A study conducted by Natura in partnership with InCor from USP shows that smoking, sun exposure, and being overweight can be as decisive as genetic factors
Having beautiful and healthy skin may depend more on routine than many imagine. A study conducted by scientists from Natura and the Heart Institute (InCor) at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FMUSP) showed that a person's habits can be just as decisive in defining the appearance and health of facial skin as genetic factors. Over four years, about 2,500 volunteers participated in the research, the largest ever conducted on the skin of the Brazilian population.
The study pointed out that the main characteristics leading to the perception of skin aging are the loss of hydration and elasticity and the increase of wrinkles around the eyes. Being overweight, sun exposure, and smoking were identified as the main villains of facial health, with an increase in "crow's feet" associated with smoking.
According to the results, elasticity is 60% influenced by behavioral and environmental factors and 40% by genetic factors. In the case of hydration, genetics is predominant (60%), but habits and the environment also significantly influence (40%).
The research revealed that diet and weight can make the face appear oilier than it is genetically. “We found that 80% of oiliness is determined by routine. It’s as if genetic inheritance is ‘masked’ by habits,” says Alexandre Pereira, coordinator of the human genetics group at InCor. Oiliness increases the propensity for blackheads and pimples and makes pores more apparent.
The female volunteers who participated in the study and identified themselves as smokers showed more spots, in addition to a reduction in the capacity for elasticity and hydration of the face. The activity of the skin's protective layer, known as the skin barrier, showed a relative worsening in those who were above the ideal weight – considering age and height. “The genetic influence on the skin barrier is practically null, meaning it is entirely regulated by environmental, biological, or lifestyle effects,” explains Pereira from InCor.
The use of sunscreen and moisturizer was highlighted as allies of healthy skin. Frequent use of the former was associated with a significant improvement in elasticity. “When the skin has low elasticity, signs of aging, such as wrinkles, become more apparent,” says Daniel Gonzaga, product development director at Natura. The moisturizer was linked to the perception of younger-looking skin. In a blind test, dermatologists classified the research participants according to perceived age and the number of signs on their faces. Those who used moisturizer showed fewer wrinkles and were considered younger than they actually are.
“Natura is the brand that knows Brazilian skin best, and this study further reinforces our scientific knowledge on the subject. With these discoveries, we aim to constantly improve our products, such as our facial care and sun protection lines,” says Gonzaga. Natura allocates about 3% of its annual net revenue to innovation projects and invested R$ 221 million in the area in 2015.
The researchers evaluated the skin and behavioral habits of 1,400 women and men in Baependi, in southern Minas Gerais, between 2012 and 2015. The city was chosen for its wide ethnic and genetic distribution, which can be compared to the average Brazilian population. Being a small municipality with low population mobility, it was possible to analyze the DNA of people from the same family to discover heritability, that is, the genetic influence of each characteristic on the skin.
A second phase of the research, which correlates dietary habits with skin health, was conducted in São Paulo between 2012 and 2016, with 1,100 people. The study associates the ovolactovegetarian diet – which excludes red meat, fish, and chicken from the diet – with better skin hydration and a lower occurrence of spots and wrinkles.
Learn more:
Habits or genetics? What influences wrinkles in the skin more?
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