All three layers of the skin are constantly undergoing cell turnover, which means the cells are being replaced by mitosis (cell division). During mitosis, cells have to make copies of the DNA inside of the nucleus so that when the cell divides there is an identical cell. To make DNA requires ATP as a component of the DNA helix, but also for the assembly of the helix. The accessory structures of mitosis, such as the mitotic spindles that divide the cell require ATP in order to be made. Once the cell divides, organelles inside of the cell also need to be made, which requires ATP.

All skin cells are constantly trying to maintain homeostasis, which is a requirement for life. Cells have to be able to adapt to changes in their environment, otherwise the cell is susceptible to damage. Skin cells especially are under constant threats to homeostasis by oxygen radicals, UV damage, chemicals applied to the skin and in the body, and physical damage. ATP is the central player in maintaining homeostasis, as it is used to maintain ion balance across the cell membrane, produce proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids to counteract damage.

All skin cells are constantly sending out messages to other cells and also sending messages inside of cells to control structure and function. ATP plays a key role in cell-to-cell signaling by production of the signaling molecules and also the vectors that sometimes encloses the signaling molecule. In internal cell signaling, ATP plays a key role in the phosphorylation of proteins and enzymes that control molecular pathways.Description text goes here

Skin cells and other cells that reside within the skin are producing trophic factors (growth factors, mitotic factors, cytokines, chemokines) that are responsible for controlling cell growth.

In healthy skin, there are proteins and proteoglycans that are produced by fibroblasts and other cells that help maintain the structure and suppleness of skin. Fibroblasts make two central proteins in the skin architecture, collagen and elastin, and the balance of the two proteins is determined by the level of ATP in the skin. As the skin ages, it begins to lose mitochondria as a result of decreased dermal blood flow.

The decrease in fibroblast ATP levels affects the turnover of collagen and elastin, resulting in a shift towards more collagen and less elastin. This transition leads to the skin losing tone and becoming wrinkled.

Skin cells use oxidative phosphorylation to produce large quantities of ATP. However, the production of ATP by this mechanism results in the production of an oxygen radical. In normal skin, the radical is reduced by antioxidants, but in aged skin the ability to capture the radicals is reduced and damage to cells occurs. Applying ATP topically decreases the reliance on oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, ATP is important in the production of antioxidants.

The epidermis of the skin helps control water loss, and to prevent substances and microorganisms from entering the body. The kertinization of epidermal cells and transition from living cells to fully kertinized cells requires ATP. ATP is involved in the production of keratin and ATP is involved in the degradation of internal structures of the cell that are removed to as the cell keratinizes.

ATP is a water soluble substance and does not penetrate intact skin. In order to get ATP to penetrate the skin, it is encapsulated in small lipid vesicles. These lipid vesicles can move between skin cells to penetrate deep within the skin. Once the lipid vesicle reaches its destination it releases the ATP to the cells

The penetration of lipid vesicles containing ATP can take minutes to hours before it is available for skin cells. Once the lipid vesicle reaches its target cell, the ATP is used within seconds.

As we age there is a decrease in blood flow to the skin. The decrease in blood flow causes changes in the skin’s proteins resulting in sagging and wrinkles. By maintaining ATP levels to the skin, these changes are decreased. Furthermore maintaining ATP in skin allows more cells and other important structures to be produced