Skin and Aging
Copyright © 2010 Herbal Luxuries
Aging skin changes are related to environmental factors, genetic makeup, nutrition, and other factors. The greatest single factor, though, is sun exposure. This can be seen by comparing areas of your skin that have regular sun exposure with areas that are protected from sunlight. Aging is a progressive, predictable process that involves the evolution and maturation of living organisms. Aging skin is inevitable, but the rate of aging varies greatly among individuals.
With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases, but the remaining melanocytes increase in size. Aging skin thus appears thinner, more pale, and translucent. Large pigmented spots (called age spots, liver spots, or lentigos) may appear in sun-exposed areas.
Aging causes changes in the connective tissue which reduces the skin's strength and elasticity. This is known as elastosis and is especially pronounced in sun-exposed areas (solar elastosis). Elastosis produces the leathery, weather-beaten appearance common to farmers, sailors, and others who spend a large portion of their life outdoors.
Other aging skin changes are the blood vessels of the dermis become more fragile, which in turn leads to bruising, bleeding under the skin (purpura), cherry angiomas, and similar conditions. Sebaceous glands produce less oil as you age. Men experience a minimal decrease, usually after 80 years old. Women gradually produce less oil beginning after menopause. This can make it harder to keep the skin moist, resulting in dryness and itchiness.
With aging the skin's subcutaneous fat layer, which provides insulation and padding, thins. This increases your risk of skin injury and reduces your ability to maintain body temperature. Because you have less 'natural insulation' and in cold weather, hypothermia can result. Some medications are absorbed by the fat layer, and loss of this layer changes the way that these medications work.
A serious issue in aging skin is the sweat glands produce less sweat. This makes it harder to keep cool, and you become at increased risk for becoming overheated or developing heat stroke.
People age at different rates. While genetic makeup cannot change, lifestyle choices, such as diet, smoking, exercise and drinking can modify the aging process.
The Sun
I am sure you have seen or heard this before, the sun is the major cause of negative changes in aging skin. It is vital to your skin’s health to remember that the sun is your skin’s greatest enemy and it damages the skin significantly. Unless you protect your skin from the sun, no skin care product, treatment, moisturizer, vitamin or exercise will help you.
How wrinkled your skin becomes depends largely on how much sun you have been exposed to in your lifetime. About 80 percent of your lifetime sun exposure happens before age 18. Even a couple of blistering sunburns in childhood increase the risk of later skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
It is estimated that 90% of facial skin aging is due to the damaging effects of ultra violet radiation. Over time the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibers during aging causes the skin to lose its ability to snap back after stretching. As a result, wrinkles form. How can you tell if your skin is sun damaged? Generally speaking, normally aged skin shows thinning, a loss of elasticity, and the deepening of normal expression lines whereas sun-damaged skin is characterized by wrinkled, yellowed, rough, leathery, and spotted skin. You can also see this difference by comparing a non-exposed area of your skin to an exposed area.
What can you do to protect yourself and minimize the effects of the sun on your skin? Stay out of the sun if not wearing sunscreen as much as possible. You should avoid direct sun light between 10am and 4pm, when the sun’s UV rays are strongest. I recently read that the sun’s UV rays pass through clouds, so don’t think you shouldn’t be concerned even on cloudy days.
For protective skin care use sunscreen with a SPF rating of at least 15. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. A higher number means longer protection. Buy sunscreen skin care products whose labels say broad spectrum (protection from both UVA and UVB rays) and also water resistant (will stay on longer if you are in water or perspire a lot). If you go swimming remember to reapply often. Sunblocks are perhaps the best skin care to retard premature solar aging.
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Y Walker - Herbal Luxuries. Visit www.herballuxuries.com/natbeauty.asp for other healthy skin topics and information.
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