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Explaining Aging Skin

Definition

Aging skin describes the modifications in the characteristics and appearance of the skin which occurs as people grow old. Aging changes are particularly more prominent on the hands and face.

What category of people does their skin age prematurely?

Those who experience premature aging more are mainly those who are chronically exposed to sunlight. This is also known as sun damage or photo-aging. Those with marked signs of sun damage:

  • Usually reside at high altitude
  • Often work outdoors
  • Live mainly in the tropics or subtropics
  • Most of the times have a fair skin with blue eyes and blonde hair
  • Seldomly have a genetic predisposition to premature aging

Tobacco smoking and exposure to environmental pollution also causes premature aging.

Causes of skin aging

Intrinsic Aging: This is unavoidable and already genetically predetermined. This occurs due to biological aging of cells, reduced cellular supply of nutrients and oxygen. Some features include:

  • Hair becomes thin and turn grey
  • Rate of epidermal cell reproduction slows, affecting function and structure of the skin
  • Reduction in elastin and collagen turnover and heightened glycation
  • Reduced vascularity in the dermis
  • Aging suppresses the immune, predisposing the skin to cancer
  • There is reduction in the number of melanocytes
  • Reduction in the volume of subcutaneous fat especially in the hands, feet and face.

Menopause in females: At menopause, there’s loss of oestrogen levels which causes premature aging.

Smoking:

Some damaging factors of smoking

  • Nicotine thins blood vessels, inhibiting blood flow, and thus minimizing oxygen and vital nutrients reaching the cells.
  • Other chemicals in tobacco increase matrix metalloproteinases, lowering elastin and collagen
  • Tar and nitrosamines are carcinogenic
  • Movements of the facial muscles and heat from burning cigars are a contributing factor to wrinkles.

Photo-aging: This is as a result of damage by solar radiation. The formation of reactive oxygen species cause cell damages

  • UVB, high energy, short wavelength destroys DNA and other components of the epidermis
  • UVA has a higher penetration power into the dermis than UVA, damaging collagen, blood vessels, elastic tissues and immune cells.
  • Infrared penetration to the deeper dermis and subcutaneous tissue, might also contribute to sun damage.
Immune Dysfunction: Also affect aging. Examples are
  • Immuno-deficiency diseases
  • Chronic physiological stress
  • Immunosuppressive agents
Complications of aging skin

Aging skin is susceptible to keratinocytic skin cancer and certain types of melanoma. The most prevalent form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. However, an overly photo-aged skin is at a higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma, intra-epidermal carcinoma and uncommon forms of skin cancer like Merkel cell carcinoma.

How are signs of aging treated?

Cancer and precancerous lesions

  • Intra-epidermal carcinomas and actinic keratosis are usually removed by cryotherapy.
  • Basal cell carcinoma is often ejected by minor surgery, if it’s superficial, topical treatment can be used.
  • Melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma are almost usually excised surgically.
Dry and discolored skin

Moisturizers come to the rescue. Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxyl acids, soy isoflavones or retinoid creams applied topically long term helps tackle dryness. This may also even out pigmentation and eliminate wrinkles.

Facial Rejuvenation

Procedures that help rejuvenate the skin include

  • Resurfacing procedures i.e. chemical peels, dermabrasion.
  • Cosmetic surgery to remove unwanted sagging skin.
  • Sclerotherapy and vascular laser treatment to remove angiomas and facial veins.
  • Fillers to disguise facial expression lines.
  • Botox injections to reduce deep furrows and lessen frowning.
Prevention of signs of aging skin

Intrinsic aging is only inevitable. However premenopausal women may carry out systemic hormone replacement which reduces wrinkles, wounds heal faster, delay in skin thinning. Replacement is not as effective in postmenopausal women. Prevention from solar UV is important at all ages. Avoid smoking and stay away from pollutants. Take plenty of exercises. Eat plenty fruits and vegetables. A lot of oral supplements with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties like polyphenols, Aloe Vera, carotenoid, Vitamins E, B, C have been advocated to improve skin health.

Final word

Hope you are enlightened after this brief write-up on the issue of skin aging. Follow the do’s and don’ts to prevent your skin from aging prematurely.  In case you wish to use a topical treatment check out the revolutionary anti-aging cream was introduced on Shark Tank some weeks ago. This cream caused ripples in the skincare world.