DNA SKIN REPAIR
DNA repair is one of the latest technologies in the fight against skin aging. It has always been assumed that photo-damaged skin is the irreversible consequence of long hours of unprotected sun exposure. Recently, scientists have discovered that photo-aging can be reversed by repairing and reprogramming the skin’s DNA. DNA repair enzymes encapsulated in liposomes and applied topically are now available.
Photo-aging is the result of DNA damage in the skin. Collagen and elastin fibers are responsible for giving the skin its strength and elasticity. In normally functioning, healthy skin, a balance exists between the breakdown of damaged, worn out skin fibers and the formation of new ones. As fibroblasts synthesize new collagen and elastin, they also secrete matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1), an enzyme that digests some of both the new and old collagen and elastin, thereby establishing an equilibrium between tissue breakdown and tissue renewal. The entire process is controlled by genes in the DNA. Sun exposure can disrupt the delicate balance and result in accelerated skin aging.
At the molecular level, solar ultraviolet radiation activates the DNA for the MMP-1 digesting enzymes and shuts down the genes that code for collagen formation. Consequently, more skin fibers are being digested than are being made. Microscars develop where collagen has been degraded but not fully repaired. Further sun exposure leads to the eventual fusing of these invisible scars and results in the appearance of visible wrinkles. Fortunately, our bodies are equipped with the natural ability to recognize genetic alterations caused by UV radiation, snip out the damaged DNA, and replace it with a corrected piece.
Replacing damaged DNA that results from a variety of sources is a continual process within the entire body. It does have its limitations, however. For instance, after a day at the beach, it takes approximately 24 hours to fix half of the skin damage incurred. If further damage continues, the rate of DNA repair is insufficient to keep up with the rate at which the damage is occurring. As a result, the wound healing response is triggered, and the skin tissue becomes scarred.
Genomic research has provided scientists the ability to increase the rate of DNA repair. They are now able to deliver DNA repair enzymes directly to skin cells, via specifically engineered liposomes, and speed up the rate of damage removal, lower the level of MMP-1 enzymes, and restore the collagen balance thereby allowing the skin’s support structure to rebuild itself. In one study this was accomplished in as little as four weeks.
For the first time, an over-the-counter skin care product is available that has been shown to effectively penetrate the skin with ingredients that may repair DNA damage. AGI Dermatics is a bio-pharmaceutical laboratory that has led research on DNA repair of the skin for more than 20 years. They have developed Remergent, a doctor dispensed skincare line based on the science of DNA repair. Their Remergent DNA Repair Formula is a twice a day serum that encourages the skin to self-correct and, when used with sunscreen, prevents future damage. The application of their groundbreaking active ingredients and meticulously engineered liposome delivery systems is validated in controlled clinical studies and published in dozens of peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals.
