Jan 12 / Star Khechara

Nutridermatology®: The Science of Functional Skin Nutrition

Nutridermatology®: A Clinical Paradigm for the Modern Practitioner

The landscape of aesthetic medicine and nutritional science is currently undergoing a profound structural shift. For decades, the fields of dermatology and clinical nutrition operated in relative isolation, with the former prioritising topical interventions and the latter focusing on metabolic health and systemic pathology. However, the emergence of Nutridermatology® (a discipline trademarked and formalised by Star) represents the crystallisation of these fields into a rigorous, evidence-based framework.

For the professional nutritionist and esthetician, Nutridermatology® is not merely a supplementary skill set; it is the essential bridge between internal physiology and external dermatological expression. This guide explores the scientific foundations of this discipline, the market forces driving the convergence of health and beauty and the clinical application of nutritional epigenetics in skin health.

The Convergence of Health, Beauty and Nutrition: A Global Shift

The transition toward "beauty from within" is no longer a peripheral consumer preference; it is a global economic and clinical imperative. As Eric J. Pierce, vice president of business insights for New Hope Network’s NEXT data and insights team, observes: “Diet in general, what we eat and drink, along with it being an important way to improve how we look and feel, is going to become an even bigger dialogue among consumers than it already is. It’s all about obtaining beauty from within. Health and wellness (how we feel, how we live, how we look) are becoming one." [1]

This sentiment is backed by staggering market valuations.
"Beauty and anti-ageing is by far the largest sector in the $3.7 trillion wellness economy."
cosmeticsdesign.com
In 2020, the global market for nutraceuticals was worth about US$233.9 billion by 2020 [3], while more recent data from Market Data Forecast suggests the Global Nutricosmetics Market was valued at $420.4 billion in 2024 [4], growing at a CAGR of 15.79%.

This growth is driven by a more sophisticated consumer base. NeutraceuticalsWorld.com notes: “Consumers are becoming more educated about the overall health benefits of balanced nutrition and are more interested in protecting themselves from accelerated ageing through more natural and non-invasive protocols” [5].

For the practitioner, the "convergence of food and cosmetics" is a major trend that has gained enormous importance in consumer habits, including diet and supplement intake [6]. The USA Chamber of Commerce reported that the movement toward cleaner foods is "morphing into a new fast-growing trend: the convergence of food and beauty," resulting in the rise of edible beauty and functional food products specifically designed for cosmetic purposes [1].

1. Functional Skin Nutrition: The Potency of Phytochemicals

At the heart of Nutridermatology® lies functional skin nutrition. This involves the strategic use of phytochemicals and bioactive compounds to modulate skin physiology. Unlike standard caloric nutrition, functional nutrition views food as a delivery system for molecular signals.

Phytochemicals (such as polyphenols, carotenoids and flavonoids) serve as secondary metabolites that offer significant photoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. For example, the systemic intake of lycopene and beta-carotene has been shown to enhance the skin’s endogenous protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, effectively acting as an internal biological shield.

2. Nutrigenomics: The Science of Nutritional Epigenetics

The most significant advancement in modern nutritional science is nutrigenomics—the study of how nutrients influence gene expression. Nutridermatology® leverages this to move beyond a "one-size-fits-all" approach, focusing instead on nutritional epigenetics.

Through Nutridermatology®, practitioners can influence the epigenetic switches that govern collagen synthesis, melanin production and the inflammatory response. By understanding the relationship between specific nutrients and gene transcription factors (such as NF-kB or NrF2), practitioners can design interventions that "down-regulate" pro-inflammatory genes and "up-regulate" those associated with cellular repair and longevity.

3. Nutricosmetics and Formulae: Food as a ‘Prescription’

The term "nutricosmetics" refers to ingestible products designed specifically for cosmetic purposes. As Nutrition Insight highlights: “The space is experiencing a refocus, with ‘beauty-from-within’ evolving into a mega-trend and collagen supplementation becoming a staple in anti-ageing skin regimens.” [7]

In the Nutridermatology® framework, we treat food and high-grade supplements as a "prescription" for the skin. These products contain active ingredients such as minerals, enzymes and botanical extracts that target the dermis and hypodermis. These nutricosmetics enhance several functions, including deep-tissue hydration, photoprotection, hair nourishment and skin repair [4]. By integrating these protocols, practitioners address the root cause of dermal depletion rather than merely masking symptoms.

