant increase in collagen levels, length of elastic fibers, and the number of blood vessels. A reduction in fiber fragmentation and aging cells was also observed. The thickness of elastic fibers remained unchanged.
This study demonstrates that HBOT can have a positive impact on skin aging processes in healthy aging individuals. The effects include angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and the removal of old cells.
