Fake Skin Is Cheaper and More Ethical Than Animal Tests
Advances in the manufacture of Human Epidermal Equivalents (HEEs) — essentially, fake human skin — is showing positive results on a variety of fronts. This article describes how HEEs made from human stem cells can act and react in the same way that “native” human skin does, and will be an “invaluable tool” for science moving forward. The results of the study have obvious implications for anti-vivisection advocacy, as the researchers note that the “European Union ban on the import and sale of cosmetics containing ingredients tested on animals will increase the demand for efficient and cost-effective alternative in vitro models that would not compromise consumer safety.” HEEs, they note, “might present the best available answer.”