A Regenerative Medicine Perspective from the Work of Rica Tanaka The concept of anti-aging in dermatology is undergoing a paradigm shift—from superficial aesthetic modification to biological regeneration of aging tissues . Central to this transition is the role of stem cells, vascular biology, and tissue repair mechanisms . Research led by Rica Tanaka  demonstrates that impaired regeneration—particularly reduced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function and angiogenesis—is