Is the skin merely a record of our past lifestylechoices or is there more to the story? Your skin is often viewed as an outer layer, but it’s far more than a simple barrier. When it comes to ageing and disease, people often focus on the well-known culprits of smoking, drinking, overeating or poor food choices and lack of exercise, however poor skin health is the hidden factor that frequently goes unnoticed.
Science has now unveiled its complex role in the ageing process and how ageing skin is implicated in your overall health. Skin health doesn’t just affect your appearance, it influences various systemic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. What this means is that – aside from the benefits of maintaining youthfulness – looking after your skin and preventing its ageing could actually play a role in maintaining your health, while the opposite potentially worsens wellbeing on a grander scale.
By understanding these intricate connections, which involve an array of chemical processes and reactions in the skin, you can transform how you approach skincare and wellness. The encouraging news? You have plenty of opportunities to make a significant difference.
Beyond the surface
Your skin serves as a mirror of your body’s internal condition. It’s common to think of skin health in terms of appearance simply being a reflection of what’s going on inside. For example, prematurely aged skin may signal unhealthy lifestyle choices, while breakouts could signal hormonal or gut imbalances. While this is certainly true, the implications of our skin health go much deeper. Skin does more than just exhibit your inner state, it plays an active role in shaping it.
This is where the ageing of your skin comes in to steal the show. Signs of ageing aren’t merely a passive indicator, they’re also a powerful contributor to your overall wellbeing, influencing and being influenced by what’s happening inside your body.
Chronological vs biological age
Chronological age is straightforward – it’s the number of years you’ve lived. However, biological age represents how well your body functions compared to this chronological measure. Your skin is a critical marker of biological age. While chronological ageing is inevitable, biological ageing can be accelerated by environmental factors and lifestyle choices. For example, prolonged sun exposure can cause premature ageing of the skin, making it appear older than its chronological age. Interestingly, recent research revealed that 99 per cent of patients who appeared to be at least 10 years older than their actual age had underlying health issues.
The effects of sun exposure
The Australian sun, with its intense UV radiation, is particularly harsh on the skin. UV rays penetrate the skin and damage collagen and elastin, proteins that provide structural support. This damage results in wrinkles, sagging and pigmentation changes. More importantly, UV exposure accelerates the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) – toxic molecules that contribute to skin ageing and systemic inflammation. The depletion of the ozone layer exacerbates this issue, increasing your risk of both skin damage and systemic health problems.
The vicious cycle of stress and skin
Beyond environmental factors, stress is another major player in the ageing process, contributing to the decline in skin health. When we experience chronic stress, our bodies release higher levels of cortisol, a hormone that, in excessive amounts, can break down collagen and elastin collagen – the protein and fibres responsible for skin’s firmness and elasticity. Over time, this can result in premature ageing of the skin, making it more prone to wrinkles and sagging. This not only accelerates the formation of wrinkles but also weakens the skin’s barrier function, making it more prone to dryness, irritation and inflammation.
The constant state of alert that stress puts us in disrupts the natural repair processes, leading to premature ageing and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases which operate in a feedback loop. This is where inflammageing comes into the picture.
Understanding inflammageing
When the skin undergoes ageing, a chemical shift occurs which has a significant impact on our overall state of wellbeing. In our youth, the body is adapt at fighting off inflammation, yet as we age or experience declines in health, we can lose the ability to stay on top of this and inflammatory responses accelerate to a destructive level, releasing a flood of powerful chemicals that damage our very DNA by affecting processes of replication, degrading vital cells and adversely impacting the activity of our immune system, causing it to slow down and dysregulate.
“Inflammageing is a term used to describe the process of chronic, low-level and asymptomatic inflammation that is responsible for the premature ageing of our skin and is also recognised as a pathogenic process for other systemic disease processes,” explains Dr Sarah Tranter, a leading cosmetic doctor and skin expert. Therefore, as skin ages, it forms part of the system of inflammation, escalating the damaging effects on your overall health. Studies have confirmed that skin inflammation is closely linked to systemic inflammation that can impact various organs and systems.
What does this mean? Wrinkled and photoaged skin doesn’t just bear the marks of inflammation, it actively fuels it. When skin ages or suffers UV damage, it releases inflammatory cytokines and chemokines – proteins that trigger and sustain inflammation – breaking down collagen and elastin, which leads to thinner, less elastic skin. This process also weakens the skin’s barrier, making it more prone to water loss and environmental stress.
Adding to the problem, senescent cells – aged cells that have stopped dividing but still release inflammatory signals – contribute further to this cycle. As these inflammatory substances spread beyond the skin, they enter the bloodstream and can drive inflammation throughout the whole body, affecting everything from heart health to cognitive function.
Skin health and systemic diseases
The fact that the skin can act as both a source and target of inflammation is what links it so clearly to being a precursor for numerous diseases.
