Lab-grown skin may replace animals for testing of chemicals

Lyon, France - Researchers at L’Oréal laboratories here have developed a lab-grown skin that could soon be used to replace animals in the testing of chemicals, The Scotsman reports.

According to a report in New Scientist magazine, the tissue - made from keratinocytes left over from breast surgeries - would more accurately predict how a person might react to chemicals such as those used in cosmetics.

Researchers hope the tissue, called Episkin, also could be used in medical research.

While current laws in Europe allow animal testing of individual chemicals used in cosmetic products, new European laws will increasingly limit testing on animals in the future. Animal testing of cosmetic products has been banned in the United Kingdom since 1997.