Does my skin age?
Solution
All of the above factors contribute to how one’s skin ages.
Common Signs of Skin Aging are:
•Wrinkles
•Sagging
•Thinning
•Loss of subcutaneous fat
•Rough, leathery appearance
•Decreased pigmentation such as pale, sallow complexion, and dark circles under the eyes
•Uneven pigmentation such as blotchiness, discoloration, and ruddiness
•Uneven texture
•Increased dryness
•Easier bruising and tearing
•Increase in broken blood vessels
•Increase in spots and blemishes such as age spots and moles and scaly spots that could be precancerous
•Slower wound healing
These aging changes are caused by the following:
1. Loss of subcutaneous fat: As people age, the layer of subcutaneous fat below the dermis and epidermis begins to thin, making skin appear less plump. Facial bone structure becomes more prominent, and parts of the face may appear to lose volume. For example, cheeks may appear less full and gaunter.
2. Loss of pigmentation: Skin gradually loses its ability to produce melanin through the years, leading to a loss of pigmentation. This loss of pigmentation may make skin imperfections, such as dark circles under the eyes, broken capillaries, and blemishes, more apparent.
3. Reduced regeneration: The skin’s natural repair mechanisms do not work as well in older skin as they do in younger skin. As skin ages, collagen and elastin begin to break down, leading to a loss of elasticity and the appearance of wrinkles. Gravity plays a role by tugging on weak, thinning skin, pulling it downward. This can result in sagging skin around the eyes and along the jaw line, neck, and upper arms.
4. Slower healing: Older, thinner skin is fragile and more prone to injury compared to younger skin. Because immune system function decreases with age, skin injuries also take longer to heal.
5. Increased dryness: Older skin is dryer because the number of sweat and oil glands it contains decreases with time.
6. Decreased circulation: Poor or reduced circulation, which is common with advanced years, decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients being delivered to the skin. This can make skin look dull. Aging skin also accumulates more free radicals than younger skin, which can further dull complexion.
7. Loss of estrogen: For women, loss of estrogen during menopause contributes to skin thinning and dryness and may lead to symptoms such as itching and burning.
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Article details
Article ID:
34
Category:
Aging Skin
Date added:
2009-10-03 15:51:38
Views:
23
Rating (Votes):
(2)
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