Individual Vitality and Its Aesthetic Domain: Opportunities for Nutraceutical Support

Individual Vitality and Its Aesthetic Domain: Key Reasons for Health Deterioration and Unfavorable Aging Types

In recent years, the discourse in gerontology has increasingly focused on the concept of individual vitality and its aesthetic domain. As people age, the aesthetics of appearance take on greater significance than might initially appear. The aesthetic domain is as critical as other concepts such as dependency on external assistance, reduced autonomy, and diminished quality of life. Individual vitality and its aesthetic domain play a pivotal role in influencing the emotional well-being, the ability, and the opportunity for elderly individuals to maintain harmonious social relationships, thereby fulfilling their needs in society. This directly impacts their quality of life and mortality.

The decline in individual vitality is linked to the risk of premature aging, which is also evident in the aesthetic domain. Premature aging refers to an accelerated aging pace, making an individual “age faster” than the average level of aging within their age group. This form of aging is observed in individuals over the age of 40-50. In contrast, physiological aging is characterized by a natural onset and gradual changes in the aesthetic domain.

The aesthetic domain varies across different age groups. For young and middle-aged individuals, the aesthetic domain often involves facial skin aging morphotypes. In older adults, the aesthetic domain of individual vitality also includes external signs of classic diseases, indicating morbidity.

Aging is a complex multifactorial biological process involving metabolic and structural-functional changes in the body, including internal organs, systems, and tissues that make up a person’s aesthetic health. The issue of preserving and restoring appearance (aesthetic domain) is becoming increasingly important today, with a growing focus on diagnosing and combating involutional changes in appearance based on skin aging morphotypes and body aesthetics evolution.

Skin changes often signal somatic diseases and can be crucial for definitive diagnosis. The causes of age-related skin changes include:

1. Genetically programmed process – natural aging due to the passage of time (chronological aging):
   • Thickening of the stratum corneum and thinning of other skin layers,
   • Decreased production of hyaluronic acid,
   • Thinning of capillary walls,
   • Sagging of facial soft tissues due to gravity.
2. Somatic diseases:
   • Flattening of the dermo-epidermal junction,
   • Disappearance of dermal papillae,
   • Decrease in melanocytes and Langerhans cells in the epidermis,
   • Dermis atrophy,
   • Reduced number of fibroblasts, mast cells, and vessels in the skin,
   • Loss of elastic fibers in the dermis,
   • Decreased production of Type I and III collagen,
   • Slowed epidermal regeneration and melanocyte activity.
3. Exogenous factors – sun, wind, frost, water, UV radiation.

An elderly person’s body appearance is also shaped by existing pathologies and geriatric syndromes, which impact the domains of individual vitality, leading to reduced autonomy and quality of life.

The main nosological forms, geriatric syndromes, and factors affecting individual vitality throughout a person’s life cycle, shaping unfavorable aging types and a stereotypical appearance of the elderly, include:

1. Cognitive domain:
   • Recurrent traumatic brain injuries,
   • Sleep disorders, including jet lag,
   • Smoking,
   • Excessive alcohol consumption,
   • Age-associated benign forgetfulness.
2. Somatic domain:
   • Inflammation,
   • Age-related immune system changes,
   • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,
   • Hypothyroidism, including subclinical,
   • Cholesterol metabolism disorders,
   • Borderline hypertension,
   • Excess body weight and metabolically healthy obesity,
   • Exposure to fine particulate matter from hydrocarbon combustion,
   • Adherence to a Western diet,
   • Orthostatic hypotension,
   • Dehydration syndrome (dry skin),
   • Urinary incontinence,
   • Chronic heart failure,
   • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
3. Psychological domain:
   • Social constructs and their health impact – “normalization of menopause,” “normalization of andropause,”
   • Anxiety,
   • Depressive disorder,
   • Loneliness syndrome,
   • Care deficit syndrome.
4. Sensory domain:
   • Hearing loss,
   • Vision impairment,
   • Reduced sense of smell.
5. Locomotor (motor) domain:
   • Reduced muscle strength,
   • Hypodynamia,
   • Arthritis in various locations,
   • Chronic arterial and venous insufficiency of the lower limbs,
   • Hallux valgus.

The most common appearance of an elderly person, depending on the affected domains of individual vitality, includes:

a) Somatic domain:

• Dry skin,
• Pallor and/or hyperpigmentation of the skin,
• Cyanosis of the lips and nail beds,
• “Drumstick” fingers and “watch-glass” nails (nail plate deformation),
• Changes in hair length, thinning, dryness, and sparseness.

b) Psychological domain:

• External signs of a lack of hygienic care for the skin and its appendages against the backdrop of psychological disorders,
• Self-neglect syndrome.

c) Sensory domain:

• External signs of hygiene deficit,
• External signs of fall syndrome and injuries (bruises, abrasions, burns, etc.).

d) Locomotor domain:

• Presence of joint deformations,
• Kyphoscoliotic changes in the spine,
• Prominent venous pattern in the calves,
• Infiltration, puffiness, or swelling of the lower limbs,
• Dry skin and lack of hair in the lower third of the leg.

