Glow-in-the-Dark Salamanders May Have Just Unlocked the Future of Regeneration
Scientists at Northeastern University have uncovered a breakthrough that's raising eyebrows in both the dermatology and regenerative biology worlds. The chemical at the center of it all? Retinoic acid—a form of vitamin A that's also the active ingredient in isotretinoin, better known as Accutane.
In a new study, which was published in Nature Communications, researchers mapped how axolotls. The Mexican salamander has a freakish ability to regrow limbs using varying concentrations of retinoic acid to guide the regrowth of bones, joints, muscles and skin.
When an axolotl loses a leg, it doesn't just grow back—it grows back perfectly. And scientists now understand more clearly how that biological GPS works.
At the heart of the process is an enzyme called CYP26b1, which breaks down retinoic acid and dictates how much of the chemical floods a given area. Higher levels mean longer bone growth. Lower levels cue the development of feet and digits.
The implications are massive: by controlling retinoic acid levels, scientists were able to create glow-in-the-dark salamanders with either perfectly formed limbs or comically misshapen ones.
While these findings are still at the basic science stage, researchers believe they've taken a major step toward understanding how to activate dormant genetic mechanisms in humans. Because here's the kicker: the genes involved in limb regeneration already exist in our DNA. We just don't know how to switch them back on—yet.
Retinoic acid has long been linked to fetal development, and now it's being eyed as a possible tool to coax adult tissues into reprogramming themselves post-injury. It's not a silver bullet, but it might be part of the recipe.
'We might just need to remind the body what it already knows how to do,' James Monaghan, the study's lead scientist, told Popular Science.
If that's true, the path to real human regeneration might be shorter—and stranger—than we ever imagined.
Glow-in-the-Dark Salamanders May Have Just Unlocked the Future of Regeneration first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 10, 2025
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NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
The best skin care products to use if you're on Accutane, according to experts
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'While this dryness can be very uncomfortable, it is harmless and can be managed with over-the-counter moisturizers.' When shopping for skin care products to use alongside Accutane, experts recommend considering the following factors: Ingredients: While on Accutane, the skin care ingredients you choose should address the inevitable dryness with moisture-rich ingredients. 'It is important to focus on skin care ingredients that support hydration and barrier repair,' says board-certified dermatologist Shoshana Marmon. Look for products that include a variety of moisturizers like humectants to draw water to the skin, occlusives to trap moisture in and emollients to soften and restore the skin barrier. Likewise, the skin care products you use should be gentle so as not to irritate the skin or cause further dryness. This means avoiding harsh formulas including those with acids, retinol and fragrances, as they can aggravate skin sensitivity and increase dryness, says Marmon. Product type: Accutane-related dryness can affect all parts of the body including the lips, hands and feet, scalp and face. Therefore, it's important to seek soothing, hydrating products for your entire routine, from head to toe. This includes cleansers, which are oftentimes stripping as well as serums, moisturizers, lip balms, scalp serums and hand and foot creams. The best products for Accutane users in 2025 I spoke to dermatologists about their favorite skin care products for Accutane users and put together their recommendations below. I also included a few products NBC Select editors love based on their guidance. This list includes products across skin care categories, including cleansers, sunscreens and lip balms. Sunscreen is a daily necessity, especially for Accutane users since the medication can lead to photosensitivity, says Green, who recommends this formula from Aveeno. It's a chemical sunscreen that converts UV rays into heat energy and releases them from the body and has SPF 60 along with a trio of oats — oat oil, oat extract and oat flour — to keep the skin soft and moisturized, according to the brand. I use this sunscreen and love the dewy finish it gives my extremely dry skin. It doesn't leave behind a white cast when blended, which makes it a great pick for days I'm not wearing makeup. Because it has a runny consistency, I recommend shaking the bottle thoroughly before squeezing out the product. According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman, the most classic presentation of Accutane-related dryness is on the lips in the form of dry, peeling skin. Accutane causes the skin on the lips to shed so quickly that it can cause thick, chunky flakes to come off, which can worsen and become red if you pick the skin off, says Goldman. He recommends this repair balm from Aquaphor, which has two types of moisturizers: shea butter, an emollient, and panthenol, a humectant. It also has chamomile essence, which helps soothe skin and is particularly helpful if your lips feel chapped or raw from picking, according to Aquaphor. Green recommends this cleanser from CeraVe because it's gentle enough for those experiencing dryness and sensitivity as a result of Accutane. It has hyaluronic acid and ceramides in it that cleanse the skin without disrupting its natural moisture, she says. Rather than a foaming or gel consistency, which can feel dehydrating on those with dry skin, this has a creamy texture that may help keep the skin feeling moisturized for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. It'll also help cleanse away dirt, oil and makeup sitting on top of the skin, which can clog pores. You can also use it as a body or hand wash. 