As we get older, we start to notice that our once smooth, firm and supple skin struggles to retain its youthful appearance.
Natural defence mechanisms, such as collagen and the elastin, begin to break down when we reach our 30s, and suddenly we see all the small lines and wrinkles that weren’t there before. While collagen gives body tissue shape, firmness and strength, elastin supplies the skin with much needed flexibility. So when we reach an age where they both start breaking down, our skin becomes more vulnerable to external factors such as sunlight and pollution, emotional strain and occasional sleeplessness. Bad habits such as smoking and not using SPF protection can accelerate our skin’s aging process.
Aging skin can be characterised by a loss of firmness, tone and elasticity, creating the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation.
Skin aging can and will occur naturally or can be brought on prematurely by external factors or the environment around us.
From our late teens, collagen and elastin production starts to slow down, becoming even slower after age 30 – fine lines start to appear which later develop into deeper wrinkles. As collagen is responsible for skin firmness and tone – and elastin responsible for elasticity – the reduction in their production can also create sagging and hollowing. The skin’s natural renewal process also starts to slow down, creating a dull and sallow complexion.
The number one cause of premature aging is sun damage from UV exposure. Just a few minutes a day of exposure can create the acceleration of collagen breakdown, stimulate pigmentation and age spots whilst increasing the appearance of uneven skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles and rough texture.
Other factors that contribute to premature aging include:
- Smoking;
- Sleeping positions;
- Diet; and
- Exercise.
Smoking is attributed to be the second highest cause of external and internal aging and constricts blood vessels reducing blood flow to cells and therefore reducing nutrients and oxygen to the cells whilst stimulating free radical activity.__