Potential of natural senolytic compounds in eliminating senescent cells and alleviating age-related skin deterioration: a narrative review

Cellular senescence is one of the entirely accepted biological theories for the aging process. It is related to physiological limitations of damaged cells, proliferation, and some diseases in old adults. This review explores the mechanisms underlying skin aging, emphasizing the role of cellular senescence and its impact on dermal health, focusing on the senescence-associated secretory phenotype and its contribution to systemic inflammation, cancer development, and age-related diseases. The effects of ultraviolet-induced cellular senescence in carcinogenesis are addressed, relating the oxidative damage caused by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation with the premature acquisition of senescent-like characteristics in cells that ultimately lead to photocarcinogenesis. In addition, this review highlights the potential of natural senolytic compounds for developing novel treatment options for age-related diseases in the skin. In vitro research has shown promising results for some natural compounds applied to treating skin diseases together with nanocarriers that can better deliver these compounds. However, many aspects of their use in vivo are still unknown. Future research on describing the natural compound’s interactions on an organism and efficient nanocarriers is still needed if these products are ever to be of use in the research of new senolytic formulations.