Cardiovascular disease: Recent findings reveal a compelling link between the health of your skin and your heart. It turns out that chronic skin inflammation doesn’t just stay skin-deep, it can ripple through your body, raising your risk of cardiovascular disease. Inflammatory markers released by inflamed skin can find their way into your bloodstream, where they stir up trouble by fuelling vascular inflammation and contributing to atherosclerosis – a leading cause of heart disease. This connection makes it clear: taking care of your skin isn’t just about looking good, it’s also about protecting your heart.
Neurodegenerative diseases: The relationship between your skin and brain might seem unlikely, but growing evidence suggests that skin inflammation could indeed play a surprising role in neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammatory cytokines produced by irritated skin can cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially accelerating cognitive decline and raising the risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This emerging science underscores the importance of managing skin health, not just for your complexion but also for your brain’s long-term wellbeing.
Osteoporosis: Your skin can also directly influence the health of your bones. Chronic inflammation, particularly when it originates from the skin, has been found to impact bone health significantly. This ongoing inflammation can lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, where bones become brittle and more prone to fractures. By managing skin inflammation, you’re not just preserving your complexion, you’re also taking crucial steps to maintaining strong, healthy bones as you age.
Diabetes: Furthermore, the influence of skin health extends even to your metabolism. Inflammation caused by skin conditions can disrupt your body’s ability to manage glucose, increasing the risk of developing metabolic issues such as diabetes. The systemic inflammation linked to poor skin health can interfere with how your body processes sugar, highlighting the importance of skincare in maintaining overall metabolic balance. So, nurturing your skin might be one of the keys to keeping your metabolism in check, too.
How you can protect your skin and health
Armed with the knowledge of this skin and inflammation loop, and the significant cascade of health issues and related diseases this can cause, it’s time to consider protecting your skin in the bigger picture. “I think more and more we are understanding the role of inflammation as the key mediating factor in cellular and immunosenescence, which is responsible for the slowing down and dysregulation of body functions that we see with physiological ageing, the more important taking a holistic protective approach becomes,” says Dr Tranter. So, what can you do to prevent skin ageing and reverse and prevent chronic, background inflammation?
Sun protection strategies: Since photoaged skin perpetuates inflammation, safeguarding your skin with effective sun protection is crucial. Regular use of SPF50+ broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and seeking shade can prevent UV-induced damage, lower systemic health risks and slow the formation of harmful AGEs. Make sun protection a daily habit by applying sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days, and reapplying it every two hours when outdoors, to keep your skin – and body – in better shape.
The power of moisturising: A good moisturiser does more than hydrate, it fortifies your skin’s barrier, reducing inflammation and slowing the ageing process. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides help lock in moisture and protect against environmental stressors, promoting overall wellness by keeping your skin resilient and healthy. For optimal results, apply your moisturiser immediately after showering to lock in moisture and maintain a strong skin barrier.
Regulate your nervous system: Managing stress is key to maintaining both skin health and overall wellbeing. Practices such as mindfulness, deep breathing and yoga can lower cortisol levels, reduce inflammation and support your skin’s natural repair processes. Cultivating calm through these practices not only benefits your mind but also serves as a powerful defence against the ageing effects of stress. Even starting with just five minutes of deep breathing exercises daily can have a positive impact on your skin and overall health.
Adaptogens and antioxidants: Incorporating adaptogens such as ashwagandha and rhodiola, along with antioxidants like vitamins C and E, into your diet can boost your skin’s resilience. These nutrients help your body combat stress and oxidative damage, protecting skin cells and enhancing overall vitality. You can easily include these powerful nutrients by adding a handful of berries or a vitamin C-rich smoothie to your morning routine, along with herbal powders, tinctures or supplements.
Avoiding triggers: Steering clear of smoking, excessive sugar, alcohol and processed foods is vital for healthy skin. These triggers introduce toxins and contribute to inflammation and ageing. By swapping sugary snacks for fresh fruit and limiting alcohol to occasional social events, you protect your skin’s integrity while promoting better health overall.
Move more: Regular exercise not only improves circulation, delivering vital nutrients to your skin, but also reduces stress and inflammation. A consistent routine of movement enhances skin elasticity, detoxifies the body and supports overall health. Incorporating at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine – whether it’s a brisk walk, yoga or strength training – can make a significant difference in both your skin and overall wellbeing.
Towards lifelong wellness
As we’ve covered, your skin is far from being just a surface-level cover, playing a pivotal role in your overall health narrative. It not only reflects internal changes but also fuels a cycle of inflammation that can drive age-related conditions. Acting as both a health barometer and a catalyst, your skin significantly impacts your healthspan and longevity. By breaking the cycle of inflammageing with thoughtful care and proactive measures, you’re enhancing not just your skin’s appearance but your overall vitality. Embrace your skin as a central protagonist in your health journey and let it guide you towards a longer, healthier life.
