Improve Your Skinspan: Approaching Skincare with a Longevity Lens

Longevity is a cornerstone to our approach and practice, and an integral part of why Dr. Sajic created the 5 Dimension Skin Plan^™. Longevity and skin health are intricately linked. Our cardiovascular fitness, metabolic health, immunity, internal and external stressors, emotional wellness, and cognitive function are all key parts of how long, healthy, and fulfilling our lives are. But another dimension to living well and living long is written on each of our faces: the health of our skin.

What’s your Skinspan? 

Research has unlocked a deeper understanding about what impacts our “Skinspan”: the youthful appearance and function of our skin, and all of the molecular drivers, treatments, lifestyle factors, products, and approaches that affect how your skin looks, feels, and changes over time. 

What can longevity teach us about our skin?

Our skin’s health and physical markers offer insight into how bodies are aging and changing, and understanding this unlocks solutions that go beyond the surface. The intersection of skin health and longevity is a great example of how interwoven aesthetics and longevity are. Our providers treat each individual concern with a longevity lens, even when the concern is primarily cosmetic. It’s all connected.

Skin is so much more than a protective barrier; as the body’s largest organ, it’s a constantly changing diagnostic window into the health of your body. Sun damage, sleep deprivation, disease, and hydration all directly affect the appearance of the skin, and dermatologists can often “read” into what’s going on in the body simply by looking at your skin. Skin irregularities can also indicate conditions and disease: dry, itchy skin (dehydration, diabetes or thyroid disorders), severe acne (can indicate hormonal issues), certain rashes (autoimmune disorders). Discolouration of your skin can also be a diagnostic clue: jaundice, bruising, or brown spots can all be indicators for various medical conditions or deficiencies. Skin assessments are an essential piece of the longevity puzzle, and your skin actively communicates the internal health of your whole body.

Last year, Dr. Sajic and Sonja Sajic co-hosted a Longevity Luncheon for the Global Longevity Association (GLA), an exclusive think tank of health and wellness experts.

GLA is a professional organization with a mission to bring together the best global experts to solve pressing challenges for humanity: unhealthy aging, and proactive ways to extend human quality of life. Being part of this event was inspiring, offering exposure to multidisciplinary leaders  committed to longevity and comprehensive treatments that improve quality of life and confidence for each patient. GLA’s vision is a world where extended, healthy living is attainable for all peoples through advanced research, holistic wellness practices, and community engagement. What does it look like to build and maintain a vibrant future? This is one of the most important conversations we can have.

Dr. Sajic’s 5 Dimension Skin Plan^™ lays out five key contributors to facial aging:

• Bone loss: We lose bone density as we age, starting in our 30s. Losing support under the skin can exacerbate physical markers like under-eye hollows, flattened cheeks, a weaker jawline, and sagging skin that contributes to lines and folds.
• Fat loss or displacement: As fat diminishes and shifts downward, youthful fullness also declines. This can result in jowls, a double chin, and puffiness under the eyes, such as festoons and malar mounds.
• Structural skin loss: Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (HA) naturally decline with age, affecting the structural contours of the skin. Collagen production begins to decline steadily in our 20s, and HA and elastin regeneration slows as we age. This leads to laxity and thinning skin. Collagen and elastin stimulating treatments can help rebuild this support.
• Textural and pigment changes: Sun damage and photoaging can mean brown spots, redness, and uneven skin tone, as well as surface changes like roughness, fine lines, scarring, and wrinkles begin to appear or darken over time.
• Muscle and movement imbalances: Expression lines deepen with repeated movement, forming dynamic wrinkles such as crow’s feet, forehead lines, and marionette lines around the mouth, caused by the repeated action of facial muscles.
  

What does science say about ways to improve skin longevity or Skinspan?

Our approach to treating skin with a longevity mindset means using an evidence-based approach that takes each of the factors of facial aging into account. These treatment modalities and approaches can all impact your skin’s longevity:

• Sun protection: Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that combines UVA and UVB protection, wear protective clothing, and avoid peak sunlight exposure hours. Sun damage is responsible for 80-90%  of signs of aging and degradation of the skin.¹ 
• Topical retinoids and active ingredients in science-backed skincare products (consider a professionally designed skincare strategy to make sure you’re using products safely and optimally) can trigger collagen production, accelerate cell renewal, and help skin regenerate.
• Laser and energy-based treatments actively treat damage and restructure skin.
• Diet and chronic negative stress can both shorten your overall longevity and shorten your Skinspan. Reduce stressors and eat a balanced diet.
• Exercise regularly, and stay hydrated to support longevity and skin health. Exercise releases protective myokines like IL-15 (these help maintain skin integrity).
• Antioxidants like Vitamin C can help protect skin from future damage and combat oxidative stress.
• Prioritize good sleep hygiene since deprivation can elevate molecular aging markers.

Curious to learn more and improve your holistic skin health? Explore Dr. Sajic’s essential tools and approaches to skin longevity and what’s next.

Our comprehensive treatment plans are aimed at strengthening the skin’s natural ability to heal, adapt, and stay healthy over time.

Each consultation gets to the root of your concern and takes the big picture into account. How is your lifestyle, overall health, and overall balance affecting your well being and skin health? How can we act preventatively to avoid future signs of aging while we also address the changes that are already appearing? 

Book a consultation today and build a plan for skin health and longevity with our skilled team of experts. 

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¹Guan LL, Lim HW, Mohammad TF. Sunscreens and photoaging: a review of current literature. American journal of clinical dermatology. 2021 Nov;22(6):819-28.