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I also appreciate the pump applicator because it makes things less messy to apply compared to body lotions housed in a tube you'd have to squeeze. Regularly using sunscreen is critical since Accutane can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, says Marmon, who recommends this facial sunscreen from EltaMD. This is a mineral sunscreen that won't clog your pores, so you can continue to use it after you've completed your treatment course to prevent future breakouts. It features a medley of nonproblematic ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and antioxidants, and because it's tinted, it won't leave a white cast after application, says Marmon. Serums deliver a higher concentration of active ingredients to the skin and are a good option if you're looking for potent products. For those struggling with dryness, Green is a fan of this serum from Kiehl's, which has hyaluronic acid. 'The serum is fragrance-free and formulated with minimal ingredients, making it excellent for those experiencing sensitivity,' says Green. To use, apply two to three drops after cleansing, using passing motions to press the formula into the skin. Marmon says this moisturizing gel from Clinique helps combat dryness and irritation during the treatment course. Though it has a gel consistency, which is more suited for those with oily skin or combination skin types, it's gentle, noncomedogenic and has moisture-attracting ingredients like hyaluronic acid, says Marmon. The formula is also free of any harsh ingredients like fragrance, acids or exfoliants. This scalp oil is primarily for those struggling with scalp conditions like eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, but because it helps alleviate itchiness and dryness, it makes for a great treatment for Accutane-related dryness. It has tea tree leaf oil to clarify buildup on the scalp, and to keep the scalp moisturized, it has aloe vera juice as well as olive and jojoba oil, according to the brand. I love using this scalp oil on the day or two before I'm about to wash my hair, which is when my scalp tends to get dry, itchy and flaky. There are a few different ways to use this oil. You can apply one to three drops onto your fingers, work it into your scalp and style as needed. Or, you can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment by applying it to your scalp for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing out. NBC Select editorial intern Andriana Kourkoumelis experienced dry, flaky skin around her eyes when she was on Accutane, and this hydrating under-eye cream was a huge help. 'I normally have very dry skin and itchy eyes, so being on Accutane naturally made this worse. I used this hydrating eye cream twice daily and it kept the skin around my eyes from flaking,' she says. The eye cream hydrates, depuffs and brightens dark circles using key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides, caffeine and green-tea extract, according to the brand. Plus, it's made for all skin types, especially sensitive and acne-prone skin. Chapped lips to the point of inflammation is a common side effect of Accutane. Dr. Dan's Cortibalm is one of our favorite lip balms because it not only hydrates lips, but it also helps heal cracks and irritation. It has hydrocortisone, which reduces inflammation, and hydrating ingredients like beeswax, petroleum jelly and mineral oil, according to the brand. NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi says that this product is highly recommended by her friends who have been on Accutane and suffer from severely cracked, dry lips. How to shop for skin care while on Accutane Experts note that Accutane-related dryness is common on all parts of the body, particularly for skin on the scalp, face, lips and body. Here are their suggestions to consider while shopping for the best products for Accutane users. Choose ingredients wisely While taking Accutane, it's important to seek gentle, hydrating formulas that are noncomedogenic or oil-free to avoid clogging pores, says Green. Some key hydrating ingredients to look for include hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and glycerin to help lock in moisture. Since Accutane disrupts the skin barrier while taking it and for several months after, you'll want to incorporate ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to help to reinforce the skin barrier and make it less prone to irritation during the treatment course, says Goldman. To minimize skin sensitivity, you should avoid certain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid, which can be extremely irritating while on Accutane, says Goldman. Finally, skip face scrubs, dermaplaning and at-home peels until the treatment course is completed. 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Dr. Michele Green is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. Her areas of research include noninvasive cosmetic dermatology and aesthetics. Why trust NBC Select? Michelle Rostamian has more than 10 years of experience covering beauty and skin care topics. For this story, Rostamian spoke to board-certified dermatologists and included their direct recommendations and products based on their guidance.
