Fish waste to help fight wrinkles  

The fountain of youth may lie in a common household meal and smelly creature.

NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) research into the effects of fish waste on human skin cells has revealed the yuckiest bits of fish are able to penetrate skin cells and prevent us from getting wrinkles.

It seems fish waste could be the ingredient to a wrinkle-free future.

The skin and liver parts of the gut are used and sometimes the eyes or the gills.

For the past five years, researchers at NIWA have tested bits of fish against human skin, trialling more than 150 different species using skin cells grown in test tubes.

The results are eye-opening.

"They don't act like ordinary UV protectants for example, which primarily put a layer over the top of your skin, but seem to actually get into the cells and actually do a protection from within the cell," says Dr Vicki Webb from NIWA.

Although it will not stop the ageing process, the fish product makes skin cells last longer.

NIWA says while Omega 3 oil has been used in skin products until now fish waste has not. Later this year it will be added to skin creams and tested for the first time on human complexions.

The tests will be done in France.

But the question being asked is - will shoppers buy skin care that is made of fish bits?

Gary Nicholson from the Kirkcaldie & Stains department store thinks so.

"It's probably one of those products that people will come and try and if they find it works for them they will continue to purchase it."

But if people are thinking of making a face mask out of last night's leftovers, NIWA says not all parts of the fish are good.

"No don't try this at home, wait until the product comes out."