Stanford Medicine Jun 25 2026 Reviewed Two proteins with opposing functions orchestrate the development and maintenance of healthy skin, Stanford Medicine researchers have found. Modulating their activity with topical drugs could reduce inflammation, aid wound healing, and slow or halt the growth of skin cancer, the researchers believe. The proteins are part of a family called ubiquitin-like proteins. Ubiquitination controls the targeted destruction and disposal of unneeded proteins in a cell.