Three Key Questions on Adenosine’s Anti-Skin Aging Effects

by: GSHWORLD Time: 2026-02-11 Classify: Product News

Adenosine is a safe and effective natural anti-aging ingredient that acts on subcutaneous tissue and the dermis by activating A₁ and A₂ₐ receptors respectively. It simultaneously enhances cellular metabolism and inhibits inflammation, providing multi-dimensional improvement in aging manifestations such as skin wrinkles, roughness, dryness, laxity, sallowness, and uneven pigmentation.

1. What specific mechanisms does adenosine employ to address collagen loss and subcutaneous fat loss respectively?

For collagen loss, adenosine primarily activates A₂ₐ receptors on dermal fibroblast membranes, regulating ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK kinases through the cAMP signaling pathway to promote synthesis of Type I and Type III collagen. Simultaneously, it inhibits Fli1 expression and upregulates CTGF secretion to increase extracellular matrix production, thereby alleviating both qualitative and quantitative damage to dermal collagen.

For subcutaneous fat loss, adenosine activates A₁ receptors on subcutaneous adipocytes, inhibiting adenylate cyclase activity to reduce cAMP levels. This subsequently suppresses lipolysis by hormone-sensitive lipase and triglyceride lipase, while promoting differentiation of pre-adipocytes into mature adipocytes and enhancing leptin secretion to drive adipogenesis. This improves fat volume loss and displacement.

2. What types of adenosine-containing skin formulations exist, what are their respective advantages, and what are the concentration regulations?

The maximum approved concentration for adenosine-containing skin formulations by FDA and EMA is 0.1%. The main formulation types and their advantages are:

1. Creams: Convenient to use and skin-adherent. Long-term use significantly improves facial wrinkles such as periorbital lines and glabellar lines, reversing some chronological aging.

2. Dissolving Microneedle Patches (DMN): Transdermal delivery enhances adenosine bioavailability, providing superior anti-aging effects compared to creams. Weekly dosage can be as low as 1/140th of that required for creams, reducing ingredient waste.

3. Based on adenosine’s mechanism of action, how should personalized targeted strategies for skin anti-aging be formulated for different age groups?

Personalized strategies should be developed according to age-related characteristics of skin aging, combined with targeted effects of adenosine receptors.

Ages 40–45: Skin at this stage primarily manifests as thinning, fragility, aggravated wrinkles, and upper eyelid laxity. The core issue is reduced dermal collagen synthesis. Therefore, use A₂ₐ receptor-selective agonists to target and stimulate dermal fibroblasts for collagen synthesis, improving skin firmness and elasticity while reducing wrinkles.

Ages 50–55: Aging characteristics intensify further at this stage. The core issue is facial laxity and contour collapse caused by subcutaneous fat loss and displacement. Therefore, use A₁ receptor-selective agonists to target inhibition of subcutaneous lipolysis and promote adipogenesis, achieving volume remodeling of subcutaneous tissue. This restores plumpness and firmness to the skin, improving facial laxity.

References:

Marucci G, Buccioni M, Varlaro V, et al. The possible role of the nucleoside adenosine in countering skin aging: A review[J]. BioFactors,2022,48(5):1027-1035.

*Special note - This article is for informational purposes only and cannot replace a doctor's treatment diagnosis and advice. It should not be regarded as a recommendation or proof of efficacy of the medical products involved. If it involves disease diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, please be sure to go to a professional medical institution to seek professional advice.

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