4. Dietary Skin-Ageing: Analysing the 13 Cellular Pathways

Traditional anti-ageing focuses heavily on surface-level wrinkles. Nutridermatology® takes a more rigorous approach by analysing the diet against the 13 main cellular-ageing pathways. This allows practitioners to design targeted nutritional plans for "age-reversal" by addressing the biochemical drivers of senescence.

Key pathways addressed in the Nutridermatology® curriculum include:

  • Glycation (AGEs): The process where sugar molecules bond to proteins, causing collagen to become brittle
  • Oxidation: Managing the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endogenous antioxidant defences.
  • Inflammaging: The chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation that accelerates the ageing process.
  • Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Optimising cellular energy production to maintain repair mechanisms.

5. Clinical Nutritional Dermatology: Prevention and Treatment

Beyond aesthetics, Nutridermatology® is a clinical tool for the management of chronic skin disorders. The science of using dietary interventions to treat conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and scarring is a core pillar of the discipline.

The "Gut-Skin Axis" is a primary focus. We now know that intestinal dysbiosis and increased permeability are frequently correlated with inflammatory skin conditions. A Nutridermatology® practitioner uses specific protocols (such as the modulation of the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) pathway) to manage acne and psoriasis at their systemic source.
“The space is experiencing a refocus, with ‘beauty-from-within’ evolving into a mega-trend and collagen supplementation becoming a staple in anti-ageing skin regimens.”
Nutrition Insight

Nutridermatology®: A Discipline, Not a Trend

As the industry evolves, it is crucial to distinguish between fleeting trends and formalised disciplines. Jack Li of Datassential has named the convergence of food and beauty as a "one of his five top consumer packaged goods trends for 2019 and beyond." [1]. While the market identifies it as a trend, Star has established Nutridermatology® as a trademarked discipline to provide professionals with the rigorous academic training required to navigate this intersection.

Nutrition Insight notes that “even though science has long flagged the importance of proper nutrition and hydration, topical applications have reigned supreme so far” [7]. That reign is ending. The modern consumer demands "non-invasive protocols" that promote beauty from within.

For the esthetician and nutritionist, the Diploma in Integrative Nutridermatology offers the opportunity to lead this "mega-trend". By mastering the 13 pathways of cellular ageing and the complexities of nutrigenomics, you position yourself at the forefront of the 3.7 trillion wellness economy.

References

  1. Martino, V. (2019, August 20). Convergence of food and beauty fuels new self-care business opportunities. CO— by U.S. Chamber of Commerce. https://www.uschamber.com/co/good-company/launch-pad/edible-beauty-movement
  2. Utroske, D. (2017, February 2). Beauty and anti-aging is by far the largest sector in the $3.7 trillion wellness economy. Cosmetics Design. https://www.cosmeticsdesign.com/Article/2017/02/02/Beauty-and-anti-aging-is-by-far-the-largest-sector-in-the-3.7-trillion-wellness-economy/
  3. Chan, M. (2020, November 5). Nutraceutical industry trends and projections for 2024. Unleashed Software. https://www.unleashedsoftware.com/blog/the-nutraceutical-industry-in-2021-top-trends-and-projections/
  4. Market Data Forecast. (2024, May). Nutricosmetics market size, share, trends & growth forecast report (2024 - 2029). https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/nutricosmetics-market-report
  5. Moloughney, S. (2019, July 1). Beauty through nutrition: The convergence of personal care & nutraceuticals. Nutraceuticals World. https://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/beauty-through-nutrition/
  6. Trends in Food Science & Technology. (January 2020). Vol 95, pp. 21-32. “Feeding the skin: A new trend in food and cosmetics convergence.”
  7. Lalou, K. (2019, July 4). Skincare revolutions: “Beauty-from-within” pegged to be a mega-trend. Nutrition Insight. https://www.nutritioninsight.com/news/skincare-revolutions-beauty-from-within-pegged-to-be-a-mega-trend.html
Make 2026 the year you become a confident Skin Nutrition expert

Diploma in integrative Nutridermatology®

A practitioner Diploma in Functional Skin Nutrition. Dietary Age-Reversal and Integrative Dermatological Science.
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January Fast-Track Pricing Available until January 31st 2026

Star Khechara

Professional agehacker, author, speaker and founder of Skin Nutrition Institute
About me
Skincare formulator and beauty author turned skin-nutrition educator: Star distilled her 20+ years of skin-health knowledge into the world’s first international accredited skin-nutrition school to teach skin therapists, facialists, face yoga practitioners and estheticians how to help their clients feed the skin from within for cellular-level rejuvenation and vibrant beauty. 
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