WHAT’S SKIN AGEING AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT? August 6, 2022 – Posted in: Beauty – Tags:

Ageing is a natural process of life, with the body undergoing significant changes as the years go by. And while we can’t avoid ageing, we can minimise the impact ageing has on our skin.

 

To fully understand how you can use skincare to improve ageing outcomes, we need to unravel the fundamentals of skin ageing – we need to understand the problems we’re trying to solve. We pay careful attention and explore the concepts of skin ageing by looking at the effects of four major aspects:

When it comes to skin ageing, there are four major aspects to consider:

 

1. Changes in skin physiology

 

This is looking at the chemical and structural changes of the skin as you age, and how they result in the signs of ageing we all know well. We consider both:

  • Intrinsic ageing: the inescapable biological processes that result in ageing, like genetic predisposition, oxidative stress, etc., leading to fine wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.
  • Extrinsic ageing: avoidable external accelerators of the ageing process, like sun exposure, pollutants, poor nutritional intake, sleep deprivation, etc., resulting in premature loss of skin homeostasis and barrier function, as well as hyperpigmentation.

 

 

2. Inflammation

 

It’s no real surprise that inflammation has a role to play in accelerated ageing. When it comes to inflammation, there are two types:

  • Acute inflammation – this is the short-term inflammation that your body needs to deal with immune threats.
  • Sub-clinical chronic inflammation – this is low-grade inflammation that extends over a long period of time. This type of inflammation, also known as inflammageing, accelerates ageing and leads to negative health outcomes.

 

 

3. Barrier function

 

This is a fundamental aspect of the skin, which acts as a selective barrier. When the skin is not providing barrier function effectively, there are far-reaching consequences for our bodies. Compromised barrier function results in a higher level of long-term inflammation and an increased rate of ageing.

 

 

 

4. The skin’s microbiome

 

The 2007-2014 Human Microbiome Project changed our understanding of the role of microbes in our bodies, impacting the way we see skin at a fundamental level. New knowledge is flooding in, with current studies revealing more and more about the roles that our microbiomes perform in skin.

 

Commensal microbes are deeply entwined with the way our skin works. The microbiome is a driving force when it comes to maintaining healthy skin that ages appropriately. Because there are such deep and complex relationships between microbes and skin, an unbalanced microbiome has implications for skin health at every level.

 

We look at ways in which these four aspects impact each other, and we create complex products using biotechnology to assist skin in achieving this natural balance which has been disrupted by modern lifestyles. One of the most effective ways to improve ageing outcomes is by including Esse’s probiotic-based skincare products in your daily routine.

 

ANTI-AGEING HEROES

Whilst the entire Esse range is formulated and geared for reducing the effects of ageing, we want to highlight two of our ageing heroes and how this approach is proving to be highly effective in treating skin.

 

Probiotic Serum

The Probiotic Serum delivers its most notable benefits with three species of live Lactobacillus probiotics. These are stabilised in a Jojoba Oil base and are activated when exposed to the water on the skin’s surface.

 

Jojoba Oil contains fatty acids and wax esters that mimic sebum composition and provide a nutrient source for beneficial skin microbes. All three Lactobacillus species in the Serum have been shown to:

 

Improve barrier function by increasing the quantity and quality of tight-junctions;

Protect from pathogens by secreting antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and by competitive exclusion; and

Attenuate inflammatory responses by reducing production of inflammatory cytokines, and/or by downregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

During independent studies, the Probiotic Serum has been tested for skin firmness and skin elasticity to show its effects on anti-ageing. Results show:

 

An increase in skin firmness by 16% in 28 days.

An increase in skin elasticity by 9% in 28 days.

 

Resurrect Serum

This multi award-winning serum is the anti-ageing solution for sensitive skins. The Resurrect Serum makes use of an extract of Myrothamnus flabellifolia, the ‘resurrection plant’, wild harvested in Namibia.

 

This plant can survive long periods of drought and will revive when water becomes available again. To avoid DNA damage during these desiccation periods, the plant employs a high level of antioxidant protection. The population of Myrothamnus used by Esse has an extremely high content of the polyphenol 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic Acid, which provides this antioxidant activity.

 

Also included in the formulation is Hyaluronic Acid which provides hydration, reduces inflammation, and improves delivery of other actives. Bakuchiol offers anti-inflammatory activity and reduces collagen degradation. Gamma-aminobutyric Acid (GABA) relaxes the muscles under the skin to reduce wrinkles.

 

During independent studies the Resurrect Serum has been tested for wrinkle depth to show its effects on anti-ageing. Results show a reduction in wrinkle depth of 13% in 28 days.