Skin Structure Shared by Humans, Pigs, and Grizzlies May Hold Key to Youthful Skin

Researchers discover microscopic skin ridges form after birth, not during fetal development as previously thought.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Researchers at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine have discovered that a microscopic skin structure called rete ridges, which humans share with pigs and grizzly bears but not monkeys, actually develops shortly after birth rather than during fetal growth as previously assumed. This finding could lead to new therapies to reverse skin aging and improve wound and scar repair.

Why it matters

The discovery that rete ridges, which help anchor the skin's outer layer and maintain elasticity, degrade as people age challenges the long-held assumption that these structures form during early embryonic development. Understanding how rete ridges develop could open up new avenues for treatments to restore youthful skin and improve scar healing.

The details

The research team, led by Ryan Driskell of WSU's College of Veterinary Medicine, found that rete ridges act like biological "Velcro," anchoring the skin's outer epidermis to the underlying dermal layer. As these ridges flatten with age, skin becomes thinner and more prone to sagging and damage. By studying the skin development of pigs, which have a similar rete ridge structure to humans, the researchers identified a key molecular pathway involving bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling that drives the formation of these ridges after birth.

  • The study's findings were published in the journal Nature in February 2026.

The players

Ryan Driskell

An associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine's School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University and the senior author on the study.

Sean Thompson

A doctoral student in Driskell's lab who served as the first author on the study.

Maksim Plikus

A professor at the University of California, Irvine and a co-author on the paper.

Washington State University's Bear Research, Education and Conservation Center

Provided support and resources for the study.

Local farmers and producers

Partnered with the research team to collect skin tissue samples from pigs at various developmental stages.

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What they’re saying

“These structures degrade as we age; now we know how they form and have a blueprint to guide future work on restoring them.”

— Ryan Driskell, Associate Professor, Washington State University (Mirage News)

“When most people look at the skin of different animals, they see differences in fur. Rete ridges lie under the surface of skin, however, so it wasn't until we looked closer that we discovered that animals with thicker skin, like pigs, grizzly bears and dolphins, have rete ridges like we do.”

— Sean Thompson, Doctoral Student, Washington State University (Mirage News)

“That BMP signaling drives rete ridges is exciting as it holds significant translational potential. Use of BMP proteins has already been FDA-approved for orthodontic applications, mapping the way for their use in aged skin and scars.”

— Maksim Plikus, Professor, University of California, Irvine (Mirage News)

What’s next

Driskell has filed a provisional patent related to the team's discoveries, and the findings could lead to new treatments to restore youthful skin and improve scar repair by reactivating the BMP signaling pathway that drives rete ridge formation.

The takeaway

This study upends the long-held assumption that the microscopic skin structures known as rete ridges form during fetal development, revealing they actually emerge shortly after birth. This new understanding of skin architecture could unlock novel therapies to reverse the effects of aging and improve wound healing.