Throughout human existence, people have pondered how to maintain health and extend youth into deep old age. Identifying the risk factors that affect health and aging processes will not only enable the development of primary prevention but also guide healthcare institutions in conducting treatment measures.

Facial and Body Aesthetics in Youth, Middle Age, and Old Age

Facial aesthetics are primarily determined by the skin and adjacent tissues, which undergo age-related changes. The skin, as the body’s mirror, reflects individual, gender, and age characteristics, as well as deviations in the state of internal organs and diseases. The aesthetic significance of skin for a person’s appearance, comfort, and self-esteem cannot be overstated.

Skin features vary with age:

• In women aged 25-30: the skin is smooth and elastic, retains its regenerative capacity, and begins to show expression lines around the mouth, eyes, and forehead, along with laugh lines becoming noticeable.
• For women over 30: the skin becomes dry, expression lines deepen, fine wrinkles and pigmentation appear.
• In women over 40: dehydration, dense and stiff skin prone to flaking, deepening nasolabial folds, first neck wrinkles, heavier eyelids, and the appearance of crow’s feet.
• For women over 50 (age-related hormonal changes in women – menopause): age spots, thinning skin, reduced subcutaneous fat layer on the face, progressing facial and neck lipoatrophy.
• In women over 60: the skin is pale, dry, thin, often flaky, easily injured and slow to heal, reduced turgor and elasticity, deep wrinkles, pigmentation spots, benign growths, increased vellus hair on cheeks, chin, and upper lip, sharpened and altered facial features, under-eye bags and circles, forehead horizontal and glabellar lines, sagging skin under the chin and around jaws, sagging cheeks, deepening nasolacrimal and nasolabial grooves, “marionette lines” giving a sad, perpetually gloomy expression, double chin, and a face blurred against a multitude of fine wrinkles.
• For women over 70: the skin becomes thin, showing through the subcutaneous fat, giving it a yellowish tint, characterized by the least elasticity, numerous deep wrinkles, and folds.

Facial skin aging morphotypes are based on criteria assessing skin condition: overall characteristics (color, tone, moisture, thickness); deformations (sagging cheeks, shape change, facial contour unevenness); presence of wrinkles, folds, grooves, and their characteristics; and photoaging.

Facial skin aging morphotypes include:

1. Tired or “tired face” – slight tissue puffiness due to lymphatic drainage and microcirculation issues, decreased skin turgor and muscle tone, moderate gravitational ptosis, slight hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, drooping mouth corners, pronounced nasolabial folds, under-eye bags, dry and dull skin with an earthy tint. This morphotype is considered a marker of physiological aging.
2. Deformational – facial and neck shape changes, soft tissue deformation, sagging cheeks (“bulldog cheeks”), neck folds, under-eye bags, drooping eyelids, uneven facial oval line, double chin, prominent nasolabial folds; skin is fairly dense, shiny, possibly oily and porous; light to medium degree of photoaging, slight skin hyperpigmentation. People of this morphotype are usually predisposed to fullness.
3. Muscular – common among Japanese, Asian, Mongolian populations, and those with well-developed facial muscles combined with genetically low subcutaneous fat; characterized by hypotrophy and atrophy of skin and muscles, large, pronounced, deep wrinkles, drooping upper eyelids, creases, drooping mouth corners, pigmentation, lack of volume in the mid-face.
4. Wrinkled (fine-wrinkled) – age-related dystrophic changes in the dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous fat manifesting as numerous wrinkles, most deformation in neck skin, deep upper and lower lip wrinkles; medium or severe photoaging with significant skin dyschromia and hyperkeratosis.
5. Combined – features of several aging types, which may alternate or coexist. Initially, reduced elasticity and deformation are combined with wrinkles of equal intensity. Surface wrinkles may appear and disappear, but deep defects emerge in areas of greatest folding.

Thus, facial skin aging results from epidermal, dermal, and volumetric contour changes. Epidermal aging due to UV damage and hormonal changes manifests as epidermal thinning, hyperpigmentation, benign and malignant neoplasms. As involutional changes progress, the outer skin layer thins while retaining the same number of cell layers. The amount of pigment in melanocytes decreases. The skin becomes thinner, paler, and more translucent. Large pigmented spots appear on exposed skin areas. Dermal aging is marked by gradual collagen and elastin breakdown, reduced extracellular matrix, depleted cellular composition, and microcirculatory bed decline. Dermis blood vessels become more fragile, leading to bruises and hemorrhages, development of senile purpura, and angiomas. The dermis’s strength and elasticity also decrease – elastosis. The subcutaneous fat layer thins, increasing skin injury risk and reducing body temperature maintenance ability.

Volumetric changes affect not only the skin but also the muscles and facial skeleton bones. With age, bones and muscles lose elasticity and firmness, subcutaneous fat decreases and redistributes, muscle tone lowers, and facial bone tissue, especially without teeth, is lost.

