Lack of adipocytes is one of the main reasons why permanent wrinkles become etched on the faces of older people.

Laboratory studies showed how hair follicles held the key to keeping healing skin scar-free and smooth by releasing a vital signalling molecule, called Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP).

BMP was found to instruct scar-forming cells commonly found in healing wounds, myofibroblasts, to transform themselves into adipocytes.

Lead scientist Professor George Cotsarelis, from the University of Pennsylvania in the US, said: "Essentially, we can manipulate wound healing so that it leads to skin regeneration rather than scarring.

"Typically, myofibroblasts were thought to be incapable of becoming a different type of cell.

"But our work shows we have the ability to influence these cells, and that they can be efficiently and stably converted into adipocytes."