According to Dr. Lubna Pal, a Yale School of Medicine researcher, there might be a direct link between common facial wrinkles and bone density. As Dr. Pal analyzed the firmness of facial skin along with depth and quantity of the wrinkles, she observed how those with worse skin conditions also has a low density in the lower hip, lumber and spine among the middle-aged subjects who were all women. The opposite results also appear as well from those with firmer facial skin also have a great strengthened bone density.
A past study shows that 114 women were studied over a period of three years before their last menstrual period as researches numbered the firmness of the skin and the number as well as the depth of facial wrinkles. Each participant were scan for bone density and the hips, heels and the spine which was measured by DEXA, which is a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans and ultrasounds. Those who displayed more wrinkles proven to have less bone density, while those with tough skin showed better degrees of bones. The results came in persistently as researchers showed common effects on other related symptoms known to play a role in bone density which includes race, smoking, body mass, and multivitamin take.
Skin and Bones Share the Same Protein
Skins and bones both share collagens, which is a group of proteins. As we begin to age, our body makes changes in collagen which may also relate to age-related changes of the skin. Dr. Pal has a theory that the connection between the bones and skin is a specific protein named type 1 collagen – which is a kind of building block of tissue in both skin and bones that tends to decrease with age. The theory continues as Pal believes that the skin is a major reflection on what’s happening inside, especially with the bones. There are also certain levels of wrinkles that can be an indicator to lower bone density as well as the facial wrinkles between the eyebrows.
The conducted study was previously presented at the Boston’s annual meeting of the American Society of Endocrinology in 2011. Medical experts who examined the study emphasized that the total data hasn’t been thoroughly reviewed by independent scientists and researchers as they also have noted that the said observation has a deep contrast with conventional wisdom. As an example, experts mention that the sun’s exposure is said to cause an increase in wrinkling the skin as well as damage the skin and cause sensitivity. However, the skin benefits from sun exposure as it increases vitamin D intake with is a nutrient that has been shown to grow strong bones. Thus, many women with signs and symptoms of wrinkles often carry strong bones.
Experts Say…
Another research investigator, Laure Rittie, PhD, says the study could have taken more tests by testing skin with controlled sun exposure. It seems as if the authors only took wrinkle severity on the face and neck rather than sun-protected skin that may reflect systemic and internal changes to possibly rule out any potential confounding factors.
More experts say they approve of the new idea of connecting wrinkles and bone health and the study is quite worth more studies and investigation. Linda A. Russel, MD, is a bone health specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, has also approved of the interesting idea with potential for developing an easier, cost-efficient option for screening bone density.
The research study is set to continue for another year as participants will be given an assessment for their skin and bone health in hopes of finding further results to confirm the initial observation.
So, is there any link between wrinkles and lower bone density?
With the outline of the observation, Dr. Pal’s observation does seem to make sense as the result of aging skin will suffer from skin damage. As bones and skin are made of the same protein, having more wrinkles will reflect on the damage of the collagen. As the bones are made up of a combination of mineralized collagen and a collagen matrix, facial wrinkles could be a window to help determine the actually condition of the bones.
However, the study may have missed the actual point altogether. As the study is in step with reductionism, the observation applied by the establishment is fragmented and rather simplified with relevant information – leading to disconnected conclusions. When scientists fail to look at the full screen, they may miss or completely ignore such dangerous side effects of the observation.
For example: Avandia, GlaxoSmithKline’s world’s best-selling drug for diabetes was used to sensitivity to insulin in Type ll diabetes became severely restricted in the US and entirely suspended in Europe in 2010. This was due to the terrible side effects of the drug as a study from Cleveland Clinic proven that patients who took Avandia had an increased risk of 43% chance of a hard attack as well as related cardiovascular problems.
It is no secret that with poor lifestyle habits and unhealthy diets will lead to an obvious poor state of health – which ultimately leads to other health problems and plenty of wrinkles. Without proper nutrition, your body will suffer from the void of antioxidants and nutrients that are needed to protect the skin. The same nutrients and antioxidants of course, are needed to help build strong bones as well.
When your body consumes a large myriad of chemicals from the foods to other artificial flavoring, it is only obvious to notice how damaged skin is much related to weakened bones that have a high potential for damage and fractures. Those who suffer from poor sleeping habits and lack of sleep can also increase your stress levels which are another factor that adds onto weakened bones. With a large number of studies, a steady result of unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits will only prove to have a negative effect overall on your entire body system.
