Facial Skin Aging: An Integrative Analysis of Genetics, Epigenetics, and Lifestyle Factors

December 2025 in “ GeroScience ”

Rezvan Noroozi, Aleksandra Pisarek-Pacek, B. Wysocka, Kamila Migacz-Gruszka, Paulina Pruszkowska-Przybylska, Magdalena Kobus, Dagmara Lisman, Julia Zacharczuk, Joanna Rudnicka, Aleksandra Iljin, Kathryn C. Fitzgerald, Małgorzata Magdalena Michalczyk, Piotr Kaczka, Michał Krzysztofik, Maciej Kostrzewa, Aneta Sitek, Magdalena Spólnicka, Andrzej Ossowski, Wojciech Branicki, Ewelina Pośpiech

genetics epigenetics lifestyle factors facial skin aging EDAR NRG1 facial wrinkles environmental stressors epigenetic aging GrimAge clock FitAge clock SNP stress response adiposity methylation skin phenotypes

TLDR Genetics, epigenetics, and lifestyle all influence facial skin aging.

This study investigates the impact of genetics, epigenetics, and lifestyle on facial skin aging, analyzing over 700 Polish individuals. It identifies novel genes, such as EDAR and NRG1, linked to facial wrinkles and highlights the role of environmental stressors. Epigenetic aging correlates with facial wrinkle area and perceived age, with GrimAge and FitAge clocks showing strong associations. Genome-wide SNP analysis reveals associations with wrinkle area and perceived age, suggesting stress response and adiposity involvement. The study demonstrates that combining methylation and SNP data can predict variations in skin phenotypes, explaining 59.0% of wrinkle area and 26.2% of perceived age, offering valuable insights for dermatology and anti-aging strategies.

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