Exfoliating facial scrub

What is LONGEVITY?

As a dermatologist I think about longevity as a vision of a healthy-looking skin for all my patients.

On the topic of anti-ageing, there has been numerous advances in molecular biology (peptides), the use of certain ingredients from plants and what we understand as botanical actives in our skincare industry.

What is so exciting, and not just for those who love skincare but also for those who are looking for one or two hero products as a main stay, is the use of NIVEA Epigenetics Rejuvenating Serum powered by Epicelline®, twice a day to change the way we manage skin appearance and thus skin longevity.

NIVEA hosted a global influencer launch, the Epi-C Reverse Experience from 20 countries which I had the privilege to attend at Chenot Weggis Palace, in Switzerland.

A health wellness destination with fully immersive detox programmes set up 30 years ago to promote positive healthy ageing with a combination of food, exercise and specific types of treatment involving stressing the body and managing the recovery period, with a view that these cellular changes that occur after this will result in improvements from inside the body.

This would result in a visible reversal of certain acquired ageing characteristics caused by Epigenetics.

What is EPIGENETICS?

First, let me take you back to the 1930s. When we analysed birth weight of cohorts of parents who had post war food restrictions, we saw that their life expectancy was 20-30% lower than their parents. Why is that?

What was happening in utero when the body was under stress? Fast forward to today and let’s explore that further.

Epigenetics explores how environmental stressors can alter gene expression. In response to our environment, certain brakes are put on our transcribing DNA (the parts unwound and working to maintain a healthy-looking skin) and prevent activation of youth functions.

This means that over time we see changes on the skin such as fine lines, wrinkles, a change in skin texture, dyspigmentation, downstream skin laxity and certainly changes within the body itself known as endogenous changes.

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS?

Simply summarise them into 4 S: S for Sun and ultraviolet radiation but also smoking or being around Smoke, airborne pollution, a lack of quality Sleep, Stress and a high fat diet and no exercise can affect the way our DNA works.

According to Dr. Gaitanos, if we analyse certain blood markers we will see oxidative stress, inflammation, reduction of cell interaction and reduction of energy in response to these external contributors.

 

Over time, this forms part of the external facial and body changes that we know as ageing.

We can, however, alter our skin’s biological age and reverse this by a combination of positive strategies and positive mental attitude but also, better sleep quality strategies, improved diet (increasing good fats, carbohydrates and proteins) and exercise.

 

If we moderate environmental exposure, we can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the skin and body what we know as oxi-inflamm-ageing. There are many studies that show the downstream effects of this on the body and thus we know it is important to moderate this particularly on the skin.

HOW DOES EPIGENETICS WORK?

HOW DOES EPIGENETICS WORK?

Our cells contain DNA. Some parts are unwound when genes are being transcribed, signalling growth and maintenance of health. In response to our environmental stressors a certain carbon and hydrogen group form known as CH4 (methylation) is added to our DNA. This means that certain functions that are supposed to be switched on, essentially aren’t.

We know that the activity of these youth functions being switched off correlates with certain skin signs we see as fine lines, skin dullness, dyspigmentation. This methylation forms our epigenome (epi- on top): a series of new changes on top of our DNA that has different downstream events which can accelerate our biological age. What is so exciting is that we can change this back by healthy living and awareness but also using a skincare product that can return our skin functions towards a younger status.

NIVEA introduces EPICELLINE®

A breakthrough ingredient set to combat the covered sites in the skin’s youth functions by essentially reactivating them safely and thus allowing our functions to work again like in younger ages. What we see with daily use over a 4-week period is a skin radiance, improved texture and a softening in surface lines on the skin.

In fact, when you look at the studies, it reverses signs of ageing with twice daily use for 2 weeks and even after 4 weeks a self-grading assessment showed that 100% of the 43 women asked noticed a more youthful appearance to the skin.

I recommend you give it a try as 90% of what is going to happen to us is all about lifestyle and moderating this is really one of the first and most important ways to help our skin from the inside out.