With the unveiling of its new skin-specific longevity wheel, the Skin Longevity Compass, Dior has placed itself at the heart of the science of longevity.
Based on a study carried out on over 300,000 human cells and 12,000 genes, the Skin Longevity Compass identifies the pathways involved in skin-specific aging. A publication in “Nature Aging” written by the Dior Reverse Aging Board and LVMH Recherche reveals that the skin is a major contributor to processes such as stem cell exhaustion, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation.
“Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between our researchers and board members, we are now capable of decoding the key biological pathways of skin aging at molecular, cellular and tissue level. We are eager to share our knowledge with the scientific community in order to open up new pathways and speed up scientific progress,” explains Marie Videau, president of LVMH Recherche.
3 important pathways of skin longevity
Dior’s research highlights 3 major aging pathways: disrupted circadian rhythm, oxidative stress and dermal matrix deterioration.
Circadian rhythms or the science of cycles:
This new study highlights an alteration in the expression of 7 clock genes, which are key factors for regulating these cycles. Dior Science has thus confirmed the central role of circadian rhythms in skin aging, both in the dermal and epidermal cells.
Oxidative stress, an invisible threat:
Dior’s study measured that with age, the expression of antioxidant factors decreases, affecting 8 genes involved in maintaining this oxide-reduction balance and destabilising an essential mechanism for protecting skin youth.
Dermal matrix, the support of skin youth
The dermis is primarily composed of an extracellular matrix that surrounds the dermal cells and supports them, with collagen and elastin fibres and glycans such as hyaluronic acid giving the skin its mechanical properties. These matricial components are all secreted by the dermal cells which, over time, lose their ability to synthesise them. In this new study, Dior Science precisely identifies 39 markers to act upon to reverse this process. This important pathway of skin aging has also recently been added to the list of markers of organismal aging.
These new discoveries prove Dior’s commitment to going further in understanding and treating skin aging, for visibly younger-looking skin that is full of vitality.
