AT A GLANCE:

• Research shows that a few foundational habits have a far bigger impact on aging than supplements, topicals, or “hacks.”

• Regenerative medicine is changing what’s possible by focusing on repair, not restriction.

• Understanding what’s actually true about aging helps you invest time and energy where it matters most.

Scroll through social media and you’ll see a thousand competing narratives about aging. Collagen loading. Ice baths. Hormone hacks. Peptides and “miracle” supplements. Red light everything. 

Some of it’s helpful. A lot of it is hype. And some of it is even quietly working against the very goals people are chasing.

With a market that is only projected to double over the next decade, the sheer noise can be overwhelming. And the essential question becomes: How do we separate good science from good marketing?

That’s where we come in. Let’s bust some common myths about aging and anti-aging, together.

MYTH: “How I’ll age comes down to genetics.”

Truth: Not quite.

Yes, genes matter. But they’re not the only driver of how you age. Research shows that aging outcomes are actually largely driven by external factors like lifestyle, stress, sleep, movement, hormones, nutrition, and environmental exposures.¹

It’s kind of like your genes provide the blueprint, but your environment and habits determine which switches to pull. This is why two people the same age can look and feel a decade apart—and why interventions at any stage of life can meaningfully shift your trajectory.

In other words, good habits matter.

MYTH: “My expensive skin creams will do the trick.”

Truth: Look—we love our fancy skincare formulas as much as the next person. But a holistic anti-aging routine is also about addressing aging at the source.

Surface-level skincare can be great. Sunscreen protects collagen. Retinoids improve texture. Antioxidants brighten tone. They matter, but they don’t change the cellular processes that drive aging.

Biological aging happens deeper:

• Mitochondria produce less energy
• Stem cells become less active
• Inflammation rises
• DNA repair slows

Skincare can certainly soften the surface effects, but slowing actual aging requires supporting the biology underneath. (And we can do that both by focusing on a healthy lifestyle and harnessing our body’s most potent regenerative resources, like stem cells. We like to say that Acorn is about skin repair—not skin care.)

MYTH: “I’m too old to harvest or use my stem cells.”

Truth: One of the biggest misconceptions in longevity is that older adults can’t benefit from regenerative therapies because “their stem cells are too old.”

While it’s true that our stem cells are at their peak when we are young, they don’t necessarily disappear as we age… they just become less active. And emerging research shows that enhancing cell-to-cell communication (through growth factors, exosomes, peptides, and other signaling molecules) can revive functionality even when cell counts are lower.²

So while we like to say that “the best time to harvest your stem cells is right now,” there’s not a time limit on when you bank them—and there’s definitely not a time limit on when you can leverage them for skin treatments, hair loss, or even future medical interventions as the science continues to evolve.

MYTH: “I started my anti-aging routine too late.”

Truth: Your aging trajectory shifts when you decide it does. (Seriously!)

Your body is responsive at every decade. People in their 40s, 60s and even 80s see real changes in strength, skin quality, inflammation, recovery, and energy when they shift their habits or receive regenerative support.³

Pair consistency with the right inputs, and you’ll start to see (and feel) results.

MYTH: “Natural is always better.”

Truth: There’s a common belief that “natural” anti-aging tools are automatically gentler and lab-based ones are risky. In reality, the body doesn’t classify things that way. It responds to signals, not marketing labels. In many cases, the lab process is a guardian, not a changer. Regenerative therapies use natural sources, but might involve lab manipulation to enhance your biology even more.

The future of aging interventions is bright because we’re able to bridge our own biology with lab-based breakthroughs.

MYTH: “Anti-aging is just about looking younger.”

Truth: Surface-level solutions are just that—surface-level. Real aging isn’t skin deep, it’s cell deep.

When we make the goal more about cellular health rather than, say, fighting fine lines, all of those visible indicators tend to follow. That means embracing habits like consistent sleep, staying active, hormone management, and regenerative therapies that target aging at the source.

MYTH: “I don’t feel old, so I don’t need to think about aging.”

Truth: A not-so-fun fact: Our bodies start declining in our late twenties. We say that not as a scare tactic, but because prevention is the most crucial anti-aging strategy there is.

Most cellular aging starts silently, long before we notice a gray hair or a creaky joint. Prevention is more effective than repair, so it’s never too early to start looking out for your future self. (Psst—the same goes for harvesting your stem cells.)

MYTH: “Biobanking is painful, expensive, and invasive.”

Truth: It’s true that traditional stem cell banking methods involve things like extracting it from bone marrow or collecting from umbilical cord blood at birth. (Effective, but not exactly approachable for most people.) 

Fast-forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Acorn collects your stem cells through a quick, painless hair-follicle procedure, with no needles or downtime. Those cells are then processed into a personalized secretome product that can support skin and hair regeneration—and preserved for your future self as regenerative science continues to evolve.

In other words, biobanking has shifted from a high-barrier medical event to a simple, proactive step anyone can take.

The bottom line

Most of what shapes how we age comes from the choices we make, the environments we live in, and the support we give our cells over time. With a clearer understanding of what actually influences longevity, you can focus your energy where it matters most.

But above all else, remember this: You don’t need perfection. You don’t need extreme routines. And you’re never “too late.”

FAQ

Q: Is it actually possible to slow aging?
A: Yes, at least the biological kind. While you can’t stop time, you can influence how your cells function. Sleep, strength training, metabolic health, stress regulation, and targeted regenerative support can all meaningfully shift biological age markers.

Q: What’s the difference between anti-aging and longevity?
A: “Anti-aging” traditionally focuses on appearance. Longevity is about function—how well your cells repair, how much energy they produce, how resilient your tissues are, and how well your body adapts to stress. The outside follows the inside.

Q: If my parents aged a certain way, will I age the same?
A: Not necessarily. Genetics play a role, but aging outcomes are shaped by lifestyle, hormones, environmental exposures, and cellular health. Two people with the same genes can age very differently depending on their habits and environment.

Q: How early should I start thinking about aging?
A: Earlier than you might assume. Prevention is easier than repair, and small habits in your 20s, 30s, and 40s create a strong cellular foundation later. But it’s never too late. Your biology responds at every age.

Q: Does secretome therapy replace traditional skincare or lifestyle habits?
A: No—it complements them. Secretome supports skin, hair, and tissue regeneration at the cellular level, but foundational habits (sun protection, sleep, strength training, nutrition) still play a huge role in how your biology ages.

Further Reading:

1. Castruita, P. A., Piña-Escudero, S. D., Rentería, M. E., & Yokoyama, J. S. (2022). Genetic, Social, and Lifestyle Drivers of Healthy Aging and Longevity. Current genetic medicine reports, 10(3), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40142-022-00205-w
2. Da Silva, K., Kumar, P., & Choonara, Y. E. (2025). The paradigm of stem cell secretome in tissue repair and regeneration: Present and future perspectives. Wound repair and regeneration : official publication of the Wound Healing Society [and] the European Tissue Repair Society, 33(1), e13251. https://doi.org/10.1111/wrr.13251
3. What do we know about healthy aging? | National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/what-do-we-know-about-healthy-aging

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This article has been medically reviewed by:

Amatullah Fatehi | MSc, Director of Product Development and Innovation

Amatullah Fatehi is a regenerative medicine scientist with expertise in cell physiology and stem cell biology. She led the development of Acorn’s hair-follicle-derived secretome product and oversees key research and product innovation initiatives.