Contents:
- Medical Video: CAILLOU THE GROWNUP
- Why does the skin age?
- What are the signs of skin aging?
- 1. Wrinkles
- 2. Decreasing collagen and elastin
- 3. Changes in elasticity
- Can we prevent skin aging?
Medical Video: CAILLOU THE GROWNUP
Skin that starts showing signs of aging is something that is feared by some people. In fact, many beauty care products offer various benefits to overcome the signs of aging on the face. Sagging and shrinking skin not only occurs on the face, but also in other body parts. This aging occurs for several reasons.
Why does the skin age?
Skin aging occurs due to several things, one of which comes from the skin layer. The layer consists of:
- The outer layer (epidermis) which consists of skin cells, pigments and proteins
- Middle layer (dermis) which consists of blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and oil glands
- Inner layer under the dermis (subcutaneous layer) which consists of sweat glands, several hair follicles, blood vessels, and fat
Wrinkles, pigmentation changes, and skin loss are associated with aging of the skin. When aging occurs, the epidermal layer is thinned, although the number of cells remains unchanged. The number of cells containing pigments (melanocytes) also decreases. The function of this melanocyte is to protect the skin from damage, for example absorbing ultraviolet light. The characteristics of aging skin, the skin becomes thinner, paler, and more clearly what is behind the skin. In addition, pigmentation spots appear on the part of the skin exposed to sunlight, also called age spots or lentigos.
Changes in connective tissue can reduce strength and elasticity. We can also know it as elastosis; the amount of elastin cells that are abnormal in the dermis layer, usually seen on skin exposed to sunlight.
When your skin begins to age, the sebaceous glands produce only a little oil. Men - usually at the age of 80 years - have decreased oil levels which is nothing compared to women. Whereas in women, oil is produced very little at the beginning when menopause occurs. Lack of oil on the skin can cause skin difficulty to maintain moisture, so it becomes dry and easily itchy. When seen inside a microscope, signs of aging can be seen, some damage occurs in the dermis layer.
What are the signs of skin aging?
There are several signs of aging that occur on the skin, here is an explanation:
1. Wrinkles
Wrinkles are a decrease in skin surface that can be rough or smooth, depending on the depth. Coarse wrinkles usually refer to expression lines on the face, such as on the forehead, outer corners of the eyes, and vertical lines on both sides of the mouth. Whereas, the fine lines are more shallow curves or lines, usually appearing in the area of face movement; like in the eyes, mouth, upper lip. Wrinkles occur because:
- Decrease in muscle mass and skin thickness
- Cross-link between collagen and elastin (protein in the skin so that the skin is tight) in the dermis layer
- Dehydration of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of skin)
- Skin discoloration
Apart from wrinkles, skin discoloration is also often associated with aging. Maybe, we just think that the skin is only distinguished by white, dark, or yellow. Apparently skin color is a combination of red, blue, yellow and brown. This combination of colors is the result of oxidized red hemoglobin, yellow caratenoid, and flavin and brown melanin pigments on our skin. Hyperpigmented spots are the result of sun exposure. Another characteristic is hypopigmentation (white spots).
Even though we more often hear hyperpigmentation associated with aging of the skin, a decrease in melanocytes also causes hypopigmentation; this is evidenced by the decrease in the number of 6-8 percent melanocytes per decade after the age of 30 years. The decrease also has an impact on the ability to protect the skin from sun exposure.
2. Decreasing collagen and elastin
Changes in skin aging often occur in the dermis layer. The skin can lose about 20 to 80 percent thickness during the aging process. This is caused by changes in fibroblasts, cells that are responsible for the production of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis. Decreasing collagen and elastin also affects the ability of the skin to repair itself. Not only that, aging also makes the composition of proteins change, this can affect the structure of the skin.
Did you know that UV radiation also decreases collagen and elastin? Yes, the decrease is controlled by the activity of the enzyme Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP). The study concluded that UV radiation can activate this enzyme in just a few hours after exposure to UVB.
3. Changes in elasticity
Hyaluronic acid is a natural ingredient found on the surface of our skin, which has a role to hydrate the skin. Research shows that at the age of 40 years, there is a decrease in levels of hyaluronic acid. This decrease can cause dehydration, so that changes in elasticity also occur in aging skin.
Can we prevent skin aging?
Age of aging is indeed unavoidable, even aging of the skin. The good news, you can still do a number of precautions to prevent premature aging of the skin. Average skin changes occur due to sun exposure. Prevention does take a long time, but it's worth trying. The following are recommendations:
- As much as possible avoid sunbathing in the sun
- Use sunscreen with good quality when you are outside, even during the rainy season
- Use accessories that protect you from sunlight such as hats and sunglasses
- In addition, don't forget to consume good nutrition and adequate fluids. Dehydration can be at risk for skin injuries.
- Use moisturizer for the skin
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