Can Ageing of Skin be Avoided or Prolonged?
How Does the Skin Age and What are the Effects of Skin Ageing?
Aug 1, 2009
Children are blessed with beautiful, radiant, plump and smooth skin. How does the skin lose its shiny complexion and become dry and wrinkled with advancing age?
It is not just the passing of the years that add to skin ageing. One may find 30 year olds with dry, lusterless face and brownish black patches on the face and, in sharp contrast, 50 year olds with radiant and youthful skin. It will be an interesting exercise to analyze the causes and effects of premature ageing of skin and see whether the skin ageing could be avoided.
How Does the Skin Age?
Premature ageing of skin occurs as a result of a variety of factors; the main culprit being the sun light. The sun light contains harmful ultraviolet rays, which damage the supporting structures of the skin. Prolonged exposure to sunlight without any protection can prove dangerous, with skin cancer a distinct possibility, especially in the fair skinned. The white skin is more prone to sun damage as it contains less amount of melanin, the pigment that gives the skin its color and protects it from the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays. Melanin alone may not be able to protect the skin during prolonged sun exposure. Suitable protective clothing and sun screening creams will help protect the skin in such situations.
Unhealthy food habits with lots of sweets, fried and junk foods and less of fruits and vegetables; inadequate intake of water, uncontrolled stress, lack of sleep and rest, lack of exercise, contact allergies from environmental pollutants and application of harmful creams or lotions are some of the factors that hasten premature skin ageing. Presence of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels and certain infectious and hormonal diseases contribute to the inevitable damage and premature ageing of the skin.
The Effects of Skin Ageing
The ageing skin becomes lusterless and dry. The skin starts to sag because of the thinning (atrophy) of the skin layers and loss of skin tone and elasticity. Decreasing support from the deep skin layers results in deepening of the expression lines and appearance of wrinkles, especially on the face and neck. Veins become more visible through the thinning skin. The skin dryness is increased as the sebaceous gland activity gradually decreases.
There are irregular pigmentary changes and appearance of lentigenes, melasma, seborrheic warts, skin tags, sun induced black and white heads and moles on the weather beaten, ageing skin. The ageing skin attains a yellowish hue in contrast to the normal healthy pinkish tone. The healing power of skin also becomes compromised on ageing. The face is particularly sensitive to sunlight and its unwanted effects on the skin.
Can Skin Ageing be Avoided or Prolonged?
Premature skin ageing can certainly be avoided or prolonged if preventive steps are taken at appropriate occasions. One can retain a healthy and youthful complexion by following certain tips on how to avoid premature skin ageing.
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Disclaimer
The information given in this article is for educational purpose only so that patients are aware of the options available. No diagnosis should be made or treatment undertaken without first consulting your doctor. If you do so, the author or suite101 will not be responsible for any consequences. The images provided are for illustration purpose only.
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