Previously scientists thought that the genes we are born with were fixed and not subject to change. However, it is now know that our genetic blueprint can be modified by extrinsic factors by a process called epigenetics.
This term was coined by a very clever biologist, called Waddington, over a half a century ago. As with many medical discoveries, this was forgotten about until recent advances in molecular genetics have given increasing support to this theory.
But how does this relate to the skin and in particular, ageing? Are we also able to measure markers of ageing and other important pre-dispositions to skin damage?