Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project 

Guest: Saranya Wyles, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology and Regenerative Medicine 

Director of Regenerative Dermatology and Skin Longevity Laboratory 

Mayo Clinic Department of Dermatology, Rochester, MN 

 

Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it does a lot more than just make you look good! It is our primary defense against the outside world and regulates many of our body's internal functions. Given the major role it plays in our health and overall performance, it is important that we take care of our skin to keep it healthy for as long as possible.  

Dr. Saryna Wyles is our expert guest here to answer these big questions for us:  

1. What does our skin actually do for us and why is skin care so important? 
2. How do we make sense of the most common skin care options out there and sort fact from fiction?
3. What are the regular skin care practices we should be doing to help us have healthy, vibrant skin life long? 

 

How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: 
Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better 
Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) 
Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes 
Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! 
Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! 

 

Discussion Questions for this Episode: 

1. Dr. Wyles describes skin as our largest organ and a primary defense against the outside world. How does this perspective change your view of your skin's importance? 
2. The skin's functions include acting as a barrier, aiding absorption, regulating temperature, producing Vitamin D, and providing sensation. Which of these functions do you find most surprising or impactful? 
3. Dr. Wyles explains that skin aging involves a decline in function, leading to issues like dryness, itchiness, and reduced healing. How might understanding these functional declines influence your approach to skincare? 
4. It's stated that only 25% of skin aging is genetically fixed, leaving 75% modifiable. What is one of the key modifiable factors that impact skin health that you can begin incorporating into your routine this week? 
5. The podcast categorizes skincare approaches into Protection, Repair, Signaling, and Lifestyle. Which of these categories do you feel you currently excel in, and which needs the most attention? 
6. The "bare bones minimum" skincare routine involves washing, sunscreen, and moisturizer in the morning, and washing, a retinoid, and moisturizer in the evening. How does this compare to your current routine? 
7. Dr. Wyles emphasizes that consistency is key in skincare, comparing it to brushing your teeth. What strategies can help ensure consistency in a daily skincare routine? 
8. The discussion highlights that skincare benefits extend beyond appearance to disease prevention and early signal detection for systemic health. How does this broader perspective on skin health influence your priorities? 

 

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize 
X: @MayoHumanOpProj 
Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj 
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube 

Email: optimize@mayo.edu