The Healthspan Map · Habits (Ch4) - Quick-wins
Oral & skin care
Compiled by Aamir Malik, PhD, Professor of Neuroengineering at Brno University of Technology, from published studies. He is a researcher, not a physician. Last updated 21 August 2026.
What this is linked to
| Condition or system | Direction | Strength | Evidence type | What was found | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory infections & airway health | Do this | Moderate | RCT / meta-analysis | Mechanical oral care reduced pneumonia incidence/mortality in institutionalised elders (professional care up to ~40%; ~1 in 10 pneumonia deaths preventable). | Oral hygiene & aspiration pneumonia in frail elders (PMC4541086) (opens in a new tab) |
| Skin, hair, nails & wound healing | Do this | Moderate | Review / narrative | Daily skincare, sun protection (UV drives ~80% of facial ageing) and gentle cleansing preserve the barrier and collagen. | Skincare & sun protection (opens in a new tab) |
| Skin, hair, nails & wound healing | Do this | Moderate | RCT / trial | Daily skincare, sun protection (UV drives ~80% of facial ageing) and gentle cleansing preserve the barrier and collagen. | Sunscreen and prevention of skin aging: a randomized trial, Ann Intern Med 2013 (opens in a new tab) |
| Weak immunity & chronic inflammation | Do this | Emerging | RCT / trial | Periodontal/gingival inflammation raises systemic inflammation (CRP); good oral hygiene lowers the immune burden. | Periodontal disease & CRP (opens in a new tab) |
The Healthspan Map is part of Fix the Floor, a book by Aamir Malik. About the book