Metabolic approach to counteract skin ageing

Skin ageing is more than a cosmetic phenomenon; it represents a visible manifestation of systemic ageing. Individuals who appear older than their chronological age are at greater risk of various age-related morbidities, underscoring that cutaneous ageing mirrors underlying biological ageing processes.1 Therefore, the skin serves as a powerful model to interrogate fundamental ageing mechanisms, and dissecting the cellular and molecular drivers of skin ageing extends beyond dermatology. Melanocytes have emerged as key regulators of skin ageing due to their long life cycle and minimal turnover. Beyond their canonical role in pigmentation, melanocyte dysfunction and senescence influence epidermal homeostasis, dermal remodelling and photoageing phenotypes. Genetic studies linking MC1R variants to perceived facial age and severity of photoageing, independent of skin colour and sun exposure,2 further support a central role for the entire melanogenic process in controlling skin ageing. In this issue of the BJD, Kim et al. identify autophagy dysfunction via ATG7 downregulation as a key driver of melanocyte ageing.3 Using single-cell RNA sequencing and time-course transcriptomics, the authors reveal connections between autophagy impairment, oxidative stress, metabolic reprogramming and senescence. These findings help to understand how stress responses in melanocytes contribute to pigmentary decline and skin ageing.