[Part 1 of this Series]
Physiological skin aging is a complex process influenced by both intrinsic (inside the body) and extrinsic (outside) environmental factors. The decline in the skin's barrier function as we age makes the skin more prone to damage, and lessens the ability to repair itself from repeated damage. It is essential to understand cellular aging mechanisms when considering anti-aging skin care products. The major perceived risk factors are UV radiation from the sun, environmental pollution, unhealthy eating habits, stress, lack of exercise, dehydration, disease and poor sleeping habits.
PHYSICAL SIGNS OF AGING
1. Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Fine lines, crow’s feet and wrinkles are the most evident and often the most concerning signs of aging skin. Wrinkles are a result of the breakdown of elastin and collagen fibres, which are the protein fibers that act as scaffolding that supports the skin's dermis, keeping your skin firm and taut. This loss leads to skin looseness and laxity and subsequently wrinkles. As we age, our skin produces less collagen and elastin, about 1% is lost each year after the age of 30. This loss of our skin's structural support, results in wrinkles.
2. Skin Dullness
The glowing, dewy skin of youth slowly fades with age. The result is a dull looking complexion which is primarily due to depleted moisture levels in the surface layers of the epidermis. This naturally occurs with age. While young skin renews itself at every three to four weeks, older skin is slower to renew itself at every four to six weeks. This, causes dehydration which is exacerbated by a dry environment, lack of drinking appropriate amounts of water, a thinning of the surface layers and a breakdown of the skin's protective barrier layer.
3. Uneven Skin Tone
Aging causes the complexion to become uneven in certain places. This may be due to parts of the skin harbouring more melanin than others, or the function of the hormonal levels in females. When we are young the skin cells can often repair themselves. Past sun exposure damages the DNA of cells, effecting your skin's ability to repair itself. When we are younger the presence of estrogen can hide this pigmentation. As estrogen wanes uneven pigmentation becomes more apparent. Some of this damage occurred decades before it becomes visible. This unevenness in skin color can lead to skin looking older than its years.
4. Dry Skin
Young, healthy skin has a high moisture content, leading to a fresh, dewy and radiant appearance. During the ageing process this depletes as the skin loses its ability to retain moisture. Older skin is often characterised by dryness and dehydration. Your skin is less likely to produce sebum and ceramides that offer protection from sensitivities and dehydration.
5. Blotchiness and Age Spots
Thinning skin associated with ageing leads to the increased visibility of tiny bloods vessels that appear on the skin's surface. These, along with age spots (which are reddish or brown in color) are caused mostly by over-exposure to UV rays from the sun and become more evident in aging skin. They produce a blotchy look that contributes to an aged appearance.
6. Rough Skin Texture
As the skin matures, changes in texture become noticeable. Skin that was once baby-soft and smooth becomes uneven and bumpy on the surface due to the layers of dead cells and the cell turnover slowing down.
7. Visible Pores
Pores become enlarged or more visible with age due to loss of skin elasticity and skin being drawn down by gravity. This is also in part due to the loss of estrogen. As estrogen dissipates, it's kind of like letting the air out of the mattress. In the dermal-epidermal junction collagen is depleted. The skin flattens out, therefore the pore appear enlarged. This happens quicker from sun exposure.
Other Factors
Other factors contributing to the aging face are: gravity, loss of fat, loss of bone, repeated muscle activity, muscular facial decline and solar degradation.
On the cellular level (for you science nerds out there)
Several characteristics include: cellular senescence, changes in amino acid composition (may reduce NMF, or Natural Moisturizing Factors), changes in neurosensory perception, repair, collagen loss, corneocytes become larger for decreased epidermal cell turnover, decrease in Glycosaminoglycans (which are water loving sugars in the skin), decrease in hyaluronic acid, decrease in mast cells, decrease in sebum production as much as 60%, decreased elastin function, decreased fibroblast production, deep dynamic and static wrinkles, delayed wound healing, development of mouth commissures, development or increase in hyperpigmentation, DNA damage, elastosis, epidermal thinning, epidermis decreases in thickness, estrogen loss (accelerates aging), fat cells and pads begin to diminish, glycation, impaired enzyme and filaggrin activity, impaired lymphatics, incomplete corneocyte compaction, increased potential for TEWL, increased vascular fragility, lipid peroxidation, lipofuscin development, loss of structural integrity, MMP collagen breakdown, photodamaged thickened epidermis, platysma (neck banding), pre-jowl development, reduced Cellular turnover, reduced supplies of cellular nutrients, reduction of natural water and fat emulsion, repetitive contracture of small facial muscles induces frown lines, telomere shortening, vascular changes and volume loss and thinning lips.
This is a lot of information to digest
Look for more information and the answers to your skin aging questions in Part 2.
Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. LONGEVITY is a science - based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. LONGEVITY by Elizabeth Renee provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.
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