Skin Aging
Skin aging is a fact of life; everyone will face it sooner or later.
Intrinsic ageing is the aging process that takes place over the years regardless of external influences. After the age of 30 natural production of collagen decreases rapidly. The collagen and elastin fibres become thicker, less organised and looser, resulting in inelastic and brittle skin and eventually this leads to wrinkling and sagging.
The skin’s exfoliation process decreases as well causing dead skin cells to accumulate and stick together for long periods of time. This will make the skin look dull and tired.
In our 30’s the transfer of moisture from the dermis to the epidermis is slowed and fat cells start to shrink and in our 40s there is no more collagen produced at all. The collagen and elastin fibres, thicken, stiffen, group together and lose their elasticity.
Many people will find a very visible aging in their own skin between the ages of 30 and 40.
In our 50’s, the skin becomes dry, bruises more easily, broken veins can appear, pores can enlarge.
Finally there is also some bone resorption which can make the face start to look thinner and gives a caved in/gaunt appearance. Also in women the menopause with its decrease in oestrogen levels, leaves skin looking dry, dull and wrinkled.
Extrinsic Ageing is the second type of skin ageing. Unlike the previous cause of skin ageing, this can be controlled as because it is a result of environmental damage.
Extrinsic ageing appears as thickening of the outermost layer of epidermis, precancerous changes( an example is actinic keratosis), skin cancer, formation of freckles and sunspots, and huge losses of collagen, elastic and glycosaminoglycans,
As a result of these processes, the skin becomes rough, uneven in tone and wrinkled.
Environmental influences such as pollution, smoking, and infrared rays generate free radicals.
Free radicals damage the DNA and skin molecules causing skin cancer, ageing, dyspigmentation (sunspots, discolouration) broken veins and will accelerate photo-aging and wrinkling.
Our body is unable to repair damaged DNA over a certain age. Prevention is the key to minimizing wrinkles and skin aging and damage.
Properly formulated topical antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E have been shown to neutralize skin-damaging free radicals and will aid the efficacy of a sunscreen