I don't see skin as a surface. For me, it is a living organ, an intelligent communication system - and perhaps the most honest mirror of our lifestyle, our rhythms and our inner attitude. Skin remembers. It remembers light, stress, lack of sleep, care - and also affection, rest and regeneration.
Healthy ageing, well ageing and longevity are nowhere more visible than on the skin. And yet it is often reduced to creams, active ingredients and quick promises. I take a different approach. For me, skin health is a central expression of Healthy Longevity - holistic, scientifically sound and deeply human.
Our skin follows a precise circadian rhythm. At night, it is more receptive to regeneration, more permeable and metabolically active. During the day, it protects us, regulates moisture, temperature and barrier function. If this rhythm is thrown out of balance - for example by artificial light, constant screen use, late-night activity or inappropriate skincare - we develop what I call epidermal jet lag call.
Particularly relevant here is blue light from digital devices. It has a deeper effect than long assumed, promotes oxidative stress and accelerates skin ageing. A key protective molecule here is Melatonin. For me, it is one of the most important longevity molecules in the skin: antioxidant, DNA-protecting, inflammation-modulating and essential for night-time regeneration.
When we talk about skin ageing, we have to make a distinction:
Intrinsic (chronological) skin ageing is genetically and hormonally influenced. It is characterised by finer skin, less elasticity, reduced regenerative capacity and slower cell division. This process is natural - and not „wrong“.
Extrinsic skin ageing on the other hand, can be influenced. It is caused by light (not only the sun, but also blue light), environmental pollution, smoking, stress, lack of sleep, diet and skincare behaviour. It leads to coarse wrinkles, pigment shifts, loss of structure and inflammatory processes.
Most of us today experience a superposition of both forms. This is precisely where the great opportunity of Well Aging lies: extrinsic factors can be regulated - often more effectively than many people think.
In my work I analyse the interactions between three skins, which together determine how we age - and how we feel in the process. Healthy longevity arises where all three skins come into resonance:
Skin_1 is our biological skin with all its layers, functions, rhythms and needs. It reacts to care, light, touch, nutrients, regeneration and psychological balance.
Skin_2 is what we „wrap“ our skin in every day. Materials, cuts, colours, pressure, friction, but also the emotional expression of our styling have a direct effect on our nervous system, body image and self-perception.
Skin_3 encompasses our salutogenic indoor environments. The light, air, materials, acoustics, order and unrest of our surroundings have a silent but constant effect on our stress levels - and therefore on skin ageing.
This third skin is what I will next blog post in a targeted manner.
Dry skin (xeroderma) affects almost every woman at some point. A feeling of tightness, itching, flaking or sensitivity are not cosmetic trivialities, but indications of a disturbed skin barrier.
I recommend a rethink here:
Moisture is created not through „water supply“, but through a stable barrier. The aim is to reduce transepidermal water loss and give the skin temporary protection - so that it can regulate itself again. High-quality occlusion can be useful here, but never permanently. Skin wants balance, not dependency.
Cleansing is one of the most effective skin rejuvenation measures - if it is done correctly.
I recommend:
In the morning: a very mild cleanser that is adapted to the skin's condition
In the evening: double cleansing to remove make-up, light protection, environmental pollution and oxidised residues
No foaming products, no alcohol, no aggressive surfactants - especially for dry or sensitive skin
For me, cleaning is not a technical act. It is a ritual. And rituals have an effect - right into the psyche.
I invite you to honestly assess your skin on the basis of eight parameters.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Glow / radiance
Wrinkles & fine lines
Plumpness / elasticity
Pigments & stains
Smoothness of the skin surface
Evenness
Erythema / inflammation
Sensitivity & responsiveness
This profile is not a judgement. It is a starting point.
And it often shows very clearly, where your skin needs support - and where it is already strong.
Modern dermatocosmetics offer enormous possibilities today: Antioxidants, peptides, bioidentical lipids, retinoids, melatonin. However, they are only effective if care Part of a clear, individualised plan is.
Stimulation needs regeneration. Activation needs breaks.
And skin needs patience - and composure.
Healthy skin does not age perfectly. It ages vividly. It shows expression, history and dignity. And it reacts amazingly positively to conscious decisions.
If you want to start to stop fighting your skin and start understanding it
if you want to take responsibility, not because you are afraid of ageing, but because you enjoy life -
then Skin Coaching a powerful start.
👉 You can find out more about my holistic approach, individual skin analyses and the connection between skin, lifestyle and healthy longevity on this page:
Your skin is not a project.
It is a relationship.
And this may - with every year - become deeper, calmer and more beautiful.
As you read this, you may already realise that skin does not end at the body's borders.
In addition to our physical skin and the skin that we shape through clothing, style and external design, there is a third level that is often underestimated - and yet has a daily effect on our nervous system, our stress axes and therefore also on our skin ageing: our living spaces.
Light, colours, materials, order or permanent sensory overload have a quiet but constant effect. They can regenerate - or exhaust us unnoticed. In my next article, I will therefore focus on Skin_3The question of how spaces can become co-regulators of healthy longevity and why real well ageing also begins where we live, work and rest.
Because sometimes skin doesn't change because we apply more
but because we live differently.
