Skin Barrier 101: How to Repair It and Glow Up with Seed Oils

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Hello Beautiful,

Great skin doesn't happen by chance.

Modern-day lifestyle shifts have undermined this ecosystem, making it less diverse and leaving us more susceptible to many challenges including sensitivity, irritation and other skin problems.

To reverse this, we need to embrace the skin for the living ecosystem it is and help it reconnect with the balanced state that it once had.

 This is why it's my mission to create products that enhance and protect the biorhythms of the dermis and the skin biome. I believe restoring and maintaining is the answer to healthy skin and a great first step to healthier aging.

It's also critical to understand the core needs of the skin and the most efficient path of delivery - so starting at the very top layer of the skin -

Were going to discuss how to improve hydration by providing it with lipids.

Basically, lipids help strengthen the skin’s protective barrier which helps it retain moisture and keep out impurities. Lipids also play an important role in protecting skin from environmental stressors and free radical damage that can lead to premature aging.  

SEED OILS AND BARRIER REPAIR 101

It may not look like it on the surface, but your skin is constantly hard at work; the toughest job, though, is of the uppermost layer, the skin barrier.

 Much like a security guard for your skin, the barrier is there to stop potential problems passing through and to protect what lies within - and it’s the weakness of this shield that is the underlying cause of aging and sensitive skin. 

A thin, weak or damaged skin barrier allows irritants in, deepens fine lines and small micro-tears, so building up this surface layer is key to reducing degradation- long term.

Here’s Some Quick Facts on Your Skin’s Makeup

The stratum corneum is the outermost part of our epidermis

It’s a vital front-line, protecting us against the perils of the environment
Your skin barrier weakens with age. 

We’re born with a body composed of 75% water, and we dry up as we get older. 

50% of your cell membranes are made up of fats or lipids

This outermost layer consists of dead skin cells called corneocytes.

These corneocytes are embedded in a lipid mixture consisting of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. 

So NET NET:   A lack of oils results in dry, unbalanced, dull looking skin.

Imagine the image of a dehydrated raisin versus a plump grape 

1. GO BACK TO BASICS

Keep it simple for effective, nurturing skincare. Take a long, hard look at your beauty practices –and products by pairing your routine.

Get rid of products with astringents, like alcohol and witch hazel. And avoid foaming cleansers, which leach away our Natural Moisturising Factor.

The number of clients I see that have a rise in sensitivities is growing so I created a scent free and surfactant free cleanser brimming full of omegas, skin-brightening vitamin C-esters, healing plant hydrosols, and botanicals to help gently purify the skin and stimulate cellular turnover to deliver brighter skin

+Evoq Gentle Cleanser 

2. NO HARSH MECHANICAL SCRUBS

I recommend cutting right back on physical exfoliation – so many women are using brushes and cleansing cloths too harsh for their skin-type and developing problems as a consequence.  

In addition, be aware that as you age, the skin's regenerative production decreases, so over use of retinol and harsh procedures do more harm than good long term.

I figured I would support women in their multi tasking abilities with our sea pearl cleansing mask which has Exfoliating Pearls to Renew skin clarity by gently lifting and removing stagnant skin cells.

Then following up with Laminaria + Spirulina which Strengthens connective tissue while hydrating with Omega-3 Fatty Acids and amino acids to help reduce dark spots and soothe inflamed skin conditions.

+ Evoq Sea Pearl 3 in 1 Exfoliation

3. SHOP FOR THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

As always with aging or sensitive skin issues, reading the labels of your products is a must to make sure you’re getting the building blocks you need. 

All Evoq moisturizers include cold pressed oils and Vitamin C Ester, which is a biomimetic liposome to help boost collagen and  ceramide production, thereby improving lipid barrier function. .

This is key  because we can’t manufacture essential fatty acids ourselves, so we must obtain it through diet or topical application. 

• PRO Collagen Firming Creme 
  
  
  
  

4. MIND YOUR PH

Detergents (eg. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) are my biggest no-no.  

They strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving the barrier dry, exposed and susceptible to irritation. 

They also have an alkalising effect on the skin, throwing off pH balance and disrupting the skin's natural processes. 

“Active” acids, like salicylic acid for example, should also be avoided because they  remove the top layers of skin.

