#skincare – BioQuakes

“Your epidermis is showing,” my older sister once mischievously teased. What I at first thought was an inappropriate reference turned out to be an anatomical term for skin. This external tissue takes on a lot, from ultraviolet radiation to harmful chemicals and gases. With age, the damage is visible, as my sister had once indirectly implied, but a new study suggests this physical deterioration is fixable.

Portrait of Aged Skin

Nadine Pernodet, a scientist at the Materials Science and Engineering department at Stony Brook University, looked into how skin function changes due to epigenetic changes. She confirmed that skin cells follow a circadian rhythm (they change based on a daily schedule). For example, skin is relatively dry during the day, acting as a barrier to the elements, while it works to repair itself overnight and is more hydrated in the morning. However, when comparing the human skin cells from younger and older subjects, Pernodet found that these rhythms were only present in the young cells.

Perdenot further investigated with her team, studying other cellular processes that the circadian rhythm affects such as cellular recycling processes (found in lysosomes) and protein production. She utilized metabolomics, a method that measures the presence of metabolites (the products of metabolic processes such as carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids) at any given time. Scientists removed skin metabolites for analysis using special tape and identified hundreds that affected skin appearance. They found that over sixty percent of metabolites cycled rhythmically for Caucasian women 25 and younger, but that less than twenty percent of those same metabolites oscillated strongly or consistently for women 60 and older.

The results showed that metabolites are more active and follow a circadian rhythm in younger skin cells, revealing how oscillation weakens and skin repair efficiency weakens with age. Though, there is much hope for potential solutions. In identifying the issue, certain skin-treatments have incorporated specific peptides which return the skin to a more youthful rhythm by restoring the once-lacked metabolites. This, in turn, can ultimately reduce visible signs of aging. Brands such as Estee Lauder are at the forefront of this terrain.

The study may also open up more research, as the metabolomic test strip can be used for other parts of the body, revealing other health conditions and issues, too. The future (and our skin 😉 ) looks bright. How do you care for your skin? Which products and habits do you use? Let me know in the comments below.

Your favorite muscular tube,

Jessophagus

Although it is a well-known speculation that dairy has a negative affect on skin appearance, a recent article on the gut microbiome shows it as far more involved in skin health.

Both the skin and gut are key players in maintaining physiologic homeostasis. This is the regulation of blood glucose level and pressure, core body temperature, etc. to keep the body functioning. Researchers believe this connection in physiologic homeostasis is reasoning as to why there is a direct connection between the gut microbiome and skin disorders.

Array of Skincare Products

There are many different ways the gut microbiome may affect skin. First, indigestion and buildup of bad bacteria in the gut microbiome may lead to problems in retaining nutrients, therefore discoloring and drying skin. Secondly, the gut microbiome contains mass amounts of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, all of which infiltrate the gastrointestinal system. When intestinal barriers are disturbed, bacteria and microbiota enter the bloodstream, therefore disturbing skin homeostasis. This directly links with Psoriasis – a skin condition in which cells build up on the skin surface, forming scales and red patches. Lastly, fiber fermentation – digestible fiber which is broken down into short chain fatty acids and gases – may determine the severity of acne one experiences.

Although the gut microbiome can negatively affect skin appearance, it is also capable of improving skin health. In a 2013 study, mice were exposed to Lactobacillus reuteri supplements, allowing for an increase in skin thickeness and fur shininess. In a second study performed in 2o14, mice with exposure to Lactobacillus brevis, displayed a decrease in nerve tone and increase in blood flow, ultimately positively influencing water retention and skin appearance. Finally, a human study involving Lactobacillus paracasei supplements showed decrease in skin sensitivity.

Whether positive or negative, it is clear the human gut microbiome has an affect on skin appearance. To learn more click here.

BioQuakes

AP Biology class blog for discussing current research in Biology

Tag: #skincare

Ending the Age of Aging Skin

The Microbiome and it’s Potential Link to Skin Appearance

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