How the Skin Ages
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As the skin gets older, the appearance of aging is extremely visible.
-Prominent wrinkles
-Drooping skin
-Translucent/pale complexion
-Age spots
-Hollowed looking face (due to the loss of subcutaneous fat)
-Loss of firmness to the skin
-Dry skin
-Prominent wrinkles
-Drooping skin
-Translucent/pale complexion
-Age spots
-Hollowed looking face (due to the loss of subcutaneous fat)
-Loss of firmness to the skin
-Dry skin
Intrinsic Factors
When your skin internally ages:
-The number of fibroblasts in your dermis decreases as you age, this results in a slower production of collagen and elastic fibers. These fibers are a necessity to the structure of the skin. Elastic fibers keeps the skin stretchy and when the amount of those fibers decrease the skin become less resilient. Collagen fibers keeps the skin tough and firm. When the fibers decrease it results in sagging skin since there are less fibers to keep the skin compressed together.
-The skin looses thickness, the dermis can decrease 20-80% of its size while aging which results in a thinner appearance to the skin. This is because the blood vessels that are feeding the dermis thicken, which prevents less nutrients to enter the skin. Therefore the subcutaneous fat and the skin does not have the required food it needs to maintain healthy function.
- The amount of Langerhans Cells (epidermis) and Macrophages (dermis) decrease. The purpose of these cell is to protect the skin and provide immunity. When these cells decrease the ability to fight off foreign particles, the skin is more susceptible to disease and infection.
- Melanocytes in the epidermis decrease as well, which gives the skin less color because it is producing less melanin.
-The oil glands in your dermis shrink which results in dry skin since the oil production decreases.
-Cells "cycle" through the epidermis at a slower pace. "Studies indicate that the epidermal turnover rate slows from 30-50% between our thirties and eighties." This results in dull skin and longer healing time for wounds since the cells aren't shedding and dividing as much
-The number of fibroblasts in your dermis decreases as you age, this results in a slower production of collagen and elastic fibers. These fibers are a necessity to the structure of the skin. Elastic fibers keeps the skin stretchy and when the amount of those fibers decrease the skin become less resilient. Collagen fibers keeps the skin tough and firm. When the fibers decrease it results in sagging skin since there are less fibers to keep the skin compressed together.
-The skin looses thickness, the dermis can decrease 20-80% of its size while aging which results in a thinner appearance to the skin. This is because the blood vessels that are feeding the dermis thicken, which prevents less nutrients to enter the skin. Therefore the subcutaneous fat and the skin does not have the required food it needs to maintain healthy function.
- The amount of Langerhans Cells (epidermis) and Macrophages (dermis) decrease. The purpose of these cell is to protect the skin and provide immunity. When these cells decrease the ability to fight off foreign particles, the skin is more susceptible to disease and infection.
- Melanocytes in the epidermis decrease as well, which gives the skin less color because it is producing less melanin.
-The oil glands in your dermis shrink which results in dry skin since the oil production decreases.
-Cells "cycle" through the epidermis at a slower pace. "Studies indicate that the epidermal turnover rate slows from 30-50% between our thirties and eighties." This results in dull skin and longer healing time for wounds since the cells aren't shedding and dividing as much
Extrinsic Factors
Your skin is affected by environmental factors that speed up the aging process.
-Ultraviolet Light: "photoaging" is the term that scientists use to call aging caused by UVA and UVB light damage to the skin. Ultraviolet light breaks down preexisting collagen and affects the creation of new fibers. The light damages the epidermal cells, and if a sunburn occurs, it could even affect the top of the dermis depending on the severity.
- Smoking/Toxins: The smoke from Tobacco caused oxidative stress to the skin, which increases the production of free radicals. These molecules break down collagen and alters the cell turnover.
These cause what happens from the intrinsic factors described above to occur, but sooner than it naturally would have.
-Ultraviolet Light: "photoaging" is the term that scientists use to call aging caused by UVA and UVB light damage to the skin. Ultraviolet light breaks down preexisting collagen and affects the creation of new fibers. The light damages the epidermal cells, and if a sunburn occurs, it could even affect the top of the dermis depending on the severity.
- Smoking/Toxins: The smoke from Tobacco caused oxidative stress to the skin, which increases the production of free radicals. These molecules break down collagen and alters the cell turnover.
These cause what happens from the intrinsic factors described above to occur, but sooner than it naturally would have.