• Evoq Enliven Sea Mist Toner - Encompasses Purified Sea Water which Immediately infuses skin with essential minerals and trace elements that provide soft, glowing, and healthy skin.
  
  
  
  

5. KEEP IT COOL

Cleanse with tepid water and don’t put your face under the shower - hot water will only strip the skin, just like it does to your hair.

6. BE FREE FROM RADICALS

It’s not just about building the barrier up - you also need the ingredients that will minimize any incoming stressors to look after it in the long run. 

Protecting against free radical damage can help maintain a strong skin barrier, so at Evoq, I've studied with the leading experts on how to energize certain antioxidants to 10x their effects which you can find in the Evoq Ultra Hydrating Oil.

• Evoq Ultra Hydrating Antioxidant Oil
  
  
  

TOP SHELF SOLUTION: ULTRA-HYDRATING ANTIOXIDANT OIL

Our clinically-studied complex brings advanced free radical squelching abilities with enzymatic help to prevent and repair damage to DNA and proteins (like collagen and elastin), allowing skin cells to live a longer, healthier, more beautiful life. 

I’ve addressed both intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors with THIS Matchmaker oil. 

By using biomimetic cold-pressed oils, your skin is infused with vital vitamins, nutrients, and fatty acids that act both as protectants from extrinsic aging but also work to slow down and prevent intrinsic aging factors by stimulating collagen production and rehydrating skin.

7. STRESS-LESS

Building up your barrier is not as simple as using the right skincare; think of it in the same way as you do your immune system - you need to feed its strength from all angles, mentally and physically. 

Your skin is your biggest organ and needs to be looked after from the inside and out.

AS WITHIN - SO WITHOUT…. Stress is proven to slow down the skin healing process, including skin barrier recovery. 

So, daily stress or poor stress management can leave the skin barrier in a permanently weakened state and accelerated aging. 

8. SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET

Essential fatty acids or omegas are essential as a supplement.  

They’re anti-inflammatory and help calm the skin or soothe aggravating conditions from the inside out. 

Odds are most people are abundant in omega 6 which can actually be pro inflammatory so you want to look for a 3 to 1 ratio of omega 3.

Omega fatty acids also help prevent water loss that can lead to irritation and discomfort. I take an oil form straight from the spoon, and always store mine in the fridge to keep it at its best. EFAs are very fragile and prone to oxidizing.

9. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

The healthier you are generally, the better your skin will be.

Tying into supplementation - eating omega-rich foods such as cold-water fish, flaxseed and walnuts will eventually find their way to the surface of the skin. 

It’s about making every cell in the body as healthy as possible. 

10. WEAR SUNSCREEN

90 percent of aging is from uv damage - therefore one of the easiest ways to protect your skin’s barrier is by wearing a daily SPF - but just like the rest of your skincare, it should be full of those antioxidants too so that as well as defending your skin against the sun’s damaging rays, it also adds protection from other environmental stressors.

Not only did I formulate the Evoq Day Lite UV protect SPF tinted moisturizer  with antioxidants,  I also included an active form of Vitamin D, which is a needed cofactor hormone for health and immunity

++Evoq Day Lite UV Primer

In conclusion :

SET HEALTHY [SKIN] BARRIERS 

We now know that Free radicals accelerate the aging process and we encounter them everyday through sun exposure, air pollution, and stress. 

By feeding skin essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and other skin-supportive nutrients, you prevent and repair free radical damage, so your skin stays firm, smooth, and bright.

Therefore I highly suggest internal health supplementation and the antioxidant topical ultra Hydrating oil to negate the inevitable Dehydration due to a slowly degrading lipid layer and outer aggressors that accentuate aging signs of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

What’s the Best Way to Treat Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are an unpleasant reality for many women. Once they develop, they don’t go away on their own, which means that treating them is the only way to be rid of them. There are a lot of treatment options out there, which begs the question of which way is the best way to treat varicose veins.

Exercise

Varicose veins form because the valves within the veins that keep blood from flowing backward weaken and are no longer able to function properly. This causes blood to collect and pool at various points within the veins. If you have high blood pressure, that makes it even harder for your circulatory system to keep your blood moving efficiently. Exercise can help reduce the severity of your varicose veins by lowering your blood pressure and improving circulation in your legs. Low-impact exercises that strengthen your calf muscles are also beneficial. As your calf muscles contract, they massage your veins and help them pump blood back up to the rest of your body. Such exercises include activities such as cycling, walking, swimming, and yoga.

