O Cosmedics -The SkinDNA™ Test

SkinDNA™ takes the guesswork out of skin care instead using science to identify the most suitable skin ingredients and treatment modalities based on your DNA. At its core, SkinDNA™ uses the correct ingredients and treatment modalities to effectively target your genetic blueprint and ensure you never waste a single cent again on products or treatments that don’t work for you!

Performed exclusively by O Skin Experts, the revolutionary DNA laboratory test examines 16 genetic markers (SNPs) in 5 categories associated with skin aging:
1. Firmness + Elasticity: Identify if you are a carrier of key genetic variations associated with accelerated collagen loss even before the signs have become visible
2. Wrinkling: Not often discussed, Glycation affects collagen and elastin fibres glycation and is now well recognised as a leading cause of accelerated skin aging
3. Sun Damage + Pigmentation: The sun’s UV rays are one of the most significant causes of premature skin aging. An individual’s genes play an important role in determining how well their skin can naturally cope under the strains of the sun
4. Free Radical Damage: Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly ever known disease, from heart disease to arthritis, cancer to cataracts. In fact, free radicals are a main culprit in the aging process of the skin itself
5. Sensitivity + Inflammation: Excessive inflammation is one of the most common themes in early onset skin aging. While it is a helpful response in the short term, if inflammation continues, it can play a negative role. Often subtle, the signs include skin sensitivity, redness and irritation

The SkinDNA™ test takes just two minutes and three simple, easy steps to unlock your skin secrets:
1. Collect: A swab from the inside your cheek will be collected and sent to the accredited SkinDNA™ lab for analysis
2. Diagnose: Within 7 days you will receive a comprehensive SkinDNA™ Report, analysed and explained by your O Skin Expert, that ranks each genetic marker low, medium or high risk. From these results a customised skin health plan, combining product, supplements and modalities will be created
3. Prescribe: Using the results from the SkinDNA™ Test your O Skin Expert is able to confidentially recommend an appropriate routine to prevent and correct skin concerns and preserve a more youthful looking skin

With more than 15,000 DNA population wide samples from various groups stored entirely in-house, SkinDNA™ is leading the way in Dermal DNA Science. The collaboration of geneticists, cosmetic physicians, skin scientists and volunteer study participants commenced their work in 2006 with two principle objectives: (1) to identify the genetic factors that contribute to age-related changes in the skin; and (2) to identify actionable pathways available for each of those genetic factors in order to help each and every individual worldwide preserve a more youthful looking skin.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Take a closer look at the SkinDNA™ Test Categories :

Firmness + Elasticity: Keeping the skin firm, plump and wrinkle-free, collagen is the principle structural protein of the skin. Like many components of the body, collagen undergoes continuous turnover, being produced and recycled on an ongoing basis throughout your life. When you are younger your body makes more collagen than it loses, but after the age of about 40, collagen loss can accelerate leading to a decline in the health and appearance of your skin. Our genetic predispositions play a big role in determining both the speed of collagen production and breakdown. Key variations in this genetic category can identify if the rise and fall of collagen is in balance or if the breakdown of collagen predominates, which can result in the appearance of premature wrinkling, aging and sagging of the skin.

Glycation: If you're like most people, then no one has ever told you about glycation. Affecting the ability of collagen and elastin fibres to function normally, glycation is now well recognised to be a leading cause of accelerated skin aging. Our genetic predispositions play a big role in determining serum glucose levels. Key variations in this genetic category play a key role in preventing glycation of your skin. It is responsible for controlling serum glucose levels, energy intake, and energy release. Having variations in this gene can alter your body's ability to maintain normal glucose levels and interfere with energy metabolism, both of which lead to glycation. Glucose is the sugar your body uses as its main source of fuel, if not metabolised properly, glucose can bind to your skin's collagen and elastin fibres, forming abnormal chemical bridges that cause tissue damage. This process, called glycation, causes your skin to become rigid and lose elasticity and impairs your skin's ability to regenerate, which leads to skin laxity, cracking, thinning, redness and inability to self-repair.

Sun Damage + Pigmentation: Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun accounts for 90% of the symptoms of early skin aging, skin damage and skin cancer. Every time your skin is exposed to UV light, skin damage occurs. The cumulative effect of repeated sun damage causes epidermal DNA damage, persistent inflammation, and oxidative stress negatively affecting the health and appearance of your skin. Our genetic predispositions play an important role in determining how your skin can naturally cope under the strains of the sun. The SkinDNA™ Test can reveal if your skin has a greater or lesser natural genetic solar protection factor (gSPF™), and based on your results can provide you with a unique, enhanced skin care protection strategy that is specially designed to provide the utmost protection for your skin based on your genes.

Free Radical Damage: Scientists now believe that free radicals are causal factors in nearly every known disease, from heart disease to arthritis, cancer to cataracts. In fact, free radicals are a major culprit in the aging process of the skin itself. Research at SkinDNA™ has shown that the amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to the healthy long-term appearance of your skin! Free radicals are highly reactive short-lived molecules that can damage virtually any molecule in our body including the important cellular structures found in the body's largest organ, the skin. Not all people have the same amount of these powerful free radical scavengers. A number of skin related genetic variations have been found to alter the production of antioxidant protecting molecules and your SkinDNA™ score is the single most powerful indication of your body's genetic antioxidant abilities.

Sensitivity + Inflammation: Ever wondered why your skin becomes sensitive in the winter or why your skin breaks out in the heat? How about developing skin rash or rosacea after applying perfumes or skincare? Many of these redness and sensitivity issues are instigated by your bodies first primal defence, inflammation. Your genetic predispositions play a big role in determining the supply or the over-supply of inflammation production. Key variations tested in this category can identify numerous over-reactive inflammatory mechanisms that cause skin irritations.