Axios
7 days ago
- Axios
Florida bans soda and candy for SNAP users in 2026
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7 days ago
Mexican ranchers struggle to adapt as a tiny parasite ravages their cattle exports to the US
HERMOSILLO, Mexico -- The United States' suspension of live cattle imports from Mexico hit at the worst possible time for rancher Martín Ibarra Vargas, who after two years of severe drought had hoped to put his family on better footing selling his calves across the northern border. Like his father and grandfather before him, Ibarra Vargas has raised cattle on the parched soil of Sonora, the state in northwestern Mexico that shares a long border with the United States, particularly Arizona. His family has faced punishing droughts before but has never before had to contend with the economic hit of a new scourge: the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite. U.S. agriculture officials halted live cattle crossing the border in July – the third suspension of the past eight months — due to concerns about the flesh-eating maggot which has been found in southern Mexico and is creeping north. The screwworm is a larva of the Cochliomyia hominivorax fly that can invade the tissues of any warm-blooded animal, including humans. The parasite enters animals' skin, causing severe damage and lesions that can be fatal. Infected animals are a serious threat to herds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture calls it a "devastating pest" and said in June that it poses a threat to 'our livestock industry, our economy, and our food supply chain.' It has embarked on other steps to keep it out of the United States, which eradicated it decades ago. As part of its strategy the U.S. is preparing to breed billions of sterile flies and release them in Mexico and southern Texas. The aim is for the sterile males to mate with females in the wild who then produce no offspring. The U.S. ban on live cattle also applies to horses and bison imports. It hit a ranching sector already weakened by drought and specifically a cattle export business that generated $1.2 billion for Mexico last year. This year, Mexican ranchers have exported fewer than 200,000 head of cattle, which is less than half what they historically send in the same period. For Ibarra Vargas, considered a comparatively small rancher by Sonora's beef-centric standards, the inability to send his calves across the border has made him rethink everything. The repeated bans on Mexican cows by U.S. authorities has pushed his family to branch into beekeeping, raising sheep and selling cow's milk. What he earns is just a fraction of what he earned by exporting live cattle, but he is trying to hold on through the lean times. 'Tiempos de vacas flacas" — times of the lean cows — as he calls them. 'At least it lets us continue' ranching, the 57-year-old said with a white cowboy hat perched on his head. Even as ranchers in Sonora intensify their efforts to make sure the parasitic fly never makes it into their state, they've had to seek new markets. In the past two months, they've sold more than 35,000 mature cows within Mexico at a significant loss. 'We couldn't wait any longer,' said Juan Carlos Ochoa, president of the Sonora Regional Cattle Union. Those sales, he said, came at a '35% lower price difference compared with the export value of a cow.' That's hard to stomach when beef prices in the U.S. are rising. The U.S. first suspended cattle imports last November. Since then, more than 2,258 cases of screwworm have been identified in Mexico. Treatment requires a mix of manually removing the maggots, healing the lesions on the cows and using anti-parasite medicine. Some ranchers have also started retail beef sales through luxury butcher shops referred to as 'meat boutiques." There are other foreign markets, for example Japan, but selling vacuum sealed steaks across the Pacific is a dramatically different business than driving calves to U.S. feedlots. The switch is not easy. With his calves mooing as they ran from one end of a small corral to the other waiting to be fed, Ibarra Vargas said he still hasn't figured out how he will survive an extended period of not being able to send them to the U.S. The recent two-year drought reduced his cattle stocks and forced him to take on debt to save the small family ranch that has survived for three generations. Juan Carlos Anaya, director of Agricultural Markets Consulting Group, attributed a 2% drop in Mexico's cattle inventory last year to the drought. Anaya said Mexican ranchers who export are trying to get the U.S. to separate what happens in southern Mexico from the cattle exporting states in the north where stricter health and sanitation measures are taken, 'but the damage is already done.' 'We're running out of time,' said Ibarra Vargas, who already laments that his children are not interested in carrying on the family business. For a rancher who 'doesn't have a market or money to continue feeding his calves, it's a question of time before he says: 'you know what, this is as far as I go.''