Compression Socks

Sometimes providing your veins with extra support can help improve their structural integrity. As such, you may find wearing compression socks to help reduce your symptoms. Compression socks are specially designed to apply even pressure to your legs to help with a variety of medical conditions. For best results, choose socks that go up to your knees. Compression socks are meant to be worn during the day and are typically removed at night while resting. Different socks will apply different amounts of pressure, so it’s important to make sure that you get a pair that will provide the support you need without overdoing it.

Professional Treatments

Lifestyle changes can help reduce the symptoms you experience as a result of varicose veins. For some people, that may be enough. Such adjustments won’t make them go away though. Medical treatment is necessary if you are to rid yourself of them entirely. There are a variety of treatment options to choose from. Many of these treatments are minimally invasive. You’ll be able to leave the same day and won’t have to deal with any required downtime for most. Such options include sclerotherapy, laser treatments, ambulatory phlebectomy, vein stripping, and catheter-assisted procedures that use radiofrequency or laser energy. In these procedures, the veins are removed or closed off. That may sound somewhat alarming since nearly every part of your body needs a steady supply of blood to function properly. The human body is remarkably adaptable though and will develop new veins as needed to supply your body with the nutrients and oxygen it needs.

Changing Your Diet

There is very little about your body that isn’t impacted by your diet. In regards to your circulatory system and varicose veins in particular, what you eat impacts your blood’s viscosity, how much water you retain, your weight, and constipation. If your blood is thinner, it will flow more easily. Reducing how much water you retain and maintaining a healthy weight also alleviates the strain on your veins. Eating enough fiber keeps your digestive system moving smoothly, reducing the amount of strain you may otherwise do to eliminate waste. Such straining can aggravate and worsen already damaged valves, so the less of it you do, the better.

Altering Your Attire

As much as you love your favorite pair of heels, if you suffer from varicose veins, it may be time to retire them or at least not wear them as frequently or for as long. High heels can restrict blood flow, as do tight-fitting clothing. This increases the strain on veins and worsens the symptoms of varicose veins. Shoes with lower heels work the calf muscles more, which will promote better circulation. Wearing clothing that is loose around your waist, groin area, and legs will also allow for better blood flow.

Elevating Your Legs

Blood has a literal uphill battle when it comes to returning to your heart. It has to fight against gravity to make it back to your heart and lungs. Elevating your legs offers multiple benefits, including improving your circulation by allowing your blood to flow with gravity instead of against it and promoting the smooth flow of blood throughout your circulatory system. It’s best if your legs are elevated to or above where your heart is. This alleviates some of the strain on the veins in your legs and can help reduce the blood pooling in them. If you’ll be sitting for a while or resting, that’s a good time to put your legs up.

Which treatment option is best for addressing varicose veins ultimately depends on you and your circumstances. There are a variety of treatment options available that you can choose from. If you prefer natural, at-home treatments, there are options for that. If your preference is for medical interventions, multiple treatment options exist for that as well. Consult with your doctor before deciding on a treatment plan so you can choose the one that works best for you.

Read this next: Five Key Benefits of Self Love through Lymphatic Facial Massage

Five Key Benefits of Self Love through Lymphatic Facial Massage

Five Key Benefits of Self Love through Lymphatic Facial Massage

1.) Deep cleanse

Lymphatic facials provide a deep cleanse of the skin. When carried out in conjunction with the use of gentle cleansing products- specially formulated for aging skin, results are believed to be significantly improved.

2.) Accelerated healing

Lymphatic massage helps to stimulate the flow of lymphatic fluid throughout the body, which has been designed to effectively move any unwanted toxins towards lymph nodes where they are removed.

The gentle movements used throughout the massage help to prevent blockages and bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells. When carried out with anti-inflammatory products such as ourOil Free Serum, visible benefits can be seen immediately.

3.) Reduced puffiness

As a gentle facial massage, lymphatic drainage can help retain a clear complexion and reduce puffiness due to its ability to disperse congestion, which may have been caused by irritants in cosmetics, illness, allergies or overindulgence in inflammatory foods.

Through a series of gentle and rhythmical movements - toxins will be moved to the lymph nodes and removed by the body.