Facial proportions change can be described by the inverted triangle principle. In youth, the base of this triangle is at the top, but it flips over time. This inversion is determined by changes in fat and bone tissues. Fat almost completely disappears around the temples. Its amount changes significantly around the eyes and cheeks. This, combined with facial bone reconstruction and flattening, leads to not only thinner skin but also loss of support.

Significant changes in the face include: In the mid-face:

• Fat atrophy under the eyes, in the orbital, suborbital, and cheekbone areas,
• Atrophy of the orbicularis oculi muscle,
• Deepening of the nasolabial groove,
• Nose sinking.

In the lower part of the face:

• Skin sagging to the lower edge of the lower jaw,
• Three-dimensional atrophy of the jawbone,
• Appearance of marionette lines,
• Formation of a second chin,
• Formation of a smooth transition from face to neck,
• Lip discoloration,
• Lowering of mouth corners,
• Lengthening of the upper lip.

Teeth presence significantly supports facial shape.

Before discussing body aesthetics at different ages, gender differences and proportions in male and female figures must be considered:

• Women are generally shorter than men,
• Women’s arms and legs are relatively shorter than men’s,
• Women’s pelvis is relatively wider than men’s,
• Women have narrower shoulders,
• Women’s necks are thinner and longer,
• Women’s larynx protrudes less,
• Women’s lower back is more curved forward,
• Women’s buttocks protrude more backward,
• Women’s rib cage is narrower and shorter,
• The distance between the rib cage and pelvis is greater (making the waist and abdomen longer),
• Women’s skeleton and musculature are less developed,
• Fat tissue is deposited in greater quantities and more evenly distributed (giving the female figure more rounded shapes),
• In men (especially older), fat tissue is deposited in the pelvic area, thighs, and abdomen.

The constitutional type of a person is based on their somatotype – the type of physical build that forms during individual development, depending on gender and age.

Male somatotypes:

1. Asthenic: a) Narrow-boned – extremely low fat and muscle development, b) Broad-boned – good bone mass development.
2. Thoracic: a) Narrow-boned – low bone tissue development, b) Broad-boned – slightly higher muscle and fat development.
3. Muscular – weak or medium fat development, strong muscle and bone mass.
4. Abdominal – strong fat development, weak muscle and bone development.
5. Eurysomic – maximum development of muscle, fat, and bone.

Female somatotypes: Asthenic:

• Short and tall,
• Narrow-boned and broad-boned – slight fat development, sufficient bone mass development in broad-boned.

2. Stenoplastic – much in common with the narrow-boned asthenic type in bone mass development, but more fat deposition.
3. Pyknic – bone tissue development similar to stenoplastic and narrow-boned asthenic types, only with significant fat deposition.
4. Mesoplastic – medium to below-medium fat component development and maximum bone tissue development.
5. Euripastic – maximum fat and bone component development.
6. Subathletic – tall, weak bone tissue development, medium fat indicators.
7. Athletic – tall, medium to below-medium fat component development, and maximum bone tissue development.

With involution, the body type changes towards a decrease in the number of subjects with a gynoid type and an increase in intermediate and android types. In age groups, there is a shift in body mass index and fat content towards an increase in overweight and obesity due to an increase in the endomorphic component.

Somatotyping methods are used to study the possibilities of predicting the clinical course of various pathologies, which, in turn, also shape the appearance not only in old age but also in middle age with the prolonged course of chronic disease.

For example, studying middle-aged men with various spinal deformations revealed that degenerative-dystrophic forms of this pathology are most common in abdominal (42.8%) and undefined (31.6%) somatotypes, less frequently in men with thoracic (11.8%) and muscular (13.8%) somatic types. Among patients with coronary heart disease, the muscular somatotype was more common (52%); after acute myocardial infarction, muscular (44%) and abdominal (43%) somatotypes were equally determined; in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) – abdominal somatotype (64%). Also, neurovascular syndromes are more often determined in men with an abdominal somatotype (40.0%), for the thoracic somatotype – radicular (40.1%), for the muscular somatotype – spinal (24.5%).

Thus, body aesthetics in middle and old age depend not only on involutional changes but also on the presence of long-standing diseases.

Assessment of Health and Aging Type Through the Aesthetic Domain of Individual Vitality: Questionnaires, Scales, and Functional Methods

A person’s appearance is significant in various aspects of life, serving as a basis for building relationships and self-acceptance, as well as for assessing health, including mental health, and aging type. There are complex relationships between self-assessments, satisfaction, concern about appearance, and levels of life satisfaction. To interpret satisfaction with appearance and its impact on various life areas, numerous methods, questionnaires, and tests have been developed: the “Life Satisfaction Index” test, the BDDQ and DCQ questionnaires, Robert Kastenbaum’s test, the “Your Psychological Age” test, the “Self-Assessment of Appearance” questionnaire, the “Assessment of the Importance of Attractive Appearance for Improving Various Aspects of Life” survey (Labunskaya, 2018), the modified version of S.S. Bubnova’s questionnaire “Diagnosis of the Real Structure of Personal Value Orientations” (1999), and the “Attitude to One’s Appearance: Satisfaction and Concern” questionnaire (Labunskaya, 2017).

