Exosomes and skin – Worth it or all hype?

The use of exosomes in beauty is very trendy right now. Walk into almost any Skin and Beauty Clinic and you will see this buzzword everywhere, with many professionals trying to sell you on new ‘exosome therapy’ treatments. But at the receiving end of all the fancy, science-y buzzwords, is a person, just wanting the best options for their skin. So, lets break this down!
 
What is an exosome?
An exosome is a tiny vesicle released from a cell – think of it as a package that the cell sends out for delivery. Inside this package is a message or materials for another cell, telling it what it needs to do. These messages could signal things like repair, immune responses or even regeneration.
 
Why are exosomes being used in skin treatments and skincare?
There are some claims that exosomes can help stimulate collagen and elastin production (for more youthful appearing skin), reduce inflammation (such as redness and irritation) and improve wound healing (like improving the appearance of scars and burns).
In clinic, they are being paired with advanced skin treatments such as microneedling, lasers, sonophoresis, electroporation, etc., to help deliver the exosomes deeper into the skin. Some exosome products are also being used topically by being applied directly to the skin (this is usually seen as an add-on or an upgrade to a service, often stating that it may help to further results).

This all sounds very promising! So why do you sense this is leading up to a big BUT…
 
Are exosomes worth the hype?
In my opinion? Not just yet, or at least not in an aesthetic space.
Exosomes are still a new area, especially in the world of beauty. As such, this can come with some current unknowns, paired with bold claims. With some making statements that they have the potential to change the behaviour of a cell, this is more of a drug claim rather than a cosmetic one, which requires regulation. At this point in time, no exosome-based skincare has approval from either the TGA (Australia) or FDA (US) for safety or efficacy. Some marketing messages could be deemed questionable as to whether they are making a claim beyond that of a cosmetic, making it a regulatory grey area.

Then there is the question as to whether the exosomes in these products are even active or, worse still, even present at all. Being of very fragile nature, factors such as temperature, light, preservatives, the pH and even processing, packaging and storing of the formula can potentially destroy the exosomes. As there are currently no regulations, standardised testing or labelling requirements, some products may contain no viable exosomes or possibly any at all. Considering how expensive these are, for both provider and client, that is a big concern.
 
How safe are exosomes in skincare and skin treatments?
This is the question we should all be asking!

Exosomes are intended to act as messengers. This means the messages they deliver could be either helpful or not-so-helpful. This makes sourcing exceptionally important. Ideally, they need to come from healthy cells, be highly purified and handled correctly. This is where the concern lies. With no regulation, we are currently relying on the good faith of the supplier to ensure a safe, high-quality product.

There are three sources exosomes are derived from:
Human
Plant
Bacteria (from probiotics)
Many of which come from stem cells. Currently in Australia, human-derived exosomes are not permitted for use in cosmetics as the TGA classifies them as biologicals (Therapeutic Goods Administration, 2019). There are also some significant ethical and moral questions surrounding the sources of human-derived exosomes.

So, if that is not really an option right now, what about the other sources?
​
Plant derived exosomes are considered to be a safer exosome option, claiming to have a reduced risk of reaction. However, the same questions still apply. What are the long-term effects of using them? How biocompatible are they? Do they deliver the results they claim? What risks do they have?
Regardless of how safe something is considered, a reaction can still occur, as we are all individual.
 
Where exactly do I stand on all this?
It is important to note that those who are recommending and providing this type of treatment genuinely do feel it is the best option. There are also many studies showing promising results using different types of exosomes. However, some of these studies can make one ponder if the results would have been the same just using the in-clinic treatment on its own, or if the exosomes did actually enhance the result. While I am hopeful for the future of what exosomes can bring to the beauty industry (with more regulation and research), at this point in time I am going to sit on the side of curious caution. There is nothing wrong with jumping on the bandwagon of trends, so long as the risks and potential downfalls are known, because some people see this risk as worth it. I personally will keep waiting before I use this on my clients, as they trust me to be certain, and right now in the case of exosomes in beauty, I am not.
 
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is not intended to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with qualified healthcare or skincare professionals. Always consult with a qualified provider regarding any skin concerns or before trying new products or treatments. Any treatments undertaken or products used based on the content of this blog post are done so at your own risk. The views expressed in this opinion piece do not reflect on any particular product, company, provider or business. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, products, or procedures discussed in this post.  This content is intended for readers in Australia and may not be applicable to other jurisdictions.
 
Sources
Bai, G., Truong, T. M., Pathak, G. N., Benoit, L., & Rao, B. (2024). Clinical applications of exosomes in cosmetic dermatology. Skin Health and Disease, 4(6), e348. https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.348

Haykal, D., Wyles, S., Garibyan, L., Cartier, H., & Gold, M. (2025). Exosomes in cosmetic dermatology: A review of benefits and challenges. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 24(1), 12‑18. https://doi.org/10.36849/JDD.8872

Liang, C., Yi, Y., Li, J., Aghayants, S., Chen, X., Cao, W., & Zhang, Q. (2025). Unveiling exosomes in combating skin aging: insights into resources, mechanisms and challenges. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 16, Article 474. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04620-y

Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2019). Stem cell treatments and regulation – a quick guide for consumers. https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/stem-cell-treatments-and-regulation-quick-guide-consumers

Yang, G. H., Lee, Y. B., Kang, D., Choi, E., Nam, Y., Lee, K. H., You, H. J., Kang, H. J., An, S. H., & Jeon, H. (2021). Overcome the barriers of the skin: Exosome therapy. Biomaterials Research, 25, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40824-021-00224-8

Image: Canva (Artist - Anna Maloverjan)