Questions people ask

No. A stem cell is a living cell that can divide. An exosome is a tiny non-living vesicle released by a cell. Some exosome products are made from stem cells, which is where the confusion comes from. More on the differences.

Topical cosmetic products from reputable manufacturers have not shown notable safety problems in the studies published so far, though long-term data is limited. Injected and infused products are a different matter: they are unapproved, and serious infections have been reported. See the note on injections.

No exosome product is FDA-approved to treat any condition. Topical products are regulated as cosmetics. Injectable exosomes are considered unapproved biological drugs, and the FDA has issued warnings to clinics offering them. In the EU, human-derived ingredients are not permitted in cosmetics at all, so products there are usually plant-derived. Regulations in Korea, Japan and elsewhere differ again; the general pattern is cosmetic use allowed, therapeutic use not approved.

Intact skin is a good barrier, and vesicles of 30–150 nanometres are large by skincare standards. Most positive human results come from application right after microneedling or laser, when the barrier is temporarily open. Penetration through untreated skin has not been well demonstrated. More on topical use.

They are different things. Human MSC-derived vesicles carry human signalling molecules and have the most research behind them for skin and wound applications. Plant-derived vesicles are cheaper, legal in more markets, and carry plant cargo whose effects on human skin are less studied. Animal-derived vesicles sit somewhere between. "Best" depends on what you want the product to do and what you are comfortable putting on your skin.

It is the number of particles per millilitre measured by a light-scattering instrument. The count includes non-exosome particles of similar size, so it is not a purity measure. Two products with the same count can contain very different amounts of functional vesicles. How to read a label.

Follow the label. In general, liquid preparations belong in the refrigerator and should be used within the stated window after opening. Freeze-dried products are stable at room temperature until reconstituted. Heat and repeated freeze-thaw cycles damage vesicles.

There is no known interaction, but strong acids and very low pH may affect vesicle stability. Most manufacturers suggest applying the exosome product to clean skin first, then other actives. After a procedure, follow your clinician's instructions rather than a general rule.

Plant-derived exosomes are. Human-derived and animal-derived ones are not. A product that does not name its source cannot answer this question, which is itself a problem.

We would not. These uses are unapproved, the evidence in people is thin, and the products are not standardised. If you are interested, look for a registered clinical trial rather than a clinic offering the treatment commercially. Discuss it with a physician who has no financial stake in the answer.

Yes, to all 50 states, cold-chain, usually within two days. International orders are handled case by case because of import rules on human-derived material. How shipping works.

Start with the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and its MISEV guidelines, which explain how a good study should characterise its vesicles. Then search PubMed for "extracellular vesicles" plus the application you care about, and pay attention to whether a study was in cells, animals or people, and whether it had a control group.

Yes, to licensed clinics and research organisations: cosmetic-grade, topical exosome preparations made and shipped from California. There is no online store; practices request pricing through the intake form and we verify licensure before opening an account. The reference pages on this site describe the category, not our products.