Life satisfaction is a person’s psychological well-being, which is composed of a variety of factors:

• Satisfaction with appearance,
• Satisfaction with age,
• A respectable position in society,
• No health problems,
• Having a family and children,
• Satisfactory financial situation,
• Satisfaction with professional achievements, etc.

“Life Satisfaction Index” Questionnaire

The maximum life satisfaction index is 40 points. The average life satisfaction is 25–30 points. Low life satisfaction is less than 25 points. People with a high index value typically exhibit low levels of emotional tension, high emotional resilience, low anxiety levels, psychological comfort, a high level of satisfaction with life, and their role in it. Not everyone’s age, as stated in their passport, exactly matches how they feel. And this difference is significant in accepting oneself and one’s future, as it often determines goals, plans, and lifestyle.

Your Psychological Age” Test

Robert Kastenbaum’s test (determination of psychological age):

1. I feel myself to be … years old.
2. Looking in the mirror, I can assess myself by appearance to be … years old.
3. In life, I have the same interests as someone … years old.
4. In everyday life, I behave as if I am … years old.

To obtain the subjective age on the scale, add up the numbers obtained and divide by 4. The result will be your psychological age.

Over 75 points – full of vitality and self-belief, sociable, optimistic, friendly (you won’t become old any time soon). 50 – 75 points – worries and stress have weakened your ability to rejoice, but have taught you seriousness and responsibility. Less than 50 points – people say about them that they have seen a lot, experienced a lot, and know the value of everything. The presented scales will help determine how a person feels, how they perceive their age, whether they are satisfied with their appearance, age, social status, and quality of life. The presence of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) can be determined by the BDDQ and DCQ questionnaires. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental disorder characterized by excessive concern over an imagined or minor physical defect, causing significant discomfort, social dysfunction, and issues in other important areas of a person’s life.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Questionnaire for Adults (BDDQ)

Examples of problematic areas include: skin (e.g., acne, scars, wrinkles, paleness, redness); hair (e.g., hair loss or thinning), shape or size of your nose, mouth, jaw, lips, stomach, hips, etc.; or defects in your hands, genital organs, chest, or any other part of the body.

Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ)

In gerontology and geriatrics, it’s common to observe discrepancies among older adults between their chronological age, biological age, physical appearance, and how they perceive their own age. This disparity underscores the importance of a comprehensive assessment of the aging process, which includes the use of questionnaires, surveys, scales, and tests. These tools help in evaluating various aspects of aging, such as physical health, cognitive function, emotional well-being, and social engagement, providing valuable insights for individualized care and interventions.

Individual care plan for health disorders and unfavorable aging types in the aesthetic domain

Developing an individual care plan for health disorders and unfavorable aging types in the aesthetic domain involves several key components:

Selection of an Individualized Diet

Currently, the resilience diet is a preventive method against unfavorable aging, focusing primarily on maintaining age-related vitality. A critical feature of this diet is limiting daily calorie intake to no more than 1500 kcal, combined with regular physical activity appropriate for one’s age.

Key Principles of the Resilience Diet:

1. Proteins of Various Origins:
   • Plant-based proteins (e.g., buckwheat, oat, barley grains, legumes, nuts, etc.),
   • Animal-based proteins:
     • Dairy products (cheese, fermented milk products, cottage cheese, etc.),
     • Lean meats (chicken, turkey, rabbit, etc.), limiting red meat (beef) consumption,
     • Fish, predominantly marine (cod, salmon, etc.), as the main source of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
2. Carbohydrate Restriction:
   • Limiting the intake of tuberous crops (potatoes),
   • Consuming 500 grams/day of “something green, yellow, red, crunchy” (vegetables, fruits) as the primary source of fiber and fructose,
   • Consuming dark chocolate with at least 75% cocoa content (1 bar = 15-20 grams).
3. Fat Limitation:
   • The primary source of fats should be vegetable oils (olive oil – 2 tablespoons/day improves mood and prevents the development of senile asthenia, sunflower oil, etc.),
   • Polyunsaturated fats – 40 grams/day = 354 kcal/day.
4. Salt Restriction:
   • Minimize salt intake, as recommended products contain it in minimal amounts.
5. Hydration Regimen:
   • Fluids not less than 30 ml/kg of body weight, including water, teas (e.g., green or herbal teas containing ursolic acid, which helps prevent sarcopenia by affecting cardiomyocytes), fruit drinks, etc.

Additional Diet Recommendations:

• Avoid overeating: eat small portions 4-5 times a day and ensure a calm environment during meals.
• Dinner should be at least three hours before bedtime: if hungry before sleep, consider having water-soaked bran and a glass of low-fat drinking yogurt.
• Replace sweets with natural honey and dried fruits: consuming oat cookies or dark chocolate once a week is permissible.
• When choosing treats, pay attention to the composition: many food additives with the code “E” (E100, E1521, etc.) contribute to skin cell damage.

