While your skin is a canvas for many cosmetic pursuits, itβs not just there for looks. As the body's largest organ, it stands as your first line of defense against the outside world.When asked what you want from your skin care, you might say fewer wrinkles, smoother texture, and a radiant tone. Yet, the skincare industry has often neglected a crucial truth: your skin is a vital organ, central to your overall health and longevity, akin to the heart, brain, and liver.Skin care should not be limited to enhancing appearance. It should optimize your skinβs biology to fortify your entire body against the aging process. OneSkinβs products transcend skin care as longevity-focused topical supplements.
While your skin is a canvas for many cosmetic pursuits, itβs not just there for looks. As the body's largest organ, it stands as your first line of defense against the outside world.When asked what you want from your skin care, you might say fewer wrinkles, smoother texture, and a radiant tone. Yet, the skincare industry has often neglected a crucial truth: your skin is a vital organ, central to your overall health and longevity, akin to the heart, brain, and liver.Skin care should not be limited to enhancing appearance. It should optimize your skinβs biology to fortify your entire body against the aging process. OneSkinβs products transcend skin care as longevity-focused topical supplements.
01
The Science Behind Skin Aging
Aging is a complex process affecting every cell, organ, and system in your body; your skin is no exception. With two square meters in size and over fifteen percent of your body weight, your skin is constantly exposed to internal and external factors that contribute to skin aging.[1]
Intrinsic Skin Aging
Intrinsic aging is the natural aging process that occurs over time, where bodily processes begin to slow and break down. Some intrinsic sources of skin aging include:
- Genetic Predisposition: Your genes significantly affect how your skin ages, accounting for up to 60% of variations in skin aging. Some people may naturally have more resilient skin, while others may be more prone to wrinkles and sagging.[2]
- Cellular Senescence: As you age, your cells gradually lose their ability to divide and function properly. This process, known as cellular senescence, leads to the accumulation of βzombieβ cells in your skin that secrete inflammatory compounds which contribute to wrinkles and loss of elasticity.[3]
- Decreased Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein that provides structure and support to your skin. Due to various factors like hormonal changes and the accumulation of senescent cells, your body produces less collagen as you age, leading to thinner, less resilient skin.[4]
01
The Science Behind Skin Aging
Aging is a complex process affecting every cell, organ, and system in your body; your skin is no exception. With two square meters in size and over fifteen percent of your body weight, your skin is constantly exposed to internal and external factors that contribute to skin aging.[1]
Intrinsic Skin Aging
Intrinsic aging is the natural aging process that occurs over time, where bodily processes begin to slow and break down. Some intrinsic sources of skin aging include:
- Genetic Predisposition: Your genes significantly affect how your skin ages, accounting for up to 60% of variations in skin aging. Some people may naturally have more resilient skin, while others may be more prone to wrinkles and sagging.[2]
- Cellular Senescence: As you age, your cells gradually lose their ability to divide and function properly. This process, known as cellular senescence, leads to the accumulation of βzombieβ cells in your skin that secrete inflammatory compounds which contribute to wrinkles and loss of elasticity.[3]
- Decreased Collagen Production: Collagen is a protein that provides structure and support to your skin. Due to various factors like hormonal changes and the accumulation of senescent cells, your body produces less collagen as you age, leading to thinner, less resilient skin.[4]
Extrinsic Skin Aging
Extrinsic aging, on the other hand, is influenced by external factors and lifestyle choices. Some of the most prominent sources of extrinsic skin aging include:
- Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is one of the primary causes of extrinsic aging. Characterized by wrinkles, sunspots, and an increased risk of skin cancer, up to 80% of the visible signs of aging can be attributed to UV exposure.[5] At the same time, even visible blue light can create oxidative stress in the skin by producing ROS, accelerating the aging process.[6]
- Pollution: Environmental pollutants can penetrate your skin, causing oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation and accelerating aging.[7]
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, poor diet, and lack of sleep can all contribute to premature skin aging. These factors increase oxidative stress and inflammation, which damage your skin over time.[8]
Extrinsic Skin Aging
Extrinsic aging, on the other hand, is influenced by external factors and lifestyle choices. Some of the most prominent sources of extrinsic skin aging include:
- Sun Exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is one of the primary causes of extrinsic aging. Characterized by wrinkles, sunspots, and an increased risk of skin cancer, up to 80% of the visible signs of aging can be attributed to UV exposure.[5] At the same time, even visible blue light can create oxidative stress in the skin by producing ROS, accelerating the aging process.[6]
- Pollution: Environmental pollutants can penetrate your skin, causing oxidative stress, which leads to inflammation and accelerating aging.[7]
- Lifestyle Factors: Smoking, poor diet, and lack of sleep can all contribute to premature skin aging. These factors increase oxidative stress and inflammation, which damage your skin over time.[8]
02
How Skin Aging Impacts Longevity
For years, scientists have known that skin strength deteriorates as we age, leaving the body more susceptible to infections that can have adverse health effects system-wide. However, new research suggests that skin aging may also be a silent trigger of systemic inflammation with age, termed βinflammaging,β revealing that skin care may be the missing link in extending human longevity.[9]
