Longevity dermatology is how I describe the way I practice: caring for your skin as a living organ you will rely on for decades, not a surface to fix before the next event. Skin is the organ people see. It reflects your hormones, your sleep, your stress, your overall wellbeing and health, and your sun and lifestyle history, and it responds when you take care of the whole person.

My goal is to help you age beautifully and in the healthiest way possible.

Skin aging is more than your genes

Patients often tell me, "My mother had great skin, so I'm fine," or "My mother aged early, so I'm doomed." Genes matter, but daily life matters a great deal too.

• In a large study of women's facial aging, sun exposure and lifestyle explained much of the visible aging that graders scored [1].

I think of skin aging as epigenetic. Your genes are the script, and your environment and habits influence how that script is read over time.

Researchers are starting to measure this. A 2026 study built two DNA-methylation "skin clocks." Sun-exposed skin read older on a sun-related clock but not on a second clock that tracked calendar age [2]. This is early research. The validation groups were small, the links were modest, most participants were women with lighter skin, and the clocks were funded and patented by Unilever [2]. It is still a research tool, for now, but soon may be used as a way to measure skin age and response to treatments during office visits.

What has the strongest evidence

When I build a longevity plan, I start with the habits that have the best proof behind them.

Daily sunscreen. In a 4.5-year randomized trial of 903 adults, people assigned to daily sunscreen showed 24% less skin aging than those who used it when they chose to [3]. I recommend a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every morning. My Vitamin E-ssential Sunscreen SPF 44 is the one I use.

A nightly retinoid. In a landmark study, tretinoin restored collagen formation in sun-damaged skin [4]. A nightly retinoid plus morning sunscreen remains the foundation of skin longevity care [5]. If you are new to retinoids or have sensitive skin, start slowly. My Retinol Level 2 is made for that, and I explain why it belongs on more than your face in retinol isn't just for the face.

Food, movement and supplements

• Eat well. Women with healthier diets had fewer facial wrinkles in a large Dutch study. That is an association, not proof that diet alone prevents wrinkles, and it works alongside sunscreen, not instead of it [6].
• Fish and omega-3s. In a randomized trial, taking the omega-3 fat EPA reduced some markers of inflammation in skin after UV exposure [7]. I suggest food first, such as oily fish, and I don't think of omega-3s as a wrinkle treatment.
• Strength training. In a 16-week study of 61 sedentary middle-aged Japanese women (56 analyzed), both aerobic and resistance training improved skin elasticity, and resistance training also improved dermal thickness [8].
• Collagen powders. They may help. Some meta-analyses of randomized trials found modest gains in skin hydration and elasticity with oral collagen peptides [13][14]. But when only high-quality or independently funded trials were analyzed, there was no significant effect [15], and a 2026 re-analysis found errors in two of those reviews and no benefit after correcting them [9]. That doesn't make collagen harmful. It means I'd put your money toward sunscreen and a retinoid first.

The science I'm watching

Longevity researchers study the processes that drive aging in every tissue, including skin: cells that stop dividing and send out inflammatory signals (senescence), and the pathways that sense nutrients, such as mTORC1 [10].

In a small, exploratory trial, a topical rapamycin cream (rapamycin acts on mTOR) applied to the backs of the hands lowered a marker of senescent cells in skin biopsies. Only 17 of 36 people finished the study, and few biopsies could be analyzed [11].

In-office care for the long run

In-office treatments can support skin quality as part of a long-term plan. Depending on your skin, I may suggest lasers such as MOXI, Clear + Brilliant or Fotona 4D; energy devices for firmness such as Sofwave, Ultherapy or Thermage; LightStim red light therapy; and, when structure has changed, Sculptra.

I usually revisit a longevity plan every year and at major life changes such as menopause, when skin changes quickly. See menopause skin and listen to my skin longevity protocol for midlife women.

Re-Q is a lightweight, luxurious serum that contains a novel molecule, RLX-201. Rapalogix Health, the company behind Re-Q, has won 5 industry awards for innovation in 2026, including at IMCAS in Paris and AMWC in Monaco.

Disclosure: I am a co-founder of Rapalogix Health, a company developing topical skin care that targets the mTOR pathway. Our first product, Re-Q, contains RLX-201. As a co-founder, I have a financial interest in Rapalogix Health, and Re-Q is sold in my online shop.

Frequently asked questions

What is longevity dermatology?

Longevity dermatology treats skin as a living organ that needs care over a lifetime. It combines proven daily habits such as sunscreen and retinoids with lifestyle, hormone awareness and in-office treatments, with the goal of keeping skin healthy as you age.

Is skin aging genetic?

Partly. I think of skin aging as epigenetic: your genes are a starting point, not the whole story. Research on facial aging shows that sun exposure accounts for much of the visible aging on the face [1]. Hormones matter too: as estrogen falls around menopause, the deeper layer of skin thins and collagen production slows [12].

Can I test my skin's biological age?

Not with a test I would recommend. Researchers have built DNA-methylation "skin clocks," but they are early research tools with small validation studies, not consumer tests [2].

What is the single most important habit for skin longevity?

Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen. In a 4.5-year randomized trial, daily users showed 24% less skin aging than people who used sunscreen when they chose to [3].

Do collagen supplements help aging skin?

They may. Some meta-analyses of randomized trials found modest gains in skin hydration and elasticity with oral collagen peptides [13][14], though high-quality and independently funded studies show no significant effect [15][9]. I view collagen supplements as an optional complement—not a replacement—for daily sun protection, a well-designed skincare routine, good nutrition and appropriate in-office treatment.

Is it too late to start caring for my skin at 60?

No. Skin keeps responding to care at every age. In a landmark study, tretinoin restored collagen formation in sun-damaged skin, and daily sun protection helps prevent further damage [4][3].

About the author

Doris Day, MD, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Newsweek, with Statista, consistently named her #3 on America's Best Cosmetic Dermatologists. She serves on the American Academy of Dermatology Nominating Committee (2025–present) and she advises major skin care and aesthetic companies on products and devices.

Medically reviewed by Doris Day, MD, FAAD on October 10, 2026. Last updated October 10, 2026.

Day Dermatology & Aesthetics 10 East 70th Street, Suite 1C, New York, NY 10021 (212) 772-0740

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