Kerim Mutig, Prim B Singh, Dulat Azhibek, Svetlana Lebedeva
Approximately one billion people worldwide are affected by acute or chronic skin wounds, placing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. This burden is further increased by population aging, as wound healing is impaired in older individuals due to age-related changes in tissue repair. Structural and functional skin alterations associated with aging and wound healing have been extensively described, including cellular senescence and inflammaging. However, less is known about zinc homeostasis in aged skin and its impact on skin regeneration in aging. Zinc deficiency, which is common in older adults, may impair wound healing and contribute to the development of chronic wounds. The present review focuses on the age-related alterations of zinc homeostasis in the skin and the role of zinc in skin regeneration and wound healing.