What you need to know about zombie skin cells, according to dermatologists

Zombie skin cells, or senescent cells, can contribute to fine lines and loss of firmness. Dermatologists explain what causes them and how to treat them.

With all the content available online these days, it can be hard to figure out what’s real and what’s hype. While we don’t always have the answers, we have a direct line to people who do — which is why we present to you our series The Internet Made Me Ask, where we have experts break down the truth about some of the buzziest trends (and questions) on our timelines, like how often you should be cleaning your makeup brushes. Zombie skin may sound like another TikTok beauty gimmick (or your next Halloween costume), but it’s actually a real thing that could be impacting your complexion. Zombie skin cells don’t die off like normal cells.

Instead, they stop dividing and linger, releasing inflammatory signals that can damage healthy cells nearby. Over time, that buildup is thought to contribute to fine lines, loss of firmness and uneven tone. Everyone accumulates these cells with age, but certain things can speed them up. To learn more, I spoke with two board-certified dermatologists about what zombie skin cells are, what causes them and how to treat them. What are zombie skin cells? Zombie cells is a fitting nickname for this naturally-occurring process. “Zombie cells refers to skin cells that have entered a process called senescence, where they can no longer replicate but remain active