What promotes skin health and reduces signs of aging?

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Last updated: February 8, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

A healthy diet and topical retinoids promote skin health and reduce signs of aging.

Key Factors

  • A Mediterranean diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, as well as a vegetarian diet with low methionine content, can help reduce the risk of aging-related diseases and promote skin health 1.
  • Topical retinoids, such as adapalene, tretinoin, and isotretinoin, have been shown to improve lentigines and reduce wrinkles, and are recommended for the care of patients with actinic keratosis 1.
  • Antiglycative compounds, such as polyphenols found in vegetables, fruits, and red wine, can help inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), which contribute to skin aging 1.
  • Functional foods and nutraceuticals containing bioactive compounds, such as olive mill wastewater and grape skin extracts, may also have anti-glycative and antioxidant effects, promoting skin health 1.

Mechanisms

  • Cellular senescence plays a key role in skin aging, and senescent human melanocytes can drive skin aging via paracrine telomere dysfunction 1.
  • Oxidative stress and inflammation can also contribute to skin aging, and a healthy diet and lifestyle can help mitigate these effects 1.

Recommendations

  • Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to promote skin health and reduce the risk of aging-related diseases.
  • Use topical retinoids as recommended by a dermatologist to improve lentigines and reduce wrinkles.
  • Consider functional foods and nutraceuticals containing bioactive compounds to help inhibit AGE formation and promote skin health.

From the Research

Factors Promoting Skin Health

  • Diet and nutrition play a significant role in preventing photoaging and treating common skin conditions 2, 3
  • Plant-derived antioxidants, such as polyphenols, tocopherols, and carotenoids, can promote skin health and protect against harmful factors like ultraviolet radiation and free radicals 4
  • Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation can limit seasonal deterioration of viscoelasticity and reduce visible signs of aging, including wrinkles and microrelief lines 5

Topical Treatments for Skin Aging

  • Topical hyaluronic acid (HA) can improve skin quality and reduce signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and fine lines 6
  • HA is a key ingredient in cosmeceuticals, providing hydration and anti-aging properties, and is well tolerated and effective in clinical studies 6
  • Combining HA with other treatments, such as Botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA), can lengthen the duration of the treatment's effect in reducing wrinkles 6

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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