The science of smart-ageing

Beauty’s newest frontier is biohacking. Gregory Allen reveals the science behind this surprisingly natural approach to wellness

after decades of chasing the unattainable, now trying to look 10 years younger is out; smart-ageing is in. And this is where biohacking – beauty’s latest buzzword – is making waves. ‘Smart-ageing isn’t about forcing your skin and body to do what doesn’t come naturally,’ says Harley Street aesthetic doctor David Jack. ‘It’s about kick-starting our innate biological processes that have slowed down – such as our natural production of hyaluronic acid, amino acids, antioxidants, collagen and elastin. We have everything we need to do this in our own systems. You simply have to biohack them.’

Rest assured – while biohacking may sound a little sci-fi meets Silicone Valley at first, much of it involves a non-invasive approach. From cryotherapy to oxygen chambers, supplements to skincare, biohacking is simply the science of tricking your body into acting (and subsequently feeling and looking) younger. Here’s what you can plan for, once we’re all able to leave the house again…

POLAR OPPOSITES

Recently landed in Harvey Nichols, thermotherapy (£95 for one session) has joined its cryotherapy (£95 for one session) cousin on offer at the newly rebranded 111CRYO/HEAT. ‘One of the greatest ways to biohack the body is with temperature, which has been used for centuries to stimulate biological processes,’ says founder Dr Yannis Alexandrides. It works on the principles of constricting or dilating blood vessels to detoxify, condition and firm. ‘Cryotherapy incites vasoconstriction to diminish pain, inflammation and firm the skin, while thermotherapy incites vasodilation, stimulating circulation, lymphatic drainage and toxin removal.’ Individually, the results are visible but, practised together (known as ‘contrast therapy’), they’re impressive. Plan to book: Dr Yannis Alexandrides at 111CRYO/HEAT, from £95.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

‘We all emit a resonance; a natural electromagnetic frequency that depends on our physiological state,’ explains Marie Reynolds, wellness and skin health expert. ‘These are often interrupted by viruses, pathogens or fungus, resulting in disease.’ Energy Therapy with Marie Reynolds (Fortnum & Mason, price on request) involves scanning your body then exposing you to ‘alternate frequencies’. ‘You can help remove harmful toxins and even emotional blockages, returning your body to its most beneficial frequency,’ says Marie. It may simply be psychosomatic, but after two weeks with a microchip strapped to my back, I felt as though I had been on the most thorough of cleanses – mentally, emotionally and physically.

Plan to book: Marie Reynolds, price on request.

UNDER PRESSURE

It’s not just temperature that can alleviate ageing ailments; atmospheric pressure is a biohacker’s bread and butter, too. ‘Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (£160) involves being immersed in pure oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure,’ explains founder of biohacking clinic Bellecell (yes, the movement has an entire clinic now) Kasia Zajkowska – a Cambridge graduate with a

degree in bioscience enterprise and molecular biotechnology. Sciencey enough for you? ‘This high dose of oxygen promotes regeneration and healing within the skin, perfect post trauma, injury or for an all-round boosting treatment.’

Plan to book: Kasia Zajkowska, from £160.

THE IV LEAGUE

If you aren’t afraid of going intravenous, you could try a supercharged IV Infusion with additional infrared laser light. It takes all the nutrition you might miss (we only ingest up to 10% of the vitamins in any oral supplement, apparently) and drives it straight into the bloodstream to address all manner of issues – fatigue, recovery, skin ageing. But be prepared to have a few sessions before you see a difference, and always hunt out a reputable clinic (note: they should do blood tests prior to treatment to check for deficiencies).

Plan to book: The Elixir Clinic, from £100.

NEEDLE WORK

‘Don’t dismiss tweakments,’ urges Dr David Jack. ‘Many work on the principle of biohacking the body’s own responses to whatever is being done. For example, microneedling, fractional lasers and fractional radio-frequency all work on the principle of stimulating micro-injuries in the skin. The body responds with its own repair processes, leaving you with a fresher-looking face.’ For a real difference, give Profhilo a try. Ten injections of hyaluronic acid filler hit the upper layers of your skin to hydrate, plump and rejuvenate, while also working to trigger your body’s own hyaluronic acid production. Plan to book: Dr David Jack, £450 a session.

THE EPIGENETICS INDEX

While biohacking can help alter the body, it is our epigenetics that really determine our physiological fate. Never heard of epigenetics? It may be niche, but this small strand of science has gained some serious popularity in recent years, answering questions about the alterable nature of genes, something scientists long believed was impossible to change. ‘Epigenetics refers to the processes that involve altering the expression of certain genes, without changing the actual genes themselves,’ explains Dr Jack. ‘In simpler terms, one can use certain substances to switch on or off certain genes to benefit specific things in the body. For example, in the skin, it could be reducing the expression of certain genes for pigmentation production or switching on genes that help reduce oil production in acne.’