Genes contain the instructions to build every protein in the body. When a gene is “expressed”, it means the information stored in DNA is used to make a specific protein, such as collagen for wound repair or filaggrin for skin-barrier strength.

Expression occurs in two main stages:

• Transcription: where DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA).
• Translation: where mRNA carries the message to ribosomes, the cell’s protein factories, which assemble amino acids into new proteins.

DNA can be thought of as the blueprint, RNA as the messenger and ribosomes as the builders that turn the instructions into living tissue.

Epigenetics is often described as a dimmer switch rather than a simple on/off button. Some genes can be upregulated (their expression increased) while others are downregulated (their expression reduced).

For example:

• Collagen genes may be upregulated during wound healing.
• Cancer-promoting genes must be downregulated during UV exposure.
• The filaggrin gene, vital for barrier repair in eczema, benefits from upregulation.

The filaggrin gene, vital for barrier repair in eczema, benefits from upregulation.

There are three major mechanisms that regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence:

1. DNA Methylation – The addition of a methyl group to DNA acts like a “chemical condom,” silencing specific genes so they cannot express.
2. Histone Modification – DNA is wrapped around spool-like proteins called histones. When wound tightly, genes are inaccessible and switched off; when loosened, genes can be read and expressed.
3. Non-Coding RNA (MicroRNAs) – These small RNA molecules don’t code for proteins but can interfere with or block the translation process, effectively silencing certain genes.

Each of these mechanisms can be influenced by environmental factors such as nutrition, stress, toxins and even emotional wellbeing.

Beyond diet, gene expression is also shaped by lifestyle factors such as stress levels, sleep, alcohol intake and exposure to pollutants. Alcohol, for example, antagonises folate, disrupting DNA methylation. Chronic stress can interfere with the genes responsible for repair and regeneration.

Understanding these connections allows practitioners to design holistic interventions, integrating nutrition, stress management and lifestyle medicine, that influence skin health at the deepest biological level.

Gene expression has often been likened to a 3D printing process:

• The DNA acts as the computer blueprint.
• The RNA is the instruction signal sent to the printer.
• The Ribosome is the printer itself, building new proteins layer by layer.

Epigenetic mechanisms determine whether the printer receives the correct signal and how accurately it follows the design. Nutrients, therefore, provide the materials and instructions for optimal “printing”, strong, resilient, youthful skin.

For skincare and nutrition professionals, understanding epigenetics reframes how we view skin conditions and ageing. Rather than treating symptoms on the surface, practitioners can help clients influence the underlying biological programming that drives those outcomes.

By promoting diets rich in plant-based, antioxidant and polyphenol-rich foods, professionals can help clients optimise gene expression for skin resilience, barrier repair and anti-ageing benefits.

Epigenetics reminds us that our genes are not fixed commands but responsive systems. Through nutrition and lifestyle, we can “speak” to our DNA, instructing it to favour repair, regeneration and radiance. For the skin, this means healthier cells, stronger barriers and slower ageing, truly proving that diet is the new dermatology.