4.) Congestion free skin

If our bodies become overly stressed or are subjected to environmental pollutants on a regular basis, the lymphatic system can become over saturated leading to an unwanted build up of toxins in the tissues, skin and joints.

Regular lymphatic self-massage can help to keep the lymph system flowing freely and aid with the removal of dead cells from the surface of the


5.) Promotes the feeling of relaxation and wellbeing

As a non-invasive treatment which is both gentle and therapeutic, lymphatic facial massage is extremely relaxing. It promotes feelings of wellbeing while reducing anxiety and stress.

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GET INTO THE RHYTHM

Create your own Lymphatic Facial Massage Routine

Use a circular motion to rub your fingers into your temples.

Use your palms and fingertips to massage the sides of your face.
Start at your chin and moving up toward your forehead.

Use your index and middle fingers to press under your cheekbones.
Start at the center of your face and move toward your temples.

Use the outside of your pinky fingers to press into your neck.
Start at the top and move downward.

For a stronger effect, use your knuckles to press into your face.
Start at your nose and move them across your cheeks towards your ears.

TOP SHELF Evoq Youth Regenerative Boosters Movement + Massage

Intensive Brightening Oxygen Serum, Ultra Hydrating Oil or our Blissed Calm Balm with CBD.

Apply to your face, temples, forehead, ears, behind the ears, and hairline.

How to Choose a Moisturizer: Is Oily Skin the thirstiest of them all?

Let’s talk one of the most basic aspects to good skin care: moisturizer.

HYDRATION + MOISTURE + SUPPLE SKIN!

Tell me pretty lady, have you asked yourself these questions?

Why does some moisturizer break me out while other moisturizers seem to do nothing, no matter how much or how often I apply it?

While I’m not a HUGE believer in skin types the way traditional skincare sites give, I do know that this conversation does come down to the nature of your skin.

The goal is to understand when to use an oil or a moisturizer - and using a moisturizer that works with your skin or against your skin.

SIMPLIFYING HYDRATION

Did you know that there are 2 main types of moisturizers that work in different ways to hydrate your skin? 

There are water-based and oil-based moisturizers (Ie: a balm, ointment or serum). Water-based moisturizers pull water into your skin while oil-based moisturizers prevent water from evaporating from your skin.

The product you’ll want will depend on your unique skin.

For instance:

If you have dry skin, you will want a water-based moisturizer to infuse your skin with deep hydration.

If you live in a dry environment, you’ll want an oil-based product since it prevents water from evaporating from your skin.

And if you have dry skin and live in a dry environment? You’ll need a water-based and oil-based moisturizer! I personally always combine them both due to the different molecular weights and nutrient values.

Most women pick the wrong moisturizer because they simply don’t know what type of skin they have or their skin is always changing.

 All too often I hear people with oily skin saying they do NOT have dry skin.

GET THIS…… this may be technically true, but did you know that oily skin is the type that thirsts for water the most?

You heard it right: Oily skin is so very thirsty that it produces extra amounts of oil to prevent more water from evaporating! It is desperate to hold on to the moisture it does have—and wiping oil off your face only makes the situation worse since signals your skin to produce more and more and more oil—it’s a vicious cycle!

The only effective way to reduce the oil of oily skin is to give your skin the moisture it craves!!!

Head on over to EVOQ to discover our serums and 2 moisturizers.

How aging accelerates, hows its measured and what you can do about it.

HELLO informed beauty!

Living in a NEW AGE of biohacking, energetic medicine and advanced genetic testing - we are so blessed to have the immense amount of research - solutions and experts we have today to help us feel, look and be are best as we age.

Today, I’m going to geek out and share the latest research on - ACCELERATED aging, hows its measured and what you can do about it.

READY? Let’s jump in.

This article outlines recent research within epigenetic and aging clocks – predictors of biological age based on alterations in a person's DNA methylation profile. 

Methylations are biochemical processes that modify the activity of a DNA segment without changing its sequence. They occur naturally and regulate gene expression to control normal growth and development.  

With age, the methylation state of various DNA sites (often enriched in genes that govern processes like cell death and survival, cellular growth and proliferation, organismal and tissue development, and cancer) may change. These methylation changes are quantifiable and serve as a means to gauge biological age, which is often different from chronological age. 

