Skin aging risk factors: A nationwide population study in Mongolia risk factors of skin aging

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 1; p. e0249506
• Main Authors: Nanzadsuren, Tuya, Myatav, Tuul, Dorjkhuu, Amgalanbaatar, Ganbat, Mandukhai, Batbold, Chuluunbileg, Batsuuri, Baljinnyam, Byamba, Khandsuren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 19.01.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Biology and Life Sciences; Body mass; Body mass index; Body size; Cross-Sectional Studies; Demographics; Dermatology; Epidermal growth factor; Female; Health aspects; Health care; Humans; Life Style; Lifestyles; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Melatonin; Middle Aged; Mongolia - epidemiology; Outdoor air quality; People and Places; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Population studies; Preventive medicine; Questionnaires; Research and Analysis Methods; Response rates; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Sample size; Skin; Skin Aging; Smoking; Surveys; Urban areas; Working conditions; World population; Young Adult; Mongolia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249506

The world population is aging and no country is immune to the consequences. We are not aware of any country-specific skin aging risk factors data for the Mongolian people. Thus, we aimed to study the risk factors associated with skin aging in the Mongolian population. A population-based cross-sectional study of 2720 study participants 18 years of age and older was performed evaluating the severity of skin aging based on cutaneous microtopography. Questionnaire data and skin physiological measurements were obtained. The odds ratios for skin aging grades associated with risk factors were estimated using ordinal logistic regression. Study participant's mean age was 45 years, ranging from 18 to 87. After adjustment for known risk factors, skin aging was associated with demographic risk factors such as increasing age (aOR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.18-1.20), living in an urban area (aOR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.12-1.55) and lifestyle factors including being a smoker (aOR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.09-1.61), having a higher body mass index (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06) and higher levels of sun exposure time (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06) were significantly associated with higher skin aging grades. Having dry (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.45-2.59) and combination skin (aOR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.22-2.16) types were also independent risk factors associated with skin aging. Having very low skin surface moisture at the T-zone (aOR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.42-3.11) was significantly related to skin aging. Older age, urban living and toxic working conditions were independent demographic risk factors related to skin aging. Smoking, higher BMI, greater levels of sun exposure were significant lifestyle risk factors. Having a skin type other than normal was a physiologic risk factor for skin aging.