Baby boys to the fore in new skin trade

The cosmetics industry uses the term "neonatal fibroblast" to refer to a baby's foreskin.

Fibroblast is a skin cell that can produce collagen, which is widely used by cosmetic surgeons to plump up lips and fill in wrinkles. Though fibroblast is found in all skin cells, baby foreskins are preferred by the cosmetics industry because of their "healing properties".

Baby foreskin is used by cosmeticians because circumcision is a surgery after which skin is commonly discarded. US talk-show host Oprah Winfrey was strongly criticised for promoting a facial cream said to contain baby foreskin.

The product, TNS Recovery Complex, by SkinMedica costs about R1140 for 18g.

According to the company's website, it is "clinically proven to enhance skin tone and texture, and improve wrinkles and elasticity".