Take a moment to think about how much information you receive through your skin. Caresses, kisses, holding hands, burning yourself when grabbing a cup of scalding coffee, feeling the winter sun, the wind on your face… The skin is the organ through which we perceive the world around us, which is why keeping it healthy is crucial. And not only for that reason. The skin is the first thing we perceive in others; it reflects our age and our health, and the better cared for it is, the more the effects of aging are delayed and the firmer and more radiant it looks.
But how can we take the best possible care of our skin?
By getting to know it well. Our skin is made up of cells that rest on a matrix of collagen and elastin, two macromolecules that are essential for keeping it firm and flexible. There are many factors that affect the health of both the cells and this matrix—among them, the availability of nutrients and levels of oxidation. That’s why we need to keep our skin nourished and hydrated, and provide it with the antioxidants it needs to stay healthy. It is also crucial to reduce exposure to oxidizing substances such as caffeine, tobacco, or alcohol, which can accelerate the signs of aging.
In addition, there are conditions such as chronic inflammation that can also speed up the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Although inflammation itself is not inherently bad, it can become harmful when it becomes chronic and stops functioning as a defense mechanism. This chronic inflammation often affects the skin, leading to dermatitis, extreme sensitivity, redness, burning sensations, and itching. And the problem is not just cosmetic. Chronic skin inflammation generates a cascade of chemical compounds, such as cytokines, which destabilize collagen and elastin. When these tensile fibers that provide firmness and elasticity are compromised, the health of our skin is put at risk.
But how do I know if my skin is well cared for? Or if it needs more antioxidants, or if I should address signs of chronic inflammation?
By understanding your molecular markers. Each of us has a different capacity to produce antioxidants and therefore needs to consume them in greater or lesser amounts depending on our individual markers. The same applies to the inflammatory response. Our genes can reveal our predisposition to chronic inflammation, and if we know this, we can take action before its effects become so evident that it’s too late.
Even general advice for keeping skin healthy has nuances when viewed through your molecular reality.
The amount of information about our skin that can be found in our genes is immense. Our DNA also contains information about our tendency to lose hair follicles—that is, to go bald. This applies to both men and women, although it’s true that more than 60% of men are at risk of developing alopecia, compared to about 25% of women. Either way, hair loss has a strong genetic and hormonal basis, linked to androgens, and by understanding our genetic load, we can try to delay its effects.
Protecting our skin means ensuring a better quality of life. And we can protect it far more effectively if we understand it in depth—at a genetic and molecular level.