Hair Type Considerations in the Diet:

• For excessive hair oiliness, consume foods rich in Vitamin B (cottage cheese, oatmeal, nuts, eggs, green vegetables, etc.); biotin, the beauty vitamin, is involved in the synthesis of keratin, the main protein of skin and hair.
• For dry and brittle hair, consume fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, sardine, capelin, halibut, red fish, etc.), cereal porridges, nuts, and olives.
• For dull hair color, consume foods high in zinc and amino acids (yogurt, cottage cheese, bananas, avocados, pumpkin seeds, almond nuts, etc.).

Foods Negatively Affecting Skin and Appendages:

• Canned goods,
• Semi-finished products,
• Smoked meats,
• Confectionery,
• Baked goods,
• Black tea,
• Coffee,
• Sweetened carbonated drinks,
• Alcohol, etc.

Nutrition Epigenetics:

• Lower epigenetic aging acceleration is associated with higher fish and poultry consumption, moderate alcohol consumption, and higher fruit and vegetable intake.
• Epigenetic clocks are sensitive indicators for assessing dietary treatments in aging studies.
• Daily intake of folic acid (400 mcg/day) and vitamin B12 (500 mcg/day) for 2 years showed improvement in Horvath’s epigenetic clock indicators in women with the MTHFR 677CC genotype.
• Nutrition epigenetics highlights the importance of diet in managing health during aging; addressing issues such as food combination, optimal doses, and exposure timing is crucial.

Long-term diet use requires additional sources of micronutrients, antioxidants, and other nutraceutical support. Substances included in nutraceutical support are found in nature, but the body needs an additional source in the form of supplements under diet conditions and chronic stress.

The global strategy of the WHO in the field of diet and health, endorsed by the World Health Assembly resolution 57.17 on May 22, 2004, aims to achieve energy balance and optimal weight, limit energy intake from fats and shift consumption from saturated and trans fats to unsaturated fats, increase consumption of fruits and other plant-based products, limit the intake of free sugars, and limit salt intake from all sources, ensuring iodized salt.

Thus, dietary behavior, typically formed by the age of 6, influences youth and body aesthetics. However, with a strong desire, it’s possible to change and achieve beautiful and healthy skin, hair, nails, and body even later in life.

Selection of an Individualized Physical Activity Level

A beautiful body is the result of diligent and regular exercise. But is it possible to also extend youthfulness through workouts?

For centuries, humanity’s brightest minds have searched for a specific anti-aging pill without success. While the search continues, there is only one proven method to combat aging – physical activity.

Physical Activity Is Not Just Sports:

• It includes any daily activity (walking, housework, dancing, etc.);
• To ensure regular physical activity (at least 3-5 times a week), it’s crucial to choose an activity that brings pleasure (e.g., walking the dog, gardening, playing with grandchildren, dancing, etc.);
• The chosen physical activity should be accessible;
• The activity should be aerobic;
• It’s best to exercise outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

Physical Activity – The Biochemistry of Happiness:

• Reduces stress and its harmful consequences:
  • Produces certain hormones (testosterone and growth hormone),
  • Produces neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.) that act on the nervous system, improving mood, sleep, and libido;
• Improves digestive functions, transit, and digestive secretion;
• Stimulates circulation, supports the cardiovascular system;
• Strengthens immunity, protecting us from infections;
• Beautifies the silhouette by maintaining muscle mass, reducing fat layers, and improving posture.

Recommendations for Middle-aged, Elderly, and Seniors:

• Moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 150 – 300 minutes a week;
• Or high-intensity physical activity for at least 75 -150 minutes a week, or a combination of both;
• Gradually increase moderate-intensity physical activity to 300 minutes a week, or high-intensity activity to 150 minutes a week;
• Twice a week or more, dedicate time to moderate or high-intensity physical activities focused on developing muscle strength of all major muscle groups;
• Aerobic physical activity exercises lasting 10 minutes, 1-3 sets with 6-12 repetitions;
• Limit time spent sitting or lying down;
• To reduce the harmful impact on health and body aesthetics, mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle, individuals should strive to exceed the recommended levels of moderate and high-intensity physical activity.

Recommendations for People Over 65:

• As part of their weekly physical activity, older adults are recommended to dedicate time 3 times a week or more to diverse multi-component physical activities, focusing mainly on training for improving functional balance and moderate to high-intensity strength training (1-3 sets with 6-12 repetitions, rest periods within the session of 60-120 seconds between sets, 3-5 minutes between exercises, at least 48 hours between sessions), to enhance functional abilities, prevent falls, and improve body aesthetics.

