Biohacking has surged in popularity within the health and wellness sphere over the past year. This trend, loved by celebrities, often involves practices such as cold plunges, intermittent fasting, and infrared saunas. However, biohacking extends beyond these activities when it comes to aesthetic treatments, encompassing a wide range of approaches. Experts are continually delving into methods to “hack” our wellness for enhanced longevity. Here, expert share which “biohacking” treatments and products rejuvenate and regenerate skin, promote healthy hair growth and elevate overall wellbeing.
Featured Experts
- Doris Day, MD is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
- Amy Peterson is a licensed medical aesthetician and the owner of Skin Care by Amy Peterson based in Miami
- Dr. Nayan Patel, PharmD, of Auro Wellness is based in La Habra, California
What Is Biohacking?
Biohacking, in general, is the practice of using a combination of lifestyle changes, technology and biotechnology to improve our body’s function and potentially extend lifespan. The practice has recently gained mainstream attention due to tech millionaire Bryan Johnson’s extreme and public efforts to radically extend his lifespan through an intense regimen involving strict diets, over 100 supplements daily and experimental treatments like blood transfusions.
When it comes to beauty, biohacking isn’t that extreme, but it is about promoting healthy skin, hair and body through regenerative and biostimulatory approaches. Medical aesthetician Amy Peterson says biohacking is transforming her Miami medspa: “All the beds in my practice have Higher Dose mats that use PEMF, or Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy. It helps with relaxation during facials and reduces free radicals in the body,” says Peterson.
But there’s much more than just infrared at the medspa and doctor’s office to help hack your beauty.
Collagen-Stimulating Treatments
“Bio-stimulatory treatments offer a natural approach to enhancing skin rejuvenation,” explains New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD. “I find beauty biohacks like energy devices and bio-stimulators particularly effective. Sofwave, in particular, stands out as the most advanced in terms of skin lifting and tightening capabilities, boasting an excellent safety profile.”
The heat generated by energy-based treatments triggers the body’s natural wound-healing response, stimulating new collagen production and causing existing collagen fibers to contract and remodel, resulting in tighter, more youthful-looking skin.
“Sculptra and Radiesse are excellent examples in the filler category,” Dr. Day adds, “as they work by stimulating the body’s natural collagen production rather than merely filling lines and wrinkles.” This collagen-induction process leads to improved skin elasticity and firmness.”
PRP and Exosomes
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and exosomes have emerged as powerful tools in aesthetics, harnessing the body’s innate healing capacities to achieve skin rejuvenation, hair regrowth and anti-aging benefits. “In PRP therapy,” explains Dr. Day, “concentrated platelets and growth factors are either injected or topically applied through techniques like microneedling or laser therapy to address skin concerns and revive dormant hair follicles.”
Similarly, exosomes deliver regenerative signals that bolster collagen production, improve skin elasticity and enhance hair density and thickness. While PRP utilizes platelets derived from the patient’s own blood, exosomes are extracellular vesicles secreted by a variety of cell types, including stem cells.
The Fat Factor
To restore volume, one effective method involves Renuva, which Peterson says falls under the umbrella of biohacking. This injectable adipose matrix, derived from donated fat tissue, creates a scaffold, prompting the body’s natural regeneration of fat cells over several months. “We’re administering numerous Renuva injections in regions where fat pads naturally diminish with age, like the temples, mid-face and preauricular area, to restore volume and maintain youthful contours,” she explains. “It’s like an investment in owning your own fat,” she says. “It’s a long-term solution that lasts 8 to 10 years, compared to traditional hyaluronic acid fillers that last from six to 18 months.”
Hydration Inside and Out
“Hydration is also paramount, especially when so many of us are walking around dehydrated,” emphasizes Peterson. To add hydration and radiance back into skin, Skinvive’s “injectable moisturizer” utilizes a modified hyaluronic acid gel formula to enhance cheek skin smoothness by replenishing moisture.
To naturally boost hydration at home, Peterson highlights the convenience of The Lemon & Co. Collagen Elixir ($35) in supporting skin regeneration by providing marine collagen and vitamin C. “I like it because it just tastes like lemonade and it’s easy to add to your water.”
Adding Supplements
Supplementation also plays a role in promoting overall wellness and aesthetic vitality. Essential nutrients like B vitamins, including biotin, niacin and B12, collagen, omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E and plant antioxidants like resveratrol, adaptogens like ashwagandha and ginseng and probiotics are among the top contenders.
Dr. Nayan Patel, PharmD, of Auro Wellness emphasizes the importance of glutathione, revered for its antioxidant prowess and ability to support overall wellness. According to Dr. Patel, “Glutathione is known for quenching free radicals. It’s a very smart molecule.” His innovative product, Glutaryl Antioxidant Spray ($120), delivers intact glutathione through the skin using patented sub-nano absorption technology. As Dr. Patel explains, “Glutaryl promotes healthier, more radiant skin, stronger hair and nails and supports collagen production for a youthful appearance.”
Dr. Day adds that NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) supplements are also used to enhance health and rejuvenation. She describes NAD as “an important cofactor in wound healing, repair and energy production,” noting its role in promoting cellular energy and repair processes. “NAD is an important cofactor in wound healing, repair and energy production. Mitochondria are the energy-producing cells of our body and when you think about the Krebs cycle, the molecular cycles that help produce energy and promote repair, you need things like NAD.”
These collagen-stimulating treatments, combined with small daily changes, enhance what our biological mechanisms do naturally. As we delve deeper into the realm of biohacking, the possibilities for unlocking the secrets of longevity continue to expand. Minor changes, or “hacks” like these can help us stay at our peak both physically and mentally.
