Epigenetics: The Innovative Science Behind Eucerin’s Latest Research

This fascinating research field connects our behaviors and environment, including diet, physical activity, or exposure to UVA/UVB radiation to our gene activity. For example, exercise frequency and dietary choices can cause epigenetic changes that affect how the body interprets DNA sequences. Unlike genetic changes, which permanently alter DNA sequences, epigenetic modifications are reversible and do not modify DNA sequences. They turn specific genes on or off thus controlling their activity rather than affecting the genes themselves. This represents an important mechanism for the regulation of biological processes. 

This highlights the connection between our lifestyle choices and genes. By modulating gene expression, these epigenetic changes can significantly affect the condition of our body and our skin. Understanding epigenetics provides valuable insights into how making healthier lifestyle choices, as well as optimizing one’s skincare routine can have a positive effect on our genes, and even on how young our skin looks.  

Epigenetic mechanisms operate through several pathways to control gene expression, reactivating and deactivating genes to produce proteins.

DNA methylation represents the most well-known and understood epigenetic mechanism: How does it work? A methyl group is added to specific points on the DNA. If it occurs in regulatory DNA regions, the methyl group can act as a “blockage” and inhibit gene 'reading'. This turns genes 'off' and prevents their expression. Conversely, removing the methyl group, a demethylation process, turns genes 'on', allowing their expression.

Epigenetic changes are natural mechanisms that shape cells through the whole journey of life and continue to evolve due to aging, lifestyle, and environment: 

• Epigenetics and age: Throughout life, an individual's epigenetic profile changes. The epigenetics you are born with differ from those in childhood or adulthood.
• Epigenetics and reversibility: Not all epigenetic alterations are permanent. Many epigenetic changes can be introduced or reversed in response to behavioral or environmental shifts.

The discovery of natural mechanisms in the genome that activate specific genes is over 80 years old. Conrad Hal Waddington, a British geneticist and developmental biologist is considered the pioneer of epigenetics. Yet, it was not until the early 2000s that epigenetics gained attention in international research.

Eucerin scientists have been leading experts in epigenetic skin science for over 15 years. At Eucerin labs, 20 interdisciplinary researchers have analysed more than 50.000 active substances to develop products with epigenetic ingredients that can help reverse signs of aging.

Since 2008, we have conducted extensive epigenetic research: In 2010, we were one of the first to identify comprehensive epigenetic changes that take place during the skin aging process (Gronniger et al., 2010).  Three years later, in 2013, we investigated the impact of age-related epigenetic changes on skin gene expression using transcriptome sequencing (Raddatz et al., 2013). After another three years, we developed a skin cell 'age clock' and were granted a patent for it in 2021 (Bormann et al., 2016). This patented Age Clock Technology allows us to discover groundbreaking, dermocosmetic solutions that can effectively turn back time on skin aging.

After 15 years of research, Eucerin scientists have made yet another breakthrough discovery: We are proud to announce that we have discovered the epigenetic active ingredient Epicelline®. 

Working on the deepest layers of the skin, Epicelline® has the power to reactivate your skin’s youth genes and reverse signs of aging, making you look younger than your age in 4 weeks*. Unlike other potent anti-aging ingredients, Epicelline® effectively reduces wrinkles and fine lines without irritating the skin and has been dermatologically and clinically tested for good skin tolerability. 

Stay tuned for our soon-to-come product launch ...

_{*Product-in-use test with 160 women over 4 weeks.}