Put another way, we all know that one person who looks great for their age. Some of these hard-to-quantify qualities we intuitively see in other people (or even ourselves) when it comes to aging often actually correspond with something that can now be quantified and put to a number via epigenetic testing, allowing us to peek behind the DNA curtain at true biological age.

The term "epigenetic clock" is also a collective designation referring to the natural biological mechanisms that drive DNA methylation. 

TICK TOCK - THE POWER OF TELOMERES   

Epigenetic clocks are predictors of biological age based on alterations in an individual's DNA methylation profile.

 Methylation is a biochemical process that modifies the activity and potential of your DNA without changing its sequence, which occurs naturally and regulates gene expression to control normal growth and development. 

As women age, the methylation state of various genes tends to change and are now a way to help professionals to gauge your epigenetic age (infulenced through lifestyle and stress), which often differs from chronological age.

The term "epigenetic clock" refers to the natural biological process that drives your DNA turnover and rebuilding of cellular health. This individual molecular "footprint" for you also reflects the biological life history of you- as a living organism. 

The information we’ll go over today focuses primarily on predictive epigenetic clocks, with a brief mention of the innate.

Overview of concepts underpinning epigenetic clocks

Epigenetics

Epigenetics is a biological mechanism that regulates gene expression (how and when certain genes are turned on or off). 

I coin this concept as the “80/20” rule.  Your diet, lifestyle, personal care beauty products and environmental exposures is the driver of 80% epigenetic changes throughout an individual's lifespan to influence health and disease. 

For example, epigenetic processes when dysregulated can result in accelerated aging, diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease.[1][2] Scientific evidence suggests that some  genetic changes can be passed from generation to generation, although are mostly influenced by turning “good and bad gene” activity up or down.[3]

Three biochemical processes are thought to drive epigenetic change:

-DNA methylation

-Histone modification

-Non-coding RNA-associated gene silencing.

In conclusion here, the DNA’s ability to fully process through seeing the quality of your methylation, which helps determine the prediction of your biological age via epigenetic clocks.

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WHAT IS METHYLATION?

The topic of methylation is getting its fair share of attention lately, and rightly so. Methylation is a simple biochemical process – it is the transfer of four atoms - one carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms (CH3) – from one substance to another.

When optimal methylation occurs, it has a significant positive impact on many biochemical reactions in the body that regulate the activity of the cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive, and detoxification systems, including those relating to:

-DNA production

-Neurotransmitter production

-Detoxification

-Histamine metabolism

-Estrogen metabolism

-Eye health

-Fat metabolism

-Cellular energy

-Liver health

WHY IS METHYLATION IMPORTANT?

The body is a very complex machine, with various gears and switches that need to be all functioning properly to operate optimally. Think of methylation, and the opposite action, demethylation, as the mechanism that allows the gears to turn, and turns biological switches on and off for a host of systems in the body.

HOW DOES METHYLATION HAPPEN?

CH3 is provided to the body through a universal methyl donor known as SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine). SAMe readily gives away its methyl group to other substances in the body, which enables the cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive, and detoxification systems to perform their functions.

If enough 5-MTHF is present, the methylation cycle will work efficiently.

Folic acid from the diet or supplements must be converted to this active form, 5-MTHF, before it can be used in the body in the methylation cycle.

Unfortunately, approximately 60% of people in the United States have a genetic mutation that makes it challenging for their bodies to create enough 5-MTHF.

IMPROVING THE METHYLATION CYCLE

In addition to a healthy, whole-food, non-processed food diet, make sure you are eating a lot of these foods:

• Asparagus

• Avocado

• Broccoli

• Brussels sprouts

• Green, leafy vegetables

• Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)

• Rice

Lifestyle changes include:

• Engage in regular physical exercise

• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption

• Don’t smoke

• Avoid excessive coffee consumption (not more than five cups daily)

SEVEN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FOR METHYLATION

There are seven specific nutrients that can help the methylation cycle achieve optimal performance, even if an individual has a genetic mutation that slows down the methylation cycle.

1.  5-MTHF (active folate)

2.  Methylcobalamin (active vitamin B12)

3.  Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate (active vitamin B6)

4.  Riboflavin 5’-Phosphate (active vitamin B2)

5.  Magnesium

6.  Betaine (also known as trimethylglycine)

7.  Vitamin D

Proper methylation influences so many systems in our bodies that it often gets overlooked, which can severely impact how well your body functions. Ask your health-care practitioner for advice if you have any concerns about your CH3 cycle.

