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Tag: skin barrier

My Secret to Maintaining Skin Health as I Age

Posted on by stephanie-estima

As you age, especially during important transitions like perimenopause and menopause, your skin goes through some pretty major changes. Dryness, thinning, and wrinkles aren't just common; they're expected. It's not just about your appearance, though. The way your skin ages can contribute to how the rest of your body ages. (1)

Your skin is your largest organ, acting as a barrier between you and the environment. So when it starts to show signs of aging, those changes are often reflected in deeper shifts happening in the rest of your body. That's why it's so important to take proactive steps in caring for your skin, especially as you age.

The Role of the Skin Barrier in Aging

Your skin barrier, a thin layer of skin cells and lipids, acts as a defense against harmful factors like UV rays and environmental pollutants that can create inflammation. But when this barrier becomes damaged, which often happens to aging skin, it's less able to defend itself against these threats.

For women going through perimenopause and menopause, a weakened barrier can trigger the persistent release of inflammatory chemicals into the skin and bloodstream. When this low-level inflammation becomes chronic, it can potentially speed up the aging process and worsen common age-related conditions like heart disease and dementia. (2)

That's what led the team of researchers at OneSkin to explore the effects of their OS-01 BODY moisturizer on whole-body aging. After seeing the success of their OS-01 Peptide™ in their flagship product, OS-01 FACE, they wanted to see what it could do for systemic health when used across the vast majority of skin on the body. (3, 4)

In their recently published clinical study (which I highly recommend reading here), OS-01 BODY specifically improved skin functions that help combat signs of skin aging. Not only did OS-01 BODY give their participants a massive boost in skin hydration, but it also improved their skin barrier function by up to +41.49%. (1)

Thanks to that considerable improvement in skin barrier function, the participants of the study saw a significant decrease in the levels of a key biomarker of inflammation in their blood, IL-8. (1) These results were fascinating and highlight the huge role that skin health plays in your overall health and longevity.

What Do These Improvements Actually Mean for Your Skin?

Due to the impressive improvements in hydration and barrier function, OS-01 BODY works wonders for the visible appearance and feel of your skin. Now, I know what you're thinking. Every skin care company promises that their products will drastically change how your skin looks and feels. But when I took a look at some of the before-and-afters on their site, my jaw dropped.

As it turns out, targeting the cellular changes responsible for skin aging is a must-have for anyone wanting to visibly improve the appearance, feel, and longevity of their skin.

Want to try it for yourself? Visit oneskin.co and use code DRSTEPHANIE to save 15% off your first purchase.

References:

01 Zonari, A., et al. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

02 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6146930/

03 Zonari, A., et al. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

04 Based on data from clinical studies, consumer perception studies, and/or lab studies conducted on human skin samples, 3D skin models, and skin or hair cells in the OneSkin lab. Explore more at oneskin.co/claims

 

How Peptides Combat Collagen Loss

Posted on by stephanie-estima

As if we didn’t have enough to deal with managing low energy, mood swings, and brain fog, within the first five years after menopause, we can expect to lose 30% of our skin’s collagen — and collagen production continues to drop another 2% every year for the next two decades!

Even if you aren’t concerned about the aesthetic impact of collagen loss (namely lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin), there’s a health component involved, which I explain in more detail below.

But what triggers these changes? Just like other symptoms common in perimenopause and menopause, it’s due to shifts in estrogen and progesterone.

The Role of Estrogen and Progesterone on Skin

  • Skin Barrier: Estrogen stimulates the production of several key proteins in the skin, keeping your skin barrier healthy and strong. However, as estrogen levels decrease, your skin can become thinner over time [*], which puts you at greater risk for moisture loss, infections, and UV damage.
  • Oil Production: Declining levels of progesterone can lead to skin that’s drier and more sensitive since this hormone is involved in the skin’s oil production.
  • Free Radicals: As estrogen levels drop, the body’s natural defense [*] against free radicals becomes less effective, leading to accelerated skin aging.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Estrogen also stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid. Without a strong skin barrier and the estrogen-stimulated production of hyaluronic acid, the skin will feel more dehydrated [*].
  • Sun Sensitivity: When estrogen levels decrease, so does melanin, the pigment that helps protect skin from UV rays. This means, you might notice that your skin becomes lighter and that you’re more sensitive to sun damage [*].

How I Keep My Skin Healthy After 40

In addition to eating foods rich in antioxidants, using broad spectrum sunscreen, and getting quality sleep — which can all affect the health of your skin — I recently found a skincare line developed by a team of female scientists.

The company is called OneSkin. And their products, called “topical supplements,” are powered by their proprietary OS-01 peptide which is scientifically proven to counteract some of the factors caused by estrogen decline during menopause.

In lab studies, they found that OS-01 increased collagen and hyaluronic acid production in skin (1), improving firmness, elasticity, and hydration and strengthening the skin barrier (2). Not only that, their peptide is proven to reduce cellular senescence (3), one of the hallmarks of skin aging, so your skin stays younger and healthier as you age

I’ve shared with my Bettys that I’m completely up-leveling my skin this year. I’d love for you to consider how you can do the same. My absolute go-to product from the OneSkin line is OS-01 SHIELD Protect + Repair SPF 30+. This mineral-based sunscreen comes in both tinted and clear. If the science of peptide skin care intrigues you, visit oneskin.co. (Use code DRSTEPHANIE at checkout to save 15%.)

1) Shown in lab studies on human skin samples by measuring collagen production biomarker, COL1A1, and hyaluronic acid production biomarker, HAS2. Treatment with the OS-01 peptide displayed a significant increase compared to no treatment. (Zonari, A., et al. npj Aging, 2023)

2) Shown in a clinical study performed by a third party research organization. Skin barrier and hydration measured by a vapometer. Elasticity and firmness analyzed via double-blind expert clinical grader evaluation. Significant improvements were observed on skin treated with OS-01 FACE for 12 weeks versus baseline. (Zonari, A., et al. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024)

3) Shown in lab studies on human skin samples and/or cells by measuring the number of senescent cells via SA-Bgal staining, senescence biomarkers (CDKN2A/P16, CDKN1A, H2A.J), and SASP biomarkers (CXCL8 and IL-6).  Treatment with the OS-01 peptide displayed a significant decrease in all mentioned markers compared to no treatment. (Zonari, A., et al. npj Aging, 2023)

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