What is Verteporfin?
Verteporfin is a medication primarily used in photodynamic therapy to treat certain eye conditions, such as macular degeneration. Research suggests that verteporfin may have potential applications in scarless healing by modulating cell signaling pathways involved in tissue repair and regeneration.
Milestones
Significant verteporfin trials & case studies chronologically sorted.
Description
On April 23rd, 2021, Mascharak et al published a paper in Science titled “Preventing Engrailed-1 activation in fibroblasts yields wound regeneration without scarring.” This revolutionary research made it to the NYTimes. In mice they made 6 mm in diameter circular full thickness excisions, these wounds were then injected with verteporfin and they healed to the point that verteporfin-healed skin was nearly indistinguishable from normal skin, with recovery of skin appendages, ultrastructure, and mechanical strength. This was confirmed via histological analysis and machine learning algorithms.
Description
On May 9th, 2022, our very own @KK from the Verteporfin Hub community was the first to start using verteporfin himself. He has since undergone many excisions of his many scars using verteporfin with some of the results, especially the facial excisions, appearing extremely impressive, causing a huge influx of members into the community. As always, this is an unscientific case study so take the results with a grain of salt.
Description
On July 22nd, 2022, Dr. Taleb Barghouthi tried using verteporfin on a “test” FUE on his website. He set up 3 control and 3 test locations across the donor region, where the control was injected with PBS and the test locations were injected with verteporfin with a concentration of 2 mg/mL, which was the concentration used in pigs, with dosages of 0.24 mg/cm^2, 0.32 mg/cm2, and 0.4 mg/cm2. These dosages were extrapolated from the mice study, as the dosages for the pig study weren't released at the time.
Description
In Oct 2022, Mascharak et al submitted a paper titled “Inhibiting Yes-associated Protein Prevents Scarring And Promotes Regeneration In A Large Animal Model Of Wound Repair” and was finally released early 2025. In pigs they made 2x5 cm hexagonal full thickness excisions, these wounds were then injected with verteporfin and they healed to the point that verteporfin-healed skin was nearly indistinguishable from normal skin.
They also transplanted human foreskin onto a mouse, cut into it with verteporfin, showing significantly reduced scarring. They state the reduced scarring in the human foreskin didn't have anything to do with it being attached to a mouse, potentially scientifically proving that humans respond positively to verteporfin.
Description
On June 7th, 2023, our very own @sc0t from the Verteporfin Hub community started using verteporfin himself. He had an indented scar on his lip and went to one of the best plastic surgeons regarding miniscule scar revisions, Dr. Yang Liu. His scar was excised and treated with verteporfin. Because of the doctor's exceptional skill, many wonder whether the great result of this excision was due to verteporfin or the doctor, or a combination of both. As always, this is an unscientific case study so take the results with a grain of salt.
Description
On July 11th, 2023, Dr. Blake Bloxham started trialing verteporfin on 3 FUT patients on his YouTube channel. These patients were unique; different skin-types, different histories (some had prior surgery, some did not), and different amounts of tissue were taken and tested. Some had sections of scar removed, treated with verteporfin and closed again; others had virgin tissue removed, treated with verteporfin, and closed. Differing concentrations (based upon past studies) of the medication were used, the highest one of 0.8mg/cm^2 appears to have gotten the closest to the concentration sweet spot thus far.