Aging

Aging comprises the collective physiological, functional, and mental changes that accrue in a biological organism over time. It is the primary risk factor for many chronic diseases in humans, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cardiovascular disease. 

Chronological age

An individual's chronological age simply reflects the number of years an individual has been alive. Although scientific milestones correlate that chronological age is an unreliable measure of the aging process.

Epigenetic age

Epigenetic age is based on an individual's DNA methylation health previously discussed. An individual's epigenetic age strongly correlates with their chronological age. However, some exceptions exist. For example, the epigenetic ages of semi-supercentenarians (people who live to be 105 to 109 years old) are markedly younger than their chronological ages.[10]

Biological age

An individual's biological age, sometimes referred to as phenotypic age, provides a measure of the physiological and functional state. It is a calculation of an individual's risk of disease and death compared to individuals of the same chronological age, based on biochemical measures of inflammation and metabolic and immune function.[11]

Age Acceleration   

Age acceleration occurs when an individual's epigenetic age exceeds their chronological age 

and may be the result of either intrinsic or extrinsic factors. 

Intrinsic factors are largely driven by internal physiological and biological factors such as normal metabolism and genetics.

 Extrinsic factors are those associated with lifestyle and environmental exposures, such as diet, chemicals, EMF, UV radiation, and mental health and overall stress.  

 Each is named for the scientist who created the clock or for the clock's output. The most accurate and robust of these clocks are described here.

Research to Determine Real Time Biological Age 

The Hannum clock

Created by Dr. Gregory Hannum, the Hannum clock is a single-tissue calculator of epigenetic age base present in DNA from human blood.[13] 

Use of the Hannum clock also demonstrated that exposure to abuse, financial hardship, or neighborhood disadvantage that occurred around the age of 7.5 years alters methylation patterns, which may influence normal patterns of cellular aging.[15]

Another study investigated the effects of cigarette smoking on aging using the Hannum clock based on methylation findings indicated that not only was smoking associated with accelerated biological aging, but even low levels of exposure elicited strong effects.[16]

The Horvath clocks

The original Horvath epigenetic clock, created by Dr. Steven Horvath, predicts age based on methylation patterns and rates in the DNA of 51 different tissue and cell types.[7]

 The Horvath clock can identify the epigenetic age of a donor with 96 percent accuracy within approximately four years of actual age.[7] Its accuracy extends across multiple tissue types and ages, including children.

Diet and lifestyle factors that influence epigenetic aging

Extrinsic epigenetic aging incorporates factors such as immune cell aging.

Factors associated with slowed intrinsic aging included higher poultry intake, factors associated with slowed extrinsic aging included higher fish intake, higher carotenoid levels (a marker of fruit and vegetable intake), higher education, moderate alcohol consumption, and higher physical activity. 

Factors associated with accelerated intrinsic aging included higher BMI, but metabolic syndrome (which is associated with higher BMI) was linked with both intrinsic and extrinsic accelerated epigenetic aging.[17]

Predicting lifespan and healthspan using a novel epigenetic clock

The recently-identified GrimAge (named creatively for the Grim Reaper) predicts lifespan and healthspan in units of years and tests whether potential lifestyle interventions may slow or reverse biological aging.

DNA methylation PhenoAge: A better predictor of biological age

Dr. Morgan Levine and Dr. Steve Horvath created a multi-tissue clock that calculates an individual's phenotypic age, called DNAm PhenoAge.[11] This clock, sometimes referred to as the "Levine clock," is distinct from other clocks in that it predicts time to death based on DNA methylation as well as biochemical markers of age-related disease, including albumin, creatinine, glucose, C-reactive protein, alkaline phosphatase, and several blood components. Several physiological responses are associated with accelerated phenotypic aging, including increased activation of proinflammatory pathways and decreased DNA repair activities.[11]

The DNAm PhenoAge predicts mortality risk among people of the same chronological age. It was used in a study to estimate the 10-year mortality risk (converted into units of years) in a cohort of people living in the United States (NHANES data), based on nine clinical biomarkers of aging that are highly predictive of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease. The findings demonstrated that each one-year increase in DNAm PhenoAge was associated with a 9 percent increase in all-cause mortality, a 10 percent increase in CVD-related mortality, a 7 percent increase in cancer-related mortality, a 20 percent increase in diabetes-related mortality, and a 9 percent increase in chronic lower respiratory disease mortality, even after adjusting for chronological age.

