How and Why Skin Ages

For as long as one can remember, it has always been the pursuit of
many to keep their youthful looks, even at great costs. And in this day
and age, the trend has not changed. Now more than ever, methods,
techniques and treatments meant to retain that “youthful glow”
proliferate everywhere. As it is the most telltale sign of getting old,
anti-aging goods and services account for billions of dollars spent in
the hopes of delaying the onset of skin aging.
Unfortunately, many have been and are misinformed on how and why
the skin ages misleading these same people into buying products that
only offer short-lived, if not unsuccessful and disappointing, results.
It is therefore only smart to know just how the skin develops over
time. In understanding the hows and whys of aging skin, the correct
habits and treatments can then be developed to retain as much one’s
youthful looks for as long a time as possible.

First off, there are two types of aging for the skin. There is the intrinsic
(internal) aging, which is caused by factors within one’s own body,
such as genes and body condition; and extrinsic (external) aging,
which is caused by factors outside one’s body, such as sunlight and
lifestyle.

Intrinsic (internal) aging
Aging is a natural process and our genes determine how one goes
through that process. For some, aging can set on earlier or later than
most. On average, signs of skin aging begin to appear in the mid-20s.
As one grows older, the skin’s ability to snap back to shape (elasticity)
starts to decrease. That is because skin cells do not regenerate as fast
as they used to - resulting to tougher, older skin. Although internal
aging begins in one’s 20s, the typical signs of wrinkles and sagging
skin do not appear for until about a couple of decades more.
Other signs that indicate skin aging are thinning, loss of firmness,
dryness, and reduction of sweat production that prevents proper
cooling of the body.

Extrinsic (external) aging
Factors outside one’s own genes accelerate skin aging. Lifestyles and
habits carry more impact of why aging skin occurs more prematurely
in one’s lifetime.

Sun exposure
With the present condition our atmosphere is in, harmful rays from the
sun pass through in ever increasing amounts causing damage to the
skin and hampering its ability to repair itself. Over a period of time, a
few minutes a day of exposure to ultraviolet rays results in changes to
the skin (freckles, age spots, rough skin). An even graver symptom
would be the onset of skin cancer. Dermatologists call this effect photo
aging in reference to the sun’s rays that reduce the production of
collagen responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity.
One’s susceptibility to photo aging is determined by the amount of
pigment in the skin as well as the frequency and duration one spends
under the sun’s rays. Given these factors, fair-skinned individuals and
those who spend long periods under the sun stand to have more
pronounced effects of photo aging compared to those who are darkerskinned and spend more time in the shade.

Facial Exercises
Ironically, the routine once prescribed to prevent facial wrinkles is
actually one of the causes of that very thing one aims to avoid. Facial
exercises cause the muscles on the face to fold and crease the skin.
As the skin’s elasticity decreases, the skin starts to take on the creases more permanently causing deep wrinkles on the face.

Smoking
Cigarette smoking does not only cause harm to the body internally but
externally as well. This is most pronounced with the condition of the
skin. Nicotine intake causes changes in the body that speeds up the
break down of skin cells, among other harmful effects.
It is a common finding that individuals who’ve been smokers for at
least a decade look comparably older than those who do not smoke. In
addition to wrinkles, yellowish discoloration of the skin has been
observed in smokers. However, the good news is that those who have
given up smoking show improvements in their skin condition shortly
after quitting.
The signs of skin aging will inevitably show up on everyone at one
point or the other. All sorts of products and treatments can be availed
of but it is only meant to delay the outward symptoms.
Perhaps the best solution is to understand the aging process and not
view it as a disease, but rather see it as another stage of development
the body undergoes - a solution that requires no prescription and is
free of charge.