Why does our skin age?

How and why does the velvet skin that we have in the first years of life change into a skin with imperfections in adolescence, why do the first wrinkles appear at 25-30 years, and why does skin brightness disappear after 40 years? The only way to find the answers is to understand our skin, and the causes that cause the changes to its level.

 

The skin is made up of three basic layers: epidermis, dermis and hypodermis.

 

The epidermis is the external part of the skin. At its surface there is a layer of epithelial cells with a protective role, which is renewed by continuous replacement with new cells. As we grow older, the regeneration power decreases: if at 20 years the full epidermis replacement takes place at 28 days, at 60 years it takes 50 days, this being one of the causes for the loss of the freshness appearance. Also in the epidermis are melanocytes, cells that produce melanin and which determine the color of the skin.

 

The dermis represents about 90% of the thickness of the skin and here are the receptors for pain and temperature regulation, sebaceous and sweat glands and blood vessels. The sebaceous and sweat glands help to form a very fine film made of sebum and water that protects the skin from infections caused by bacteria or fungi. Unfortunately, many times, using abusive alkaline cleaning products (such as soap), this defense barrier changes its acidity and alkalinity balance, the so-called Skin pH. Also in the dermis are collagen and elastin fibers, important in maintaining skin tone.

 

The hypodermis. This last layer is mostly composed of adipose tissue with the role of protecting the internal organs, as well as general support for the skin.

 

The causes of aging

Skin aging is the result of changes in the three layers. In short: With age, the epidermis is thinned to the level of the dermis, the collagen and elastin fibers deteriorate, leading to wrinkles, and at the hipodermis level, the adipose tissue decreases.

 

Although we all have the same skin structure, we age differently, and this is due to several causes, which may be internal or external. The internal ones refer to genetics, that is to the information contained in our DNA, which determines how each of us ages.

 

For example, in women, a decrease in estrogen-related menopause will affect the way the skin looks: more dry, less firm. Fat deposits can also play an important role. The appearance of such deposits under the chin or the lower cheek area can accentuate the effect.

 

Most external reasonos are usually related to exposure to the sun – the most important factor in skin aging, or smoking, poor nutrition, or using certain products.

 

Delaying the aging process

The best prevention method against premature skin aging, wrinkling, dryness, decreased elasticity, and the appearance of hippocampal stains is controlled sun exposure, as there is a maximum level of UVA and UVB rays at the skin level that we can tolerate, and today we can know these levels really well through devices such as smart bracelets, which can warn us by turning their color when the amount of rays becomes harmful.




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