BEFORE 20 YRS SKIN COMPONENTS:
Collagen (which provides skin firmness), elastin (which supplies skin elasticity and rebound) and glycosaminoglycans or GAGs (which keep the skin hydrated) are all abundant.
AGING IS A MULTIFACTORIAL PROCESS that causes changes in tissues & organs including skin & joints over time.
A. Intrinsic aging, natural aging process that takes place over the years regardless of outside influences.
i. After the age of 20, the body produces less collagen, GAG & elastin in the skin each
year. As a result, the skin becomes thinner, wrinkled and more fragile with age.
ii. There is diminished functioning of the sweat and oil glands in ageing skin.
iii. Aging reduces skin blood flow making it heal more slowly in case of external
damage: sun, pollutants etc.
Skin changes as a result of intrinsic aging is inevitable.
B. Extrinsic aging, occurs in addition to intrinsic aging as a result of
i. Unhealthy Lifestyle: poor diet choices, being sedentary, inadequate sleep, alcohol, smoking, overweight, harsh heat that hits the skin when blow drying hair
ii. Environmental damage: sun exposure without UV protection, shift in climate: winter & summer can be harsh on skin, dust & chemical pollutants especially in urban areas.
Lifestyle & environmental factors cause exaggerated loss of collagen, elastin, and GAGs.
Preventive actions can slow the effects that this type of aging has on our skin.