Types of adipose tissue
Adipose tissue is no longer seen as a mere storehouse of fat to regulate energy homeostasis. It is now believed to be a self-sufficient organ that secretes molecules or adipokines, which in turn can influence the biology of other organs and tissues, including the skin.
Adipose tissue is divided by color and anatomical location. White adipose tissue, which represents the body’s store of energy, is most prevalent in the human body, while brown adipose tissue plays a thermoregulatory role, it is particularly present in newborns and is gradually reabsorbed with age. Beige adipose tissue, a mixture of the previous two, was recently discovered and now represents a new target in the cosmetics and health market.
White adipose tissue is also divided into two types of fat: visceral abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat.
Features of white adipose tissue
White adipose tissue plays a central role in human homeostasis, influencing energy storage, adipokine secretion and inflammation. During aging, it changes quantitatively and qualitatively and may be involved in the onset of age-related pathologies.
Progressive loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue mass and its targeted localization to visceral fat depots, associated with changes in the secretory and cellular profile of adipose tissue, as well as the accumulation of ectopic lipids, are often associated with age-related diseases such as neurodegenerative changes, loss of mobility, diabetes, cardiovascular dysfunction, and so on.
Moreover, adipose tissue is involved in the phenomenon of inflammation.which leads to systemic chronic moderate inflammation, which is a common feature of all aging pathologies. Thus, understanding the modifications of white adipose tissue during aging offers promising opportunities to improve quality of life.
Adipose tissue, adipocytes and skin aging
Today, in the context of skin aging, biology researchers continue to study the role of white adipose tissue, and especially the role of subcutaneous tissue attached to the dermis.
Skin aging is mainly characterized by the gradual appearance of wrinkles, thinning of the skin and loss of firmness and elasticity.Skin aging is accelerated by the accumulation of exogenous factors such as stress, tobacco or exposure to pollution and ultraviolet rays.
Curiously, white adipose tissue is a favorite storage site for pollutant particles. Several studies have shown that persistent organic pollutants that are hydrophilic and resistant to degradation accumulate in adipose tissue within the lipid droplets of adipocytes (adipose tissue cells).
Although white adipose tissue plays a protective role by reducing the severe toxic effects of pollutants on the rest of the human body, this accumulation is a source of chronic exposure and can have adverse effects on biological and metabolic functions.
Thus, any change in fat accumulation, such as weight loss, can lead to systemic release of contaminants and cause metabolic complications and skin changes. Persistent organic pollutants are known to have pro-inflammatory, prolipogenic and lipotoxic effects.
They are also known for their adverse effects on human health such as skin toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive disorders, teratogenicity, endocrine disruption and cancer predisposition.
Summary conclusions
- Researchers have found that adipocytes (adipose tissue cells) have a direct relationship to skin health and youthfulness.
- It is now believed that adipose tissue is a self-sufficient organ that influences the biology of other organs and tissues, including the skin.
- White adipose tissue is a “repository” for pollutant particles, and it is one of the important factors in skin aging.
List of references used
- Diridollou S, Vienne MP, Alibert M, et al. Efficacy of topical 0.05% retinaldehyde in skin aging by ultrasound and rheological techniques. Dermatology. 1999;199(Suppl 1):37–41.
- Lin M, Zhai X, Wang S, Wang Z, Xu F, Lu TJ. Influences of supra-physiological temperatures on microstructure and mechanical properties of skin tissue. Med Eng Phys. 2012;34(8):1149–1156.
- Kruglikov IL, Scherer PE. Skin aging: are adipocytes the next target? Aging (Albany NY). 2016;8(7):1457–1469.
This article is not a substitute for consulting a professional doctor. You can consult a natural dermatologist to improve the quality of your skin.
