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The Science Of Looking Younger
Key Takeaways
We’re on the verge of being able to reverse aging in the body internally & externally
Looking better doesn’t negate our need for good sleep, proper nutrition, and exercise, but – our aesthetic appearance does affect us socially, emotionally, mentally and is worth pursuing
Menopause is the first sign of aging in an organ, before the rest of the body experiences symptoms
Monitor and track estrogen, progesterone, and SHBG sex hormone in the 30s and 40s to optimize hormone replacement therapy that may be needed during menopause
Protecting the skin is much more than vanity – the skin is the first line of protection again pathogens, viruses, wounds, foot ulcers, etc.
Tips for healthy skin: avoid UV light, wear sunscreen, quit smoking, minimize alcohol intake, avoid processed foods
As far as skin creams, there is the most evidence in support of Retin-A – but we don’t know about long term effects so don’t use them every single day
Hair loss can be slowed with treatments but ultimately is genetically determined
Tips to treat hair loss: topical creams (i.e., Rogaine, Minoxidil), Retin-A you can rub topically – apply several times per day; pills (i.e., Propecia) once per day; laser beams (low laser light therapy – hair caps approved by FDA); platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Menopause: Definition, Symptoms, Therapies
Menopause really affects the first organ in a woman’s body to experience the effects of biological aging
Menopause takes place before other organ systems start to show signs of aging and damage
The female reproductive system ages earlier than the rest of the body because we’ve evolved to have children sooner in life as a protective measure
Menopause symptoms: mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, migraines, hot flashes, increased susceptibility to heart disease
We’re continuing to find better ways to maintain hormone levels and protect against signs of aging that take place during menopause
Menopausal hormone therapy: estrogen (and other hormone) replacement to alleviate symptoms of menopause
It’s worth monitoring and tracking estrogen and progesterone in the 30s and 40s during the luteal phase of the cycle to have a baseline idea of what natural levels are in the event that hormone replacement is needed in the future
If you have a history of heart disease in your family, make sure your doctor knows before pursuing any hormone therapy as there are contraindications
It’s also worth tracking sex hormone SHBG which may impact the efficacy of hormone therapy as well as insulin levels in pre-and post-menopause
Skin
The largest organ in the human body is the skin
Skin is the barrier to the world and the first line of protection we have
Skin pinch test: (1) relax your hand on a table; (2) pinch up skin on the top of the hand; (3) observe bounce back time
Targets: in your 30s and 40s the skin should pop right down; in 50s it should take less than 10 seconds; in 60s it should take 10-15 seconds; over 70 it’ll take 30-60+ seconds
Epidermal (skin) thinning is a problem as we age in both men and women
Protecting your skin isn’t just about looking good, it’s about life and death – protection against pathogens, wounds, foot ulcers, infection, etc.
There is some truth to the idea that you are as old as you look – centenarians not only age well biologically but there is a correlation in appearance as well
There is evidence that an epigenetic clock based on methylation of skin cells predicts biological age well
There is an environmental component to skin aging from the sun – but you do need sunlight for health, be smart about exposure and wear protective clothing and sunscreen
Sunlight hits DNA molecules and fuses some cells, causing mutation
Skin is full of senescent cells and secretes inflammatory factors
“If you can lower the age of the skin, you can save the rest of the body.” – Matthew LaPlante
Tips for healthy skin: avoid UV light, wear sunscreen, quit smoking, minimize alcohol intake, avoid processed foods
If you haven’t historically been good about sunscreen use, use creams with peptides to restore some health – check out One Skin
There is debate about whether collagen use is actually effective – but it’s safe enough to experiment
Other useful creams & serums:
Vitamin C is an antioxidant and good for the body’s overall health
Retin-A is one of the most important ingredients in protecting fine lines and wrinkles – it is used as a defense against acne, increases downstream collagen production promotes keratin & autophagy, and much more
Important caveat – we don’t know about the long term effects of Retin-A use, don’t use it every day
Hyaluronic acid (HA): HA supports plumpness of skin and is related to aging with possible protective factors against cancer
There are an increasing number of creams with resveratrol in them which likely turns on sirtuin defense of skin
The future of skincare products will likely center around boosting NAD
Botox, Skin Peels, Microneedling
Botox (bacterium Clostridium botulinum) is a toxin found in food
Botox is a purely cosmetic treatment, highly effective at getting rid of wrinkles by inhibiting neurotransmission so muscles will relax and wrinkles will clear
Skin peels make your skin look nicer but won’t really change the age of the skin
Microneedling may cause enough damage to the skin to induce hormesis and positive stress effects on the skin
Nails, Hair & Hair Loss
Rate of nail growth is a strong indicator of aging
The rate of nail growth decreases about 0.5% per year
There’s a strong genetic component to hair loss and baldness
Hair loss can be slowed with treatments but ultimately is genetically determined
Hair loss isn’t necessarily a sign of aging – appearing gray and distinguished had an advantage in history because you looked wiser
Hair loss occurs when important stem cells get kicked out of the follicle
Treatments for hair loss: topical creams (i.e., Rogaine, Minoxidil), Retin-A you can rub topically – apply several times per day; pills (i.e., Propecia) once per day; laser beams (low laser light therapy – hair caps approved by FDA); platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
As we age, hair stops growing on the head and starts growing in less desirable places like ears & nose – but we don’t really know why
Gray hair is associated with stress but it doesn’t have to be permanent! You can reverse grayness in the earliest phases and recover function by resetting epigenetics with a cocktail of minoxidil, cyclosporin-A, and pigment promoting dug (analog of rapamycin)