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The ‘exposome’ refers to the complex interplay of environmental exposures that influence the skin over a lifetime, including factors such as pollution, UV radiation and lifestyle choices. Comparable in complexity to the skin microbiome, the exposome represents an exciting frontier in research, with significant implications for skincare innovation and personalised solutions.
What We Know:
The exposome encompasses a broad range of environmental and lifestyle factors: air pollution, UV radiation, climate, diet, sleep patterns, stress and hormonal changes. Each individual’s exposome is unique, shaped by the combination of these factors over time (Passeron et al., 2020).
Key environmental elements such as traffic-related air pollution, hormones, nutrition, stress and sleep significantly impact skin ageing and overall skin health. For example, pollution accelerates pigmentation, wrinkles and eczema, while hormonal fluctuations, poor nutrition and stress contribute to inflammation, collagen degradation and conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and acne. These factors affect biochemical processes that influence skin ageing and the development of inflammatory skin disorders (Passeron et al., 2020).
However, the skin’s exposome has been relatively underexplored and further investigation is needed to understand how these factors interact and the net effects they have on the skin (Krutmann et al., 2017).
Industry Impact and Potential:
As research into the exposome evolves, the skincare industry is increasingly focusing on how these factors drive skin ageing and health, leading to more personalised, targeted skincare solutions. One framework, called The Skin Interactome, integrates the genome, microbiome and exposome to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying skin health and ageing (Khmaladze et al., 2020).
This holistic approach examines how genetic, environmental and microbial factors work together to influence skin physiology. By identifying key molecular pathways, such as those involved in collagen synthesis, this framework aims to develop targeted strategies to protect skin health and delay the visible signs of ageing (Khmaladze et al., 2020).
Pooling research across these distinct areas of skincare is vital, as it provides a comprehensive understanding of how environmental, lifestyle and biological factors collectively influence skin health and ageing. This integrated approach allows for the development of more targeted and effective skincare solutions.
Our Solution:
Sequential is at the forefront of microbiome research, supported by a database of 20,000 microbiome samples, 4,000 ingredients and a global network of 10,000 testing participants. Our customisable solutions span microbiome studies and product formulation, with a strong focus on preserving biome integrity. Whether exploring the skin, scalp, oral or vulvar microbiome, we are your ideal partner for advancing research.
References:
Khmaladze, I., Leonardi, M., Fabre, S., Messaraa, C. & Mavon, A. (2020) The Skin Interactome: A Holistic ‘Genome-Microbiome-Exposome’ Approach to Understand and Modulate Skin Health and Aging. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 13, 1021–1040. doi:10.2147/CCID.S239367.
Krutmann, J., Bouloc, A., Sore, G., Bernard, B.A. & Passeron, T. (2017) The skin aging exposome. Journal of Dermatological Science. 85 (3), 152–161. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.09.015.
Passeron, T., Krutmann, J., Andersen, M.L., Katta, R. & Zouboulis, C.C. (2020) Clinical and biological impact of the exposome on the skin. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology: JEADV. 34 Suppl 4, 4–25. doi:10.1111/jdv.16614.
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