Epigenetic Skincare: Can We Reprogram How Our Skin Ages?

Send us Fan MailWe often say "it's in my genes" as though our DNA is a fixed sentence we have no power over. But epigenetics tells a very different story, and it changes everything about how I think about skincare.In this episode, I explore the science of epigenetics: how our environment, lifestyle, and even the ingredients we apply to our skin can gently change the way our genes behave, without altering the DNA itself. I explain the difference between the hard drive that never changes and the settings (the on/off switches) that determine everything about how it functions.I walk through the tragic story of the Dutch Hunger Winter, one of the most powerful natural experiments in epigenetic science, and what it revealed about how early environmental stress leaves chemical marks on DNA that can last generations. I discuss twin research, the phenomenon of secular acceleration, and why epigenetic alteration is now recognized as one of the primary hallmarks of aging. I then bring all of this directly into skincare, explaining how glycerin, hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide, and resveratrol all act epigenetically on skin cells, how we test these effects in the lab, and how this science led us to launch our first epigenetically active product at Meder Beauty back in 2017.If you have ever wondered whether skincare can genuinely change how your skin ages at a cellular level, this episode gives you the honest answer.Episode resources:Alexander Meissner, Ph.D.Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universeAccelerated biological aging six decades after prenatal famine exposurePrenatal exposure to the 1944-45 Dutch 'hunger winter' and addiction later in lifeEpigenetic Ingredients in Skincare - Meder Journal, March 29, 2023Epigenetic differences arise during the lifetime of monozygotic twinsShop the skincare we talked about today:Meder Beauty's Blepharo-Rich Eye CreamAnti Aging Intense Face Oil - Vita-Long - Meder BeautyLearn more from the previous episodes:The 12 Hallmarks That Shape Your SkinVita-Long 2.0: Addressing 8 Hallmarks of Aging in One FormulaHyaluronic Acid: What It Really Does for Your SkinThe Truth About Collagen: Biggest Myths About Taking CollagenThe Magic of Peptides: Why They’re Transforming Skincare ForeverVitamins in Skincare: What Works, What Doesn’t & What’s Coming NextYour Skin’s Hidden Ecosystem: Why the Microbiome Matters More