Exosomes explained: what they are and what they do for your skin
We love skin science – what we don’t love is skin hype.
So when exosomes first entered the conversation, we were intrigued, but also cautious. New technologies appear in our industry all the time, and not all of them earn a place in our skin treatment plan recommendations.
Before we introduce anything at Select Skin, we want to be confident it will genuinely support skin health and deliver meaningful results – not simply follow a trend.
What interested us about exosomes wasn’t the marketing, but their role in skin biology. Exosomes act as messengers, helping skin cells communicate during recovery and repair, improving skin texture and enhancing the results of treatments such as microneedling – not by pushing the skin harder, but by helping it respond more effectively.
If you’ve heard the buzz around exosomes and are wondering whether they’re right for you, this article explains what they are, how they work, and where they fit within a balanced, evidence-based skin treatment plan.
What are exosomes?
Naturally occurring in the body, exosomes are microscopic messenger particles released by our cells. Their primary role is communication – helping skin cells send and receive messages that coordinate repair and regulate inflammation.
In skin treatments, exosomes are typically derived from stem cells grown in a lab setting and purified for use in topical formulations.
They’re used to support the skin’s natural regenerative processes. Rather than acting like a traditional active ingredient that pushes the skin, they help it respond more efficiently – particularly during healing and recovery.
Exosomes don’t do the work for your skin – they support how your skin does the work itself.
How do exosomes work in the skin?
Healthy skin relies on clear communication between cells to regulate inflammation, coordinate healing, and stimulate renewal – including collagen and elastin production.
With cumulative sun exposure or ageing, this communication can become less efficient, which is why some skin heals more slowly and less predictably.
Exosomes help restore this process by carrying targeted messages between cells. They support more organised repair – particularly after treatments such as microneedling, when skin is actively regenerating.
In clinical settings, exosomes are delivered in a supportive solution to assist the skin during this recovery phase – helping reduce prolonged inflammation and promote more even, predictable results.
The aim isn’t to push the skin harder – it’s to help it respond better.
How we use exosome skin therapy in our treatments
At Select Skin, we use Exomide™ by Xytide, a clinically formulated exosome solution that combines growth factors, peptides, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and antioxidants.
Exosomes are introduced at the point when the skin is most receptive – either during or immediately after specific treatments:
-
With our Dermapen 4 Medical Grade Skin Needling treatment, exosomes are infused into the skin during the procedure. This ensures the skin receives active support right when the regenerative process is being triggered.
-
With ResurFX™, a non-ablative laser treatment, exosomes are gently massaged into the skin immediately after the procedure while the skin is still warm and primed for absorption.
Rather than pushing the skin harder, exosomes help the skin respond more efficiently – leading to better recovery and longer-lasting results.
For many clients, this shows up as smoother texture, more even tone, and skin that feels stronger and more resilient – alongside a recovery period that’s noticeably calmer and more manageable. Results also tend to be more consistent over time.
These benefits can be especially valuable for skin that’s sun-damaged, easily inflamed, or simply slower to bounce back after treatment.
We love pairing exosomes with microneedling – it’s a combination we come back to again and again. And when followed with the added support of AlgioZome® in your homecare, it helps maintain those gains between appointments.
As always, we’ll assess your skin first to ensure this added support is appropriate, effective, and aligned with your treatment goals.
What are the benefits of exosomes in daily homecare?
Exosome-inspired technologies used in homecare are different from professional in-clinic solutions. They’re designed to support skin health between treatments, rather than replace clinical procedures or drive rapid change on their own.
An example of this is AlgioZome® by Synergie Skin, a biomimetic, algae-derived technology formulated to support skin communication and recovery pathways. In daily use, formulations like this may help maintain skin calmness, reinforce barrier function, and support the skin’s ability to respond to everyday stress.
This makes exosome-inspired homecare particularly useful following in-clinic treatments or for skin that is prone to sensitivity. Used consistently, these products act as a supportive layer – helping skin stay balanced and resilient between appointments, rather than pushing it to do more.
A considered approach to exosomes at Select Skin
We love pairing exosomes with microneedling – it’s a combination we come back to time and again because it simply supports better outcomes. And when followed up with Synergie Skin’s AlgioZome® at home, it gives your skin that extra layer of support it needs to stay calm, balanced, and resilient.
This isn’t about chasing trends – it’s about helping your skin recover and respond in the most effective way possible.
Our approach is always grounded in skin biology and experience. Rather than pushing the skin to do more, we focus on supporting how it settles, repairs, and improves over time. This is especially important for skin that’s sun-damaged, easily inflamed, or slower to bounce back after treatments.
As with all our treatments at Select Skin, we’ll provide you with a professional analysis based on your individual needs and determine whether exosomes are right for you as part of an evidence-based approach focused on your long-term results.
If you’re curious about microneedling with exosome support, book a consultation to find out whether this approach is right for your skin.
See you soon,
Mel x
Frequently Asked Questions
Are exosomes the same as stem cells?
No – and this is a really common point of confusion. Exosomes aren’t cells at all. They’re tiny messengers that cells naturally release to communicate with one another. In skin treatments, we’re using them to support how the skin repairs and renews itself.
Are exosomes safe for the skin?
When they’re used in the right way, exosomes are considered a supportive addition rather than an aggressive treatment. What matters most is product quality and making sure they’re used appropriately for your skin, which is why we only introduce them following a proper consultation.
Can I have exosome clinical therapy on its own?
It’s a good question – and the short answer is that exosomes aren’t typically used as a stand-alone treatment. In the clinic, they’re used alongside procedures like microneedling and laser treatments, which initiate change in the skin. Exosomes then support how the skin responds and recovers, rather than acting as a treatment in their own right.
This is why we always look at the bigger picture first – your skin condition, goals, and how your skin typically responds – before deciding whether exosome support is appropriate for you.
Who is Exosome Therapy + Microneedling best suited to?
This dual treatment can be particularly helpful if your skin is sun-damaged, easily inflamed, or tends to take longer to settle after treatment. In most cases, it’s something we recommend as part of our micro-needling treatments. Rest assured, we always assess your skin first to make sure it’s appropriate and safe for you.
What’s the difference between exosome clinical therapy and homecare with exosomes?
In-clinic exosomes are used as part of a professional treatment, often alongside microneedling. Homecare with exosomes play a different role – they’re designed to support skin calmness, barrier function and resilience between appointments, rather than replicate what’s done in the clinic.
Share
