Longevity and the skin

You’re more likely aging well if you believe so yourself!

This may sound like a bold statement but represents the key takeaway of a study conducted by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University. The 2002 study looked at 660 individuals aged 50 or older and gathered data measured up to 23 years earlier. The study authors concluded that individuals who had a more positive self-perception of their aging progress lived 7.5 years longer than those with less positive self-perceptions of aging. Interestingly, this effect remained even after controlling for age, gender, socioeconomic status, functional health, and loneliness. Of course, correlation does not equate to causation. So, thinking you’re aging well may not necessarily result in aging well. Needless to say, the results of this study showcase how positive self-perceptions and longevity are intertwined.

The skin is a fascinating organ responsible for many bodily functions, which we rely on to survive and thrive! It protects us from microbes and forceful impacts. It regulates our body temperature. It allows to sense touch, cold and heat. Perhaps one of the most overlooked skin functions is its ability to tell us something is wrong. The skin is one of the most useful natural diagnostic tools we have.

There are literally hundreds of disorders and deficiencies that may be expressed through a manifestation in the skin; most notably, they can be categorized into autoimmune diseases, internal malignancy, rheumatic diseases, endocrine, metabolic and nutritional deficiencies, drug eruptions, and psychiatric disorders. Some of these diseases may result in similarly looking skin irritations, so while the skin may not always be able to tell us exactly which disorder we’re affected by, it can tells that something is wrong. This enables us to examine further using modern diagnostic tools and thus helps us derive a definitive diagnosis earlier on.