Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 4, 2025
12:37
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
18.4K
Alterations of the pigmentation system in the aging process
Hee Young Kang1, Jin Wook Lee2,3, Federica Papaccio4
1Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
|May 28, 2021
Summary
Human skin aging involves intrinsic and extrinsic factors like UV exposure, leading to accelerated aging and uneven pigmentation. Premature senescence is implicated in skin aging conditions like vitiligo.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Cell Biology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Human skin aging is influenced by intrinsic (genetics, hormones) and extrinsic (UV, pollution) factors.
- Photoaging, caused by sun exposure, exacerbates intrinsic aging, increasing senescent cells and accelerating skin aging.
- Skin aging impacts pigmentation, leading to mottled, uneven skin tone due to melanocyte changes and disrupted cellular communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted nature of human skin aging.
- To understand the role of senescence in skin aging and pigmentation disorders.
- To investigate the impact of photodamage on skin homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Review of intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to skin aging.
- Analysis of clinical manifestations of photoaged skin, including pigmentation changes.
- Examination of the role of cellular senescence and its markers in aging and vitiligo.
Main Results:
- Photoaging accelerates intrinsic skin aging by increasing senescent cells.
- Skin phototype, UV exposure intensity, and duration influence photodamage severity.
- Altered melanocyte activity, pigment distribution, and disrupted cell crosstalk contribute to uneven skin pigmentation.
- Premature senescence is linked to vitiligo, indicating its role in age-independent skin pathologies.
Conclusions:
- Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors drive skin aging, with UV exposure significantly accelerating the process.
- Senescence plays a critical role in skin aging and is implicated in pigmentation disorders like vitiligo.
- Maintaining skin homeostasis is crucial, as disruptions can lead to visible aging and pigmentary abnormalities.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Pigmentation
3.6K
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
3.6K
01:14Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives
2.8K
The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
2.8K
01:26Aging
381
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
381
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
2.9K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
2.9K
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
48
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
48
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
7.3K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
7.3K