Alcohol, air pollution, and epigenetic aging

One study used the DNAm PhenoAge epigenetic clock to investigate the effects of heavy, chronic alcohol intake on epigenetic age acceleration using clinical biomarkers such as liver function enzymes. 

The study, which estimated DNA methylation age in 331 people with alcohol use disorder, found that the disorder accelerated aging by an average of 2.2 years

Exposure to air pollutants is associated with poor health outcomes and increased risk of disease. A study using the Levine clock to gauge epigenetic age of more than 2,700 white women living in the United States who were exposed to particulate air pollutants found that the women's epigenetic aging was accelerated by as much as six years.[23]

Altering the native epigenetic clock's rate of ticking

In general, the native epigenetic clock's ticking rate across multiple types of tissue from a single individual is fairly consistent. However, the cerebellum tends to age more slowly, while female breast tissue tends to age more quickly.

Interestingly, in vitro evidence suggests that the epigenetic age of adult cells can be reset. Dr. Shinya Yamanaka discovered a group of proteins that can reprogram differentiated (mature) cells into pluripotent stem cells and are physiological hallmarks of aging and prolong lifespan partly by resetting the innate epigenetic clock.[24]

The role of Yamanaka factors was demonstrated in vivo as well, in a mouse model of premature aging in which short-term induction of Yamanaka factors improved markers of aging, including those associated with tumor suppression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. The same study showed that in older, normal mice, short-term induction of Yamanaka factors mitigated the deleterious effects of pancreatic or muscle injury, which could have implications for age-related metabolic dysfunction or strength losses, respectively.[25]

Epigenetic aging determined by genetic and lifestyle factors

Some individuals may be genetically predisposed to a slower overall clock rate. For example, one study analyzed the DNA methylation levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (a type of white blood cell) from semi-supercentenarians and their offspring. The investigators found that the average epigenetic age of the semi-supercentenarians was nearly nine years younger than their chronological age. The epigenetic age of their offspring was approximately five years younger than that of their age-matched controls.[10]

Lifestyle factors and exposures can influence the native ticking rate, as well. For example, an obesogenic diet can increase methylation and the clock's subsequent ticking rate.[26] And, as described above, smoking cigarettes and exposure to particulate air pollutants increases the epigenetic aging rate.[16][23] Some interventions have been identified that may slow the aging rate, however. These measures have been studied for their longevity-enhancing effects and include caloric restriction and administration of rapamycin, an immunosuppressant drug.[27]

Conclusion

Epigenetic clocks predict biological age based on molecular markers on an individual's DNA. Several variants of clocks have been identified, and they differ based on the type and number of tissues in which the markers are measured, as well as the final output. 

In general, the epigenetic aging rate across multiple types of tissue from a single individual is fairly consistent, but some exceptions do exist.

The use of epigenetic clocks may have widespread applications in health and society, including forensic science and early prevention and treatment of disease to promote healthy aging.

In the future, rather than asking whether a person's biomarkers look better, soon clinical trials may ask whether the person is simply aging better.

If youre interested about how to reduce stress, increase your telomere health now that you’ve captured this in important information - then reach out to me and I’ll share how we can work together so you can STAY SANE, GET SLEEP and BRING YOUR SEXY BACK.

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References

1.  ^  Muntean, Andrew G., and Jay L. Hess. Epigenetic Dysregulation in Cancer The American Journal of Pathology 175, no. 4 (October 2009): 1353–61. https://doi.org/10.2353/ajpath.2009.081142. 

2.  ^  Li, Peipei, Lee Marshall, Gabriel Oh, Jennifer L. Jakubowski, Daniel Groot, Yu He, Ting Wang, Arturas Petronis, and Viviane Labrie. Epigenetic dysregulation of enhancers in neurons is associated with Alzheimer’s disease pathology and cognitive symptoms Nature Communications 10, no. 1 (May 2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10101-7. 

3.  ^  Trerotola, Marco, Valeria Relli, Pasquale Simeone, and Saverio Alberti. Epigenetic inheritance and the missing heritability Human Genomics 9, no. 1 (July 2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40246-015-0041-3. 

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