Examples of Exercises:

• Arm exercises can be performed standing or sitting on a chair, with feet on the floor and shoulders straightened. Use dumbbells or other objects weighing 0.5-1.5 kg, raise and bend arms at the elbows to 90°, extend arms upwards on the exhale and remain in that position for a second, lower arms on the inhale, repeat 6-12 times, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets.
• Ball or expander work: hold a tennis ball or expander, slowly squeeze the ball in the hand for 3-5 seconds, slowly release, repeat 6-12 times for each hand, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes.
• One-leg balance with chair support: keep the abdomen tight, back straight, chin up, and gaze forward. Stand on one leg, holding onto a chair, maintain this position for 10-15 seconds, repeat 6-12 times on one leg, then on the other (1-3 sets), rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• Walking balance: extend arms to the sides, tighten the abdomen, keep the back straight. Choose a point in front of you and focus on it while moving towards it. Walk in a straight line, lifting one knee and stepping forward, make 20 steps, alternating legs, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• Squats with a chair: sit on a chair with feet firmly on the floor, back straight, hands folded on the chest, breathe deeply and slowly, extend arms parallel to the floor and slowly stand up on the exhale, sit back down on the inhale (back straight), repeat 6-12 times, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• “Heel-to-toe” walk: place the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot, toes and heels should touch or nearly touch, extend arms to the sides, tighten the abdomen, keep the back straight. Choose a point in front of you and focus on it while moving towards it. Alternate feet, making forward steps, make 20 steps, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.

Maximal benefits come from combining strength training, aerobic exercises, and flexibility training, such as fitness, bodybuilding (increase muscle mass, support joints, effectively burn calories, eliminate toxins, shorter and more intense efforts raise growth hormone levels, which decrease with age), yoga, stretching, Pilates (maintain range of motion, improve posture), and high-intensity interval exercises (quickly burn fat, build muscle, and improve fitness).

In the battle against involution, it is important both to shed accumulated fat mass and to preserve muscles, which “melt” with increasing age. The reduction in muscle mass affects not only a person’s aesthetic appearance but also leads to decreased motor function, making the body physically weaker. Less physical activity means less energy expenditure. Thus, the body prepares for aging, conserving energy and slowing down movements. The older the body gets, the more it tends to economize.

Regular physical activity is like saving money for a rainy day; it will come in handy in difficult life situations (the effect of prolonged physical activity delays the onset of various pathologies and premature aging, thereby supporting the aesthetic domain).

Selection of an Individualized Physical Activity Level

A beautiful body is the result of diligent and regular exercise. But is it possible to also extend youthfulness through workouts?

For centuries, humanity’s brightest minds have searched for a specific anti-aging pill without success. While the search continues, there is only one proven method to combat aging – physical activity.

Physical Activity Is Not Just Sports:

• It includes any daily activity (walking, housework, dancing, etc.);
• To ensure regular physical activity (at least 3-5 times a week), it’s crucial to choose an activity that brings pleasure (e.g., walking the dog, gardening, playing with grandchildren, dancing, etc.);
• The chosen physical activity should be accessible;
• The activity should be aerobic;
• It’s best to exercise outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

Physical Activity – The Biochemistry of Happiness:

• Reduces stress and its harmful consequences:
  • Produces certain hormones (testosterone and growth hormone),
  • Produces neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.) that act on the nervous system, improving mood, sleep, and libido;
• Improves digestive functions, transit, and digestive secretion;
• Stimulates circulation, supports the cardiovascular system;
• Strengthens immunity, protecting us from infections;
• Beautifies the silhouette by maintaining muscle mass, reducing fat layers, and improving posture.

Recommendations for Middle-aged, Elderly, and Seniors:

• Moderate-intensity physical activity for at least 150 – 300 minutes a week;
• Or high-intensity physical activity for at least 75 -150 minutes a week, or a combination of both;
• Gradually increase moderate-intensity physical activity to 300 minutes a week, or high-intensity activity to 150 minutes a week;
• Twice a week or more, dedicate time to moderate or high-intensity physical activities focused on developing muscle strength of all major muscle groups;
• Aerobic physical activity exercises lasting 10 minutes, 1-3 sets with 6-12 repetitions;
• Limit time spent sitting or lying down;
• To reduce the harmful impact on health and body aesthetics, mainly due to a sedentary lifestyle, individuals should strive to exceed the recommended levels of moderate and high-intensity physical activity.

Recommendations for People Over 65:

• As part of their weekly physical activity, older adults are recommended to dedicate time 3 times a week or more to diverse multi-component physical activities, focusing mainly on training for improving functional balance and moderate to high-intensity strength training (1-3 sets with 6-12 repetitions, rest periods within the session of 60-120 seconds between sets, 3-5 minutes between exercises, at least 48 hours between sessions), to enhance functional abilities, prevent falls, and improve body aesthetics.

Examples of Exercises:

• Arm exercises can be performed standing or sitting on a chair, with feet on the floor and shoulders straightened. Use dumbbells or other objects weighing 0.5-1.5 kg, raise and bend arms at the elbows to 90°, extend arms upwards on the exhale and remain in that position for a second, lower arms on the inhale, repeat 6-12 times, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets.
• Ball or expander work: hold a tennis ball or expander, slowly squeeze the ball in the hand for 3-5 seconds, slowly release, repeat 6-12 times for each hand, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes.
• One-leg balance with chair support: keep the abdomen tight, back straight, chin up, and gaze forward. Stand on one leg, holding onto a chair, maintain this position for 10-15 seconds, repeat 6-12 times on one leg, then on the other (1-3 sets), rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• Walking balance: extend arms to the sides, tighten the abdomen, keep the back straight. Choose a point in front of you and focus on it while moving towards it. Walk in a straight line, lifting one knee and stepping forward, make 20 steps, alternating legs, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• Squats with a chair: sit on a chair with feet firmly on the floor, back straight, hands folded on the chest, breathe deeply and slowly, extend arms parallel to the floor and slowly stand up on the exhale, sit back down on the inhale (back straight), repeat 6-12 times, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.
• “Heel-to-toe” walk: place the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot, toes and heels should touch or nearly touch, extend arms to the sides, tighten the abdomen, keep the back straight. Choose a point in front of you and focus on it while moving towards it. Alternate feet, making forward steps, make 20 steps, 1-3 sets, rest for 60-120 seconds between sets, rest between exercises for 3-5 minutes, rest between sessions for at least 48 hours.

