Your skin is an organ that takes hits all day long, and not just from sunlight. We sit down with dermatologist and former molecular immunologist Dr. Dusan Saeic to unpack what actually drives skin aging at the cellular level: DNA damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress from UV exposure and pollution. Along the way, he shares the personal turning point that changed his career, becoming a skin cancer patient and refusing to accept that sun damage is always permanent.

We talk about the surprising research trail connecting heavy sun exposure to senescent “zombie cells” and why those signals may matter for more than wrinkles, including possible links to dementia and heart disease in large datasets. Then we get practical: how to think about mineral sunscreen, why SPF does not scale the way most people assume, how much sunscreen you really need for the face and neck, and what to do when you feel stuck between sunscreen fears and the real risk of UV damage.

The most actionable takeaway is accountability. Dr. Saeic explains emerging diagnostics like redox and antioxidant testing (including the PAOT test), high-resolution skin imaging that reveals hidden sun damage, and why personalized skincare can hinge on your individual receptors for ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids. We also dig into longevity-focused treatments such as fractional CO2 laser resurfacing, what “600 microns” means, what downtime actually looks like, and how evidence is evolving on reducing future skin cancers.

If you care about healthy aging, skin barrier function, and evidence-based skincare that goes beyond marketing, this conversation will help you build a plan you can measure. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the sun, and leave a review with your biggest skin health question.

You  find Dr. Dusan Sajic at:

Derma Skin Institute - https://dermaskininstitute.com/improve-your-skinspan-approaching-skincare-with-a-longevity-lens/

Skincare - https://sajicskin.com/

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