What is the exposome and how does it affect your skin

The exposome is a relatively recent term. It was first used in 2005 by the director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a molecular epidemiologist named Christopher P. Wild. According to P. Wild, the exposome is the set of environmental and exposure factors to which each person is subjected, from the moment we are born until we die.

What do we mean by these external factors? We are referring to environmental pollution, climate, stress, diet, physical activity, solar radiation, exposure to chemical substances, tobacco, alcohol, and lack of sleep.

And why is this concept important in our skincare? You have likely already imagined that the exposome affects health very directly. If genetics explain approximately 25% of the diseases we suffer, the remaining 75% is determined by all those external factors to which we are exposed, which depend on the life we lead.

All these external factors directly influence the appearance of our dermis and are the causes of skin aging. That is why it is important to study in detail each of the factors that can harm skin health in order to formulate cosmetics that are truly effective in counteracting the effects of this exposome on the skin.

MAIN FACTORS OF THE EXPOSOME

Let's review the main factors that affect and age our skin:

1. Solar radiation:

The sun emits different radiations ranging from infrared (IR) rays to ultraviolet (UV) rays, but they do not reach us all equally, nor do they affect us in the same way. UVA radiation, despite not causing sunburn, is responsible for premature skin aging (photoaging) in the long term. Photoaging or premature aging is characterized by skin elastosis in the areas of the face, neck, décolletage, and those that have been subject to greater sun exposure during life. These areas present with thickened skin, great skin dryness, and deep wrinkles, and are characterized by having dilated pores. All this is the result of the accumulation of abnormal elastin in the dermal layer, due to an alteration of the cellular genetic material.
Another manifestation typical of photoaged skin is the appearance of spots or hyperpigmented areas. This is because solar radiation produces an alteration of the melanocytes that leads to the appearance of spots on the skin. These spots appear in areas most exposed to solar radiation, become more pronounced with age, and increase as the intensity and frequency of radiation on the skin grows.
It should be said that all these skin alterations manifest especially in those people who are exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. An example of this are workers in rural areas, fishermen, or sailors. But, in addition, photoaging causes an alteration of collagen fibers. These lose the ability to bind water to the skin and promote sagging and skin flaccidity. Another characteristic of skin with premature aging is the presence of hyperkeratinization that manifests through skin with a rough and thickened appearance. This is caused by an alteration of the cutaneous keratinocytes due to excessive solar radiation, which induces a change in the amount of keratin and epidermal lipids.

2. Pollution:

We know that pollution is one of the factors that most influences health, but its harmful effects on our skin have now also been proven. Gas emissions, smoke, traffic, global warming, air conditioning... are some of the polluting agents that reach your skin directly. The consequences are:
– Increase in free radical levels. Free radicals are very unstable molecules because they have lost an electron and "need to steal" another electron from another molecule to stabilize themselves. When this happens, the molecule that loses its electron becomes a free radical itself. Thus, a chain reaction called oxidative stress is generated, where cells are damaged, aging is produced, and it contributes to many diseases.
– Decrease in the formation of collagen and elastin, so the skin loses firmness and elasticity.
– Imbalance of the skin microbiota.
– Increase in hyperpigmentation and premature wrinkles.
– Extreme dryness and the appearance of hypersensitivity and irritation.
– Reduction of oxygen in the skin.
– Dull tone, lack of luminosity.
– Clogged pores, sensation of a film of dust on the skin.

3. Poor diet:

It is no secret that a poor diet directly affects our skin. For example, consuming too much sugar causes a glycation process in the skin, which alters cell function, destroys collagen, and is therefore associated with the premature appearance of wrinkles. You should also avoid ultra-processed foods. The fresher and less processed your food is, the healthier it will be for your skin. Ultra-processed foods lose beneficial properties and, conversely, usually contain more sugar and salt than we need, in addition to preservatives, colorings, fats, etc., that do not contribute anything good to our organism.

4. Harmful habits:

Both tobacco and alcohol cause blood vessels to shrink, and therefore the oxygenation and nutrients that reach skin cells are affected. Furthermore, tobacco produces skin dryness and premature aging.
On the other hand, leading a sedentary life: according to a study by the University of California, San Diego, people who remain seated for many hours and do not exercise experience accelerated cellular aging.
Of course, lack of restful sleep is also another factor that can most negatively influence the health of our skin. It causes the skin to become thinner and more fragile as the renewal of the dermis slows down.

5. Stress:

This is the mechanism that is set in motion when we find ourselves surrounded by an excess of situations that exceed our resources or we feel threatened. At that moment, our brain begins to secrete hormones and other substances to deal with that situation. It is actually a defense mechanism; however, when this stress lasts too long and we are not able to control it, it can cause a series of negative effects for our health: insomnia, headaches, muscle aches, skin alterations, digestive discomfort, anxiety, and fatigue. Emotional stress can produce a skin imbalance, causing alterations such as redness or acne breakouts, or it can also lead to greater oxidation of your skin cells, which will lead to the appearance of wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

Improving our lifestyle habits is paramount, but if we talk about cosmetics, only natural and organic cosmetics, formulated with anti-pollution active ingredients with great regenerative and antioxidant power, and finally cosmetics that provide probiotics and prebiotics will be able to help mitigate the external effects that attack our skin every day. What are you going to do to reduce the effects of the exposome on your skin? If you want to know about our anti-pollution serums, click here.

References:

The exposome: understanding the effect of environmental factors on our health.

The exposome in atopic dermatitis.

The skin aging exposome.