Skin Concerns
In skincare, the most common concerns include skin aging, loss of firmness and elasticity, reduced moisture retention, sun damage, ROS-induced oxidation, sensitivity, and pigmentation. Among these, skin aging and ROS-caused oxidation are particularly significant. They can lead to an increased risk of skin diseases such as acne, accelerated loss of collagen and elastin (resulting in wrinkles), increased DNA damage, heightened skin sensitivity, and enhanced skin pigmentation.
Skin Types
The skin, being the largest organ of the body, is classified into five major types by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): dry, oily, normal, combination, and sensitive. Each type possesses unique characteristics and is primarily influenced by epigenetics. Epigenetic regulation, which can be modified through environmental interactions, is a key determinant of your skin type, health, and beauty. This makes skin changes dynamic and reversible.
Skin Epigenetics
Skin Epigenetics involves the study of biological mechanisms that switch genes on or off in the skin. Since genes provide instructions for the production of functional proteins within cells, epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation affect how cells read genes and decide whether to produce specific proteins. For instance, although the COL1A1 gene exists in all cell types, it's "expressed" in skin cells to produce Type 1 Collagen proteins. While natural epigenetic changes occur with aging, external factors such as pollutants, smoking, exercise, diet, and sleep also have significant impacts. Skincare products typically contain active ingredients that can influence these epigenetic factors, affecting various aspects of skin quality.
Active Ingredients
An active ingredient in skincare products is one that has a biological effect, such as slowing skin aging, improving firmness and elasticity, balancing moisture retention, protecting from sun damage, reducing ROS-caused oxidation, preventing sensitivity, and decreasing pigmentation. Safe and effective active ingredients include L-ascorbic acid, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, ceramide, niacinamide, glycerin, tea polyphenol, and short peptides.
Clean Skincare
Clean skincare refers to products free from harmful chemicals or hazardous ingredients. Such ingredients include parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and others scored at level 3-10 by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Awareness of the potential risks associated with these ingredients is growing, and they are increasingly being avoided in clean skincare products.
Skin Anti-Aging Tests
Typically, skin anti-aging levels are determined in labs using expensive equipment and DNA samples, often requiring several weeks for results. Epigencare, a New York-based biotechnology company, has developed Skintelli, a rapid self-test for skin anti-aging/anti-oxidant levels. This test is simple, convenient, and can be performed at home in under 10 minutes. Understanding your skin’s natural anti-aging/anti-oxidant levels and how they are affected by skincare products is crucial for maintaining skin health and combating aging. Skintelli provides clear insights into the most suitable skincare products for your needs.