The Causes Of Wrinkles
How And Why Your Skin Ages
From time immemorial, the pursuit of youthful looks
has obsessed many, even at great costs. In this day and age, the trend
has not changed.
With baby-boomers living longer, now more than ever,
methods, techniques and treatments meant to retain that “youthful
glow” proliferate everywhere. 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 continue to be misinformed
on how and why the skin ages and end up buying products that only
offer short-lived, and disappointing results.
The intelligent approach to preventing wrinkles means
getting the right information about how your skin ages over time.
In understanding the how’s and whys of aging skin, you can then
choose correct habits and treatments to retain as much of your youthful
looks for as long as possible.
The most important thing to understand is that two
different processes are involved in skin aging. The first is intrinsic
(internal) aging, caused by factors inside your body, such as genes
and body condition; and the second is extrinsic (external) aging,
caused by factors external to your body, such as sunlight and lifestyle.
Intrinsic (Internal) Aging
Aging is a natural process and your genes determine
how your body goes through that process. For some, the onset of aging
can is 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 in tougher,
older skin. Although internal aging begins in one’s 20s, the
typical signs of wrinkles and sagging skin do not appear until 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
Some factors other than one’s own genes accelerate
skin aging. Lifestyles and habits carry a greater impact of why aging
skin occurs prematurely in one’s lifetime.
Sun Exposure
With the decrease in protection from the earth’s
ozone layer, 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, even a few minutes of exposure to ultraviolet
rays every day results in changes to the skin (freckles, age spots,
rough skin).
An even graver symptom is the onset of skin cancer.
Dermatologists call this effect photo aging, with reference to the
sun’s rays that reduce the production of collagen responsible
for maintaining the skin’s elasticity.
Your skin’s susceptibility to photo aging is
determined by the amount of pigment (melanin) present, as well as
the frequency and duration you spend in the sun. Given these factors,
fair-skinned individuals, and those who spend long periods of time
exposed to the sun, stand to have more pronounced effects of photo
aging compared to those who are darker-skinned or spend more time
in the shade.
Facial Exercises
Ironically, the routine once prescribed to prevent
facial wrinkles is actually one of the causes of the 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
and expression lines on the face.
Smoking
Cigarette smoking not only causes 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, a 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 some point. All products and treatments can only delay
the outward symptoms of skin aging.
The best solution, then, is to understand the aging
process and not view it as a disease, but see it as just another stage
of development the body undergoes. A solution that requires no prescription
and is free of charge.
For more information on preventing wrinkles, download
The
Wrinke Cure: How To Prevent Aging And Rejuvenate Your Skin
