Sydney medical and cosmetic dermatologist, Dr Ritu Gupta, was featured on the Dermatology Podcast from Healthed, hosted by Dr David Lim. In the podcast, Dr Ritu shares her professional knowledge to educate GPs about skin ageing, skin cancer, and “inflammaging,” stating that in our genes, we have epigenetic clocks. However, factors such as UV exposure, cigarette smoking, pollution, and stress cause damage to cells, affecting our skin’s immune response, causing inflammaging.
Dr Ritu mentioned that ageing is no longer a one-way process, but it’s bi-directional. This change in thinking is relevant in Australia, a leader in both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, where cumulative environmental exposure plays a significant role in long-term skin health.
Aside from UV radiation, contributing factors such as pollution, second-hand smoke, vaping, oxidative stress, and chronic stress create ongoing cellular damage. At the centre of this process are damaged fibroblasts and senescent or “zombie cells,” that no longer function properly and instead release inflammatory signals that worsen tissue damage. This creates what Dr Ritu describes as a “perfect storm,” where the skin’s immune system becomes impaired, making them less able to detect and respond to external threats, increasing cancer risk.
Dr Ritu also mentioned how skin inflammation does not occur in isolation. She said that there is a growing recognition of the skin-gut axis, where inflammation in the skin can affect gut health and vice versa. Dysbiosis in the gut microbiome may worsen skin conditions, while improving gut health can support skin recovery.
Dr Ritu discussed how management strategies are evolving. Foundational approaches remain critical: consistent use of sunscreen, topical retinoids for dermal repair, and the use of agents such as niacinamide and vitamin A derivatives. However, newer interventions are expanding treatment possibilities.
Laser therapies, including CO2, erbium, fractional, and vascular lasers, are showing promise for cosmetic and functional repair. These technologies may help remove senescent cells, reduce inflammation, improve the skin’s immune response, and even lower the risk of certain non-melanoma skin cancers.
Dr Ritu ended the podcast with a message for GPs: skin ageing is not purely cosmetic. By addressing inflammation, restoring barrier function, and supporting immune health, it is possible to reverse skin ageing, reshaping how GPs think about prevention and treatment.
Sign up to listen to the full podcast here (you are required to be an active medical practitioner): Rethinking photodamage: Skin health, inflammaging and cancer prevention – Healthed Australia
To consult with Dr Ritu, please book online, WhatsApp at 0493 766 096, or call (02) 8014 6500.