Maximal benefits come from combining strength training, aerobic exercises, and flexibility training, such as fitness, bodybuilding (increase muscle mass, support joints, effectively burn calories, eliminate toxins, shorter and more intense efforts raise growth hormone levels, which decrease with age), yoga, stretching, Pilates (maintain range of motion, improve posture), and high-intensity interval exercises (quickly burn fat, build muscle, and improve fitness).

In the battle against involution, it is important both to shed accumulated fat mass and to preserve muscles, which “melt” with increasing age. The reduction in muscle mass affects not only a person’s aesthetic appearance but also leads to decreased motor function, making the body physically weaker. Less physical activity means less energy expenditure. Thus, the body prepares for aging, conserving energy and slowing down movements. The older the body gets, the more it tends to economize.

Regular physical activity is like saving money for a rainy day; it will come in handy in difficult life situations (the effect of prolonged physical activity delays the onset of various pathologies and premature aging, thereby supporting the aesthetic domain).

Informing about the logistics of obtaining medical care

The skin is a barrier organ that protects the body from the external environment, taking the brunt of aggressive environmental impacts as well as attacks from parasites, bacteria, infections, etc. Each such attack could lead to a separate disease, which a dermatologist-cosmetologist can help address.

A dermatologist-cosmetologist treats not only acne, warts, and skin pigmentation issues but can also be consulted for any dermatological problems. They successfully treat infectious diseases of the skin, nails, and hair, as well as signs of skin aging and changes in facial morphotype and body aesthetics during involution.

Therapy Methods of a Dermatologist-Cosmetologist:

• Conservative: Medications in the form of solutions, ointments, gels, creams, lotions, therapeutic muds, etc.
• Device-based: Medical equipment providing deep effects on the skin.
• Surgical: Removal of serious skin and subcutaneous fat defects, such as scars and adhesions from burns or surgeries, benign formations on the skin surface and in internal layers (papillomas, moles, warts, keratomas, fibromas, etc.), congenital and acquired defects.

Preventive Measures by a Dermatologist-Cosmetologist:

• Promoting a healthy lifestyle: balanced rational nutrition, regulated sleep and wakefulness patterns, strengthening the immune and nervous systems, engaging in sports, etc.
• Selecting individual skincare and appendage care products.

Non-invasive Procedures Performed by a Dermatologist-Cosmetologist:

• Depilation
• Darsonvalization
• Broadband pulsed light therapy
• Laser treatments
• Magnetotherapy
• Microcurrent therapy
• Phonophoresis, electrophoresis, UV therapy, electromyostimulation
• Device-based nail treatment for non-infectious lesions
• Automated massage (mechanotherapy), vacuum massage
• Cosmetic facial cleansing
• Cryomassage and cryospraying
• Manual medical massage of the scalp, face, neck, and décolleté area
• Device-based skin peeling and superficial peeling
• Rubbing medicinal substances into the skin, etc.

Invasive Procedures Performed by a Dermatologist-Cosmetologist:

• Injection of tissue fillers
• Administration of botulinum toxin
• Injection-based scar tissue correction
• Mesotherapy
• Biorevitalization
• Medium peeling
• Injection of medications, etc.

Diagnostic Methods of a Dermatologist-Cosmetologist:

• Skin and hair photodiagnosis
• Dermatoscopy, videodermatoscopy
• Trichoscopy – examination of the scalp, hair follicles, and shafts
• Confocal laser microscopy of skin structures – cellular-level tissue examination
• Ultrasonic diagnosis of skin covers
• Sebumetry – measuring skin oiliness
• Optical coherence tomography – non-invasive diagnosis of thin layers of skin, mucous membranes, eye tissues, and teeth
• Diagnosis of pigmentation, desquamation (exfoliation) of the skin
• Bioimpedance analysis – a method determining precise body composition data – the percentage of fat, excess fluid, metabolism rate, muscle tissue mass.

Thus, any specialist, from a pediatrician dealing with adolescent acne to a geriatrician addressing the external signs of skin aging and facial morphotype correction, can refer a patient to a dermatologist-cosmetologist.

Nutraceutical Support VIRUIN_PROregeneration

Composition of the Nutraceutical and Mechanism of Action of Components

The nutraceutical support to the body with the dietary supplement “VIRUIN® PROregeneration” is provided through a rich ingredient composition: an amino-peptide complex IPH (L-glycine, L-alanine, L-proline, L-hydroxyproline, L-glutamic acid, peptide complex IPH REG), capsule (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), maltodextrin.

