Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Objectives: Definition of ageing, differences between intrinsic and extrinsic ageing (the exposome);
Review of dermal extracellular matrix biology;
Changes to dermal matrix associated with chronic sun exposure;
Changes to dermal matrix associated with smoking.

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability

Objectives: Review studies investigating genetic associations with features of skin ageing, and present the latest findings.

Introduction: We inherit our DNA from our parents, and the variations present within can influence how our appearance changes with age. Due to advancements in technology that can measure these variations, there are now a number of studies linking DNA sequence variations with aspects of skin ageing. What are the learnings from these findings and how does it make us wiser in understanding the ageing process – key questions I address in this lecture.

Materials / method: Reviewing the literature, a number of genetic studies were found that have compared the presence of DNA sequence variants, in and near specific genes (aka gene variants), with the presence of wrinkles, pigmented age spots, eye lid sag, and skin texture changes with age. From these studies, a range of gene variants were identified as associating with skin ageing across different ethnic groups.

Results: The ability of genetic variants to predict somebody’s degree of skin ageing (e.g. wrinkles) is very low due to the small number of genetic associations identified to date.
Genes identified from the genetic studies, though, have highlighted how melanin content is strongly associated with youthful looks, likely reflecting eumelanin's (the darker melanin form) protection from the sun and free radical damage.
Environmental factors also associate with features of skin ageing and can be captured alongside genetic influences by studying epigenetic changes.

Conclusion: Much greater number of genetic associations are required before genetics can predict the presence of skin ageing features from DNA. However, biological insights, such as the protective effects of eumelanin, can be gleaned from current genetic studies. Furthermore, advances in epigenetics means both genetic and environmental influences can be studied together, which will drive greater understanding of why some people’s skin ages so well over time.

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Unilever

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Unilever

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): Unilever

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work is presented thanks to the support of: Unilever

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): unilever

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
Yes
Please specify entities (individual, company, society): employer

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work is presented thanks to the support of: unilever

Disclosures

Did you receive any funding to support your research for this TOPIC?
No

Were you provided with any honoraria, payment or other compensation for your work on this study?
No

Do you have any financial relationship with any entity which may closely compete with the medications, materials or instruments covered by your study?
No

Do you own or have you applied for any patents in conjunction with the instruments, medications or materials discussed in your study?
No

This work was not supported by any direct or non direct funding. It is under the author's own responsability