Advances in skin science, epigenetics, proteomics, in vitro cell techniques, the elucidation of new mechanisms in the ageing process and discovery of natural peptides and other substances that will beneficially modify the ageing processes in the skin, has led to a greater sophistication in anti-ageing skin care concepts and products. This year’s Anti-Ageing Skin Care Conference (7-8 June, London) will discuss the changes from anti-wrinkle and moisturising creams to the effective contemporary formulations of today and the future that have an effect beyond that of the stratum corneum.
Beyond UV
Prevention and treatment of skin ageing have been the cornerstones of anti-ageing strategies. It is accepted that the vast majority of premature skin ageing is caused by overexposure to sunlight and particularly to the ultraviolet (UV) wavebands. Prevention of wrinkles and other photoageing effects on the skin is mainly by protecting against UV by incorporating sunscreens into daily care products. Although this is an important skin care strategy it is not the only one that should be considered. Professor Jean Krutmann from Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine will present the first keynote lecture at the Anti-Ageing Skin Care Conference, where he will present his view that UV is not the only cause of ageing that we should be considering. The title of his paper is ‘Skin ageing beyond UV: basic mechanisms and clinical implications’. Professor Krutmann has researched and published many papers on the damaging effects of infrared A (IR-A) wavebands on the skin and the implications regarding premature skin ageing.
Mark Birch-Machin, Professor in Molecular Dermatology, Institute of Cellular Medicine Newcastle University, will expand the discussion of factors causing skin ageing during his presentation entitled ‘Oxidative stress and ageing – the effects of environmental pollution, sunlight and diet’. This will be complemented by the paper from Professor Imke Meyer from Symrise, entitled ‘Premature skin ageing induced by air pollution: new in vitro insights approaching realistic conditions’.
Professor Des Tobin, Centre for Skin Sciences, Bradford University, will extend the discussion of skin ageing into a topic not usually discussed at our conferences in his paper ‘The unique microenvironment of the ageing human adult scalp’.
‘Epigenetic regulation of skin regeneration and ageing’, presented by Vladimir Botchkarev, Professor of Cutaneous Biology at the University of Bradford and Adjunct Professor of Dermatology at Boston University, will draw on his many years of research to define the mechanisms that control skin development, regeneration and carcinogenesis. His current research interests are in epigenetic regulatory mechanisms that control stem cell activity, differentiation and reprogramming in the skin, as well as during skin carcinogenesis.
Active ingredients & measurement
The second keynote lecture is from the famous Professor Suresh Rattan of Aarhus University in Denmark, who will present his unique views in his paper ‘Understanding ageing, its limits and possibilities’.
There are many new ingredients and actives promoted in the treatment of the effects of ageing on the skin. New technologies regularly appear, and the second session of the conference will explore new concepts and data presented by Oriflame, Beiersdorf and Hallstar.
Contipro will discuss the use of microarray analysis in creating gene expression profiles from fibroblasts and keratinocytes from young and old donors.
It is important that skin benefits are delivered and can be measured or visualised. Stephan Bielfeldt (proDERM) will present a method on how to evaluate anti-pollution effects of products. Jon Holmes (Michelson Diagnostics) will present Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), a new device to quantify skin ageing and Dr Michael Sherratt (Manchester University) will explain how skin mechanics and composition varies with age, ethnicity and anatomical site. A novel technique using excised skin will be discussed by Dr Ardeshir Bayat (Science of Skin). Bayat will explain how he can use this ex vivo human skin model to evaluate the efficacy of topical preparations.
As we improve anti-ageing skin care products to provide meaningful and effective treatments advertising of these new and stronger claims, which border on the medicine category, are challenging for the authorities and the advertisers. Niamh McGuiness of Clearcast and Dr Jack Ferguson (Skinnovation), a consultant to Clearcast, will outline in their talks the best way to get adverts on air on British television. Controls in advertising anti-ageing skin care products in the US will be discussed and presented by Annie Ugurlayan (National Advertising Division (NAD) of the US).
Professor Karl Lintner (Kal’idées) will provide food for thought in the final lecture of the conference entitled ‘Anti-age in a new light: “feeling good = feeling young”!’
In the open discussion session, our panel of experts and delegates will explore and debate the future of skin care for ageing skin.
This is the fifth in this series of successful international conferences on anti-ageing skin care. Details can be found on www.summit-events.com.
Author
Dr Jack Ferguson, Skinnovation Ltd
www.skinnovation.co.uk