Amino Acids:

• L-Glycine:
  • Non-essential amino acid,
  • Part of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant preventing age-related diseases,
  • Supports collagen synthesis,
  • Maintains skin turgor and beauty,
  • Protects against degenerative joint changes,
  • Provides cytoprotection under oxygen deficiency,
  • Reduces emotional tension and promotes relaxation of facial muscles,
  • Improves sleep, mental performance, and vascular relaxation.
• L-Alanine:
  • Non-essential amino acid,
  • Part of carnosine (alanine + histidine),
  • Maintains acid-base balance, neuroprotective, anti-aging, and antioxidant properties,
  • Involved in glucose-alanine cycle,
  • Supports immune system,
  • Prevents kidney stone formation, prostatic hyperplasia, and menopausal hot flashes,
  • Increases endurance and reduces muscle fatigue in the elderly.
• L-Proline:
  • Non-essential amino acid,
  • Essential for healthy skin and collagen formation,
  • Prevents rapid aging and atherosclerosis,
  • Involved in tissue repair,
  • Used in cosmetics for improving appearance.
• L-Hydroxyproline:
  • Non-essential amino acid derived from proline hydroxylation,
  • Supports skin and muscle health,
  • Aids in bone regeneration and wound healing,
  • Improves metabolic processes, has analgesic properties, and facilitates detoxification.
• L-Glutamic Acid:
  • Non-essential amino acid,
  • Part of glutathione, supports cellular respiration,
  • Acts as a building material and energy source for muscles,
  • Stimulates metabolism and helps burn fat,
  • Neurotransmitter with high metabolic activity in the brain.

Peptide Complex IPH REG:

• Short peptide with pronounced antioxidant properties,
• Reparative and regenerative properties correcting DNA damage,
• Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects,
• Immunomodulator.

Vitamins and Other Components:

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid):
  • Water-soluble vitamin with powerful antioxidant properties,
  • Stimulates collagen production,
  • Anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, aids iron absorption, reduces fatigue.
• Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6):
  • Water-soluble vitamin,
  • Involved in hemoglobin and amino acid biosynthesis,
  • Regulates sodium and potassium levels, supports the nervous system,
  • Stimulates epidermis metabolism, normalizes collagen production,
  • Stabilizes scalp oiliness, supports immune function.
• Maltodextrin:
  • Rapid carbohydrate,
  • Enhances nutrient absorption, provides quick energy,
  • Improves gastrointestinal tract function.
• Capsule (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose):
  • Chemical compound based on methylcellulose,
  • Food additive preserving the original chemical composition of the dietary supplement.

These components contribute to maintaining youth and beauty not only by influencing collagen synthesis but also by positively affecting various organs and systems. They stabilize cell membranes, protect them from free radicals, increase collagen production, slow down aging processes, and have strong antioxidant and tissue-regenerative effects.

Dosage, Application Features, Indications, and Contraindications

Dietary Supplement “VIRUIN® PROregeneration”

Form of Release:

Capsules weighing 600 mg, available in consumer packaging of 30 to 180 capsules.

Recommended Usage:

Adults should take 1 capsule 3 times a day with meals.

Duration of Intake:

1 month. The intake of the supplement can be repeated if necessary.

Indications:

• Mechanical damages to the skin and mucous membranes,
• Inflammatory diseases of the skin and mucous membranes,
• Hard-to-heal wounds, ulcers, burns,
• Vascular defects,
• Postoperative period (as part of combined therapy),
• Atopic dermatitis, eczema, pruritic dermatosis, urticaria,
• Feverish conditions in the context of acute respiratory diseases, acute respiratory viral infections,
• Prolonged chronic infections,
• Various functional and organic diseases of the nervous system accompanied by increased excitability, emotional instability, decreased mental performance, and sleep disturbances (neuroses, neurosis-like conditions, vegetovascular dystonia);
• Contributes to increased strength endurance, faster recovery after heavy loads, reduced fatigue, normalization of hormonal background, including during menopause, nicotine addiction.

Contraindications:

• Individual intolerance to the components of the dietary supplement,
• Pregnancy,
• Breastfeeding.

It is recommended to consult a doctor before use.

Storage Conditions:

Store in a dry place protected from direct sunlight and out of reach of children, at temperatures not exceeding +25°C (77°F).

Shelf Life:

3 years from the date of manufacture.

Conclusion

Age-related signs of aging on the face and body cause significant discomfort and are a source of moral suffering and dissatisfaction with the quality of life.

Thus, the aesthetic domain of individual vitality directly affects emotional well-being and the ability of elderly individuals to form harmonious relationships in society, fulfill their needs within the community, and impact their quality of life and mortality.

The dietary supplement “VIRUIN® PROregeneration” possesses pronounced antioxidant, reparative, and regenerative properties, which not only help preserve youthfulness and the aesthetics of the face and body but also halt the involutional processes in the body, thereby establishing a satisfactory aesthetic domain for the elderly.