Inflammaging: A Root Cause of Aging
Systemic inflammation, one of the 12 hallmarks of aging, is the chronic, low-grade inflammation that becomes more prevalent as you age. This persistent state of inflammation is not an acute response to injury or infection but rather a continuous, systemic condition that quietly wreaks havoc on your body over time. Unlike short-term inflammation that helps you heal from wounds or fight off infections, inflammaging is a subtle and insidious process driven by factors like cellular senescence. Because the skin is directly vulnerable to intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors like oxidative stress, sun damage, and UV exposure, there is a strong link between skin health and inflammaging, an age-related and continuous state of body-wide inflammation. [10]The root of this link begins when your skin tries to repair age-related damage. In an attempt to restore hydration and mend vulnerabilities in its barrier function, aging skin increases the production of inflammatory molecules known as cytokines. As cytokine levels increase, they begin to accumulate in the blood, resulting in a body-wide state of inflammation that has direct connections to chronic conditions like Alzheimerβs disease, cancer, and heart disease.[10]
02
How Skin Aging Impacts Longevity
For years, scientists have known that skin strength deteriorates as we age, leaving the body more susceptible to infections that can have adverse health effects system-wide. However, new research suggests that skin aging may also be a silent trigger of systemic inflammation with age, termed βinflammaging,β revealing that skin care may be the missing link in extending human longevity.[9]
Inflammaging: A Root Cause of Aging
Systemic inflammation, one of the 12 hallmarks of aging, is the chronic, low-grade inflammation that becomes more prevalent as you age. This persistent state of inflammation is not an acute response to injury or infection but rather a continuous, systemic condition that quietly wreaks havoc on your body over time. Unlike short-term inflammation that helps you heal from wounds or fight off infections, inflammaging is a subtle and insidious process driven by factors like cellular senescence. Because the skin is directly vulnerable to intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors like oxidative stress, sun damage, and UV exposure, there is a strong link between skin health and inflammaging, an age-related and continuous state of body-wide inflammation. [10]The root of this link begins when your skin tries to repair age-related damage. In an attempt to restore hydration and mend vulnerabilities in its barrier function, aging skin increases the production of inflammatory molecules known as cytokines. As cytokine levels increase, they begin to accumulate in the blood, resulting in a body-wide state of inflammation that has direct connections to chronic conditions like Alzheimerβs disease, cancer, and heart disease.[10]
03
Shifting Skin Care from Symptoms to Root Causes
When it comes to skin care, treating the symptoms of aging rather than the causes of aging has long been the norm. Just look at the Botox industry, which has reached a whopping $3.5 billion annually. Consider for a moment what Botox is treating: wrinkles are just the surface symptoms of an underlying decline in skin health.Just as you wouldn't treat an aged heart with injectable plumper to make it appear healthier, the goal of skin care shouldn't be to just treat the appearance of mature skin and wish for it to be more youthful. Instead, your skin care needs to prioritize skin health first so that you can experience better-looking, stronger, and healthier skin as a result.
The Subjectivity Problem in Skincare Claims
The skincare industry has traditionally relied on subjective metrics to validate the effectiveness of its products. Before-and-after photos, customer surveys, and self-reported outcomes are commonly used to support clinical claims. While these methods can provide some insights, they lack the rigorous objectivity required to definitively prove a product's efficacy. OneSkin is changing that.
03
Shifting Skin Care from Symptoms to Root Causes
When it comes to skin care, treating the symptoms of aging rather than the causes of aging has long been the norm. Just look at the Botox industry, which has reached a whopping $3.5 billion annually. Consider for a moment what Botox is treating: wrinkles are just the surface symptoms of an underlying decline in skin health.Just as you wouldn't treat an aged heart with injectable plumper to make it appear healthier, the goal of skin care shouldn't be to just treat the appearance of mature skin and wish for it to be more youthful. Instead, your skin care needs to prioritize skin health first so that you can experience better-looking, stronger, and healthier skin as a result.
The Subjectivity Problem in Skincare Claims
The skincare industry has traditionally relied on subjective metrics to validate the effectiveness of its products. Before-and-after photos, customer surveys, and self-reported outcomes are commonly used to support clinical claims. While these methods can provide some insights, they lack the rigorous objectivity required to definitively prove a product's efficacy. OneSkin is changing that.
MolClock: The First Objective Skin-Specific Biological Clock
MolClock is the first-ever skin-specific biological clock designed to predict the skin's biological age based on epigenetic changes to the skin.[11] Unlike traditional methods that rely on subjective metrics, MolClock provides an objective, numerical assessment of skin health and aging. This innovation allows OneSkin to conclude definitively that our products are effective in a way others cannot.
MolClock: The First Objective Skin-Specific Biological Clock
MolClock is the first-ever skin-specific biological clock designed to predict the skin's biological age based on epigenetic changes to the skin.[11] Unlike traditional methods that rely on subjective metrics, MolClock provides an objective, numerical assessment of skin health and aging. This innovation allows OneSkin to conclude definitively that our products are effective in a way others cannot.
