Introduction to Exposome
In 2005, Wild was the first person to define exposome as ‘the sum of environmental exposures, and individual is subjected to from conception to death.’ The term was refined in 2014 by Miller and Jones, who defined exposome as ‘the cumulative measure of environmental influences and the associated biological response thought the lifespan, including exposures from environmental, diet, behavior, and endogenous processes.’ From the two definitions, exposome is thus the totality of exposures to which an individual is subjected from conception to death. It also includes the response of the human body to such factors, which are both internal and external.
Skin exposome
Skin is the protective layer that protects the body from the external environment, and as such exposome affects skin aging. Studies conducted by Krutmann et al. show that environmental factors affecting skin aging exposome are grouped into six categories shown below:
- Sun radiation: This includes ultraviolet and infrared radiation and visible light.
- Smoking: tobacco affects the skin.
- Air pollution
- Nutrition
- Cosmetic products.
- Miscellaneous factors.
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Exposome is the primary cause of chronic diseases. A 2016 study found 80% of such diseases to have origin in exposome, with genomewide-associated diseases having a maximum of 20%. Acne exposome is the sum of all environmental factors influencing the occurrence, duration, and severity of acne. The following six environmental factors affect skin exposome:
- Nutrition: daily products such as skimmed milk and hyperglycemic carbohydrates whey protein containing leucine stimulates production of IGF-1, insulin growth factor-1, which causes acne.
- Medications: it is a known fact that contraceptives are a major cause of acne in females. In first and second-generation oral contraceptives, progestin metabolizes to testosterone that aggravates acne. Besides, radiotherapy, certain anti-cancer agents, immunosuppressants, halogens, and other medications cause acne.
- Inappropriate cosmetics and aggressive skincare products affect the skin barrier and microbiota balance, causing skin inflammations. Rubbing, scrubbing, and the use of home or medical devices on the skin can trigger acne flare-ups.
- Air pollution destroys the skin by altering the normal function of proteins, lipids, and deoxyribonucleic acid. Industrial workers exposed for a long duration to organic molecules such as coal tar and crude oil are known to suffer from acne.
- Seasonal changes such as heat and intense ultraviolet radiation trigger acne flare-ups.
- Psychosocial and lifestyle factors can also cause acne. Urban noises, socioeconomic pressure, light emitted from smartphones, and tables modifies the skin microbiota, triggering acne.
Some of prevention and management strategies for acne problem include:
- Limit as much as possible any exposome impact. This includes avoiding or limiting high glycaemic food, whey protein in supplements, some types of contraceptives, tobacco, and cannabis, and some harmful cosmetics.
- Avoid topical antibiotics for monotherapy, as they increase antibacterial resistance and changes the skin microbiome. Alternatives include topical retinoids and their combination with benzoyl peroxide.
- Avoid harsh washing of the skin, such as using scrubs, and exfoliating devices, so as not to damage the skin. Cleansers with a pH of 5.5 can be used as alternatives to soap.
- Skincare products can be used to maintain healthy skin. The use of a moisturizer in the morning can help.
- Avoid the use of non-comedogenic makeup and use sun-protectors, with a sun-protecting factor of at least 30 for photoprotection.
Conclusion
Exposome factors cause acne and can also affect treatment efficacy. Identifying the elements and reducing them is essential for management and avoiding acne.
How a nutrition-focused Physical examination (NFPE) is used in exposome detection.
Using NFPE can help determine the skin-related conditions. A careful study of the skin, especially the face, the shoulders, and the upper back, can show how much the skin has been affected. Analyzing the changes in the skin, if it acne or some aging and the part of the body, can help determine the exposome, and later used to test the reasons behind it.
How a person’s history can be used to gather information relating to acne and aging exposome.
Acne and aging exposome are due to environmental factors. A history of an individual, for example, can be used to help know the cause, effects, and even treatment of acne and aging exposome. The best place to start is the lifestyle of an individual. Such information is straightforward, but people lack knowledge of the effects of their lifestyle on their skin. Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol are known to cause acne. For women, the type of contraceptives they use can give a lot of information concerning any skin problems they are having. Such information gathering helps with relation to exposome, both in prevention and treatment.
Diet Interventions for Preventing skin conditions related to exposome.
- Avoid eating refined products such as sugar, milk, dairy products, grains, and high glycaemic diets. Such products trigger acne.
- Avoid supplements and food products with leucine, as it is known to stimulate the production of IGF-1, known to trigger or worsen acne.
- Use vitamin, carotenoids, flavonoids, and tocopherols, which have antioxidant properties and can help in maintaining healthy skin.
Value of including analysis of the exposome in developing protocols for diet therapy
Many people require diet therapy for different reasons. Athletes, for instance, need high volumes of proteins due to the intense physical training they undergo. Others have deficiencies such as reduced IGF-1 in their bodies that protect them from having acne. With such knowledge, it is easier to develop diets for various people in a way they will not cause side effects while trying to help them. For instance, using whey protein will help athletes by increasing protein intake, but ends up with side effects if the whey used is rich in leucine. An analysis of the exposome is, therefore, crucial before coming up with any dietary plans for patients and clients.