OS-01: The First Ingredient Scientifically Proven to Reverse Skinβs Biological Age
This is where OneSkin's revolutionary approach to skin care comes into play. Powered by our OS-01 peptide, which has been clinically validated to decrease key biomarkers of skin aging, increase epidermal thickness, and improve barrier function, our formulations tackle the root causes of skin aging to fortify your largest organ. [12,13] In fact, OS-01 FACE, OS-01 EYE, and OS-01 BODY are all clinically proven to improve barrier function, a key indicator of skin health.[12, 14]
OS-01: The First Ingredient Scientifically Proven to Reverse Skinβs Biological Age
This is where OneSkin's revolutionary approach to skin care comes into play. Powered by our OS-01 peptide, which has been clinically validated to decrease key biomarkers of skin aging, increase epidermal thickness, and improve barrier function, our formulations tackle the root causes of skin aging to fortify your largest organ. [12,13] In fact, OS-01 FACE, OS-01 EYE, and OS-01 BODY are all clinically proven to improve barrier function, a key indicator of skin health.[12, 14]
Pausing Inflammaging With OS-01 BODY
Based on these results, we hypothesized that delivering the benefits of OS-01 across the body could enhance overall bodily longevity. To test this, we conducted a 12-week clinical study involving 52 participants using OS-01 BODY or a control formulation (a standard drugstore moisturizer). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks to measure circulating cytokine levels, and the biological age was assessed using GlycanAge. The results were compelling: IL-8 levels significantly decreased in participants using OS-01 BODY, and their biological age remained unchanged. In contrast, those using the control formulation experienced an increase in biological age. This suggests that treating body skin with OS-01 BODY, powered by the OS-01 peptide, effectively reduced circulating inflammation and helped pause overall biological aging.[12]
Pausing Inflammaging With OS-01 BODY
Based on these results, we hypothesized that delivering the benefits of OS-01 across the body could enhance overall bodily longevity. To test this, we conducted a 12-week clinical study involving 52 participants using OS-01 BODY or a control formulation (a standard drugstore moisturizer). Blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks to measure circulating cytokine levels, and the biological age was assessed using GlycanAge. The results were compelling: IL-8 levels significantly decreased in participants using OS-01 BODY, and their biological age remained unchanged. In contrast, those using the control formulation experienced an increase in biological age. This suggests that treating body skin with OS-01 BODY, powered by the OS-01 peptide, effectively reduced circulating inflammation and helped pause overall biological aging.[12]
Key Takeaways:
- As the bodyβs largest organ, It's essential to recognize the skinβs critical role in overall health and longevity, not just its cosmetic value.
- Skin aging is influenced by various Intrinsic and extrinsic factors that significantly contribute to systemic inflammation or "inflammaging," a chronic, low-grade inflammation that accelerates the entire bodyβs aging process.
- Traditional skincare has focused on treating the symptoms of aging, like wrinkles, rather than addressing the underlying causes.
- Effective skin care should optimize a shift towards enhancing skin health at the cellular level, which can lead to better overall health outcomes and even extend longevity, along with improving skinβs appearance.
Key Takeaways:
- As the bodyβs largest organ, It's essential to recognize the skinβs critical role in overall health and longevity, not just its cosmetic value.
- Skin aging is influenced by various Intrinsic and extrinsic factors that significantly contribute to systemic inflammation or "inflammaging," a chronic, low-grade inflammation that accelerates the entire bodyβs aging process.
- Traditional skincare has focused on treating the symptoms of aging, like wrinkles, rather than addressing the underlying causes.
- Effective skin care should optimize a shift towards enhancing skin health at the cellular level, which can lead to better overall health outcomes and even extend longevity, along with improving skinβs appearance.
Disclaimers
- This article was initially published in April 2022 and has been updated.
Disclaimers
- This article was initially published in April 2022 and has been updated.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279255/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4085290/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8524668/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344124/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8307003/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9320051/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8586245/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10669244/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10248351/
- Boroni, M. et al. Highly accurate skin-specific methylome analysis algorithm as a platform to screen and validate therapeutics for healthy aging. Clinical Epigenetics 12, 105. 2020.
- Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, 3D skin models, and skin cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims
- Zonari, A., et al. Senotherapeutic peptide treatment reduces biological age and senescence burden in human skin models. Npj Aging, 9(1), 1-15. 2023.
- Zonari A., et al. Double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical investigation of peptide OS-01 for skin rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024.
References
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279255/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4085290/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8524668/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8824545/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4344124/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8307003/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9320051/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8586245/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10669244/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10248351/
- Boroni, M. et al. Highly accurate skin-specific methylome analysis algorithm as a platform to screen and validate therapeutics for healthy aging. Clinical Epigenetics 12, 105. 2020.
- Based on data from clinical studies and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, 3D skin models, and skin cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims
- Zonari, A., et al. Senotherapeutic peptide treatment reduces biological age and senescence burden in human skin models. Npj Aging, 9(1), 1-15. 2023.
- Zonari A., et al. Double-blind, vehicle-controlled clinical investigation of peptide OS-01 for skin rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024.
