Skin, our largest organ in our body and as it protects us from damage such as dehydration and microorganism infections, it is also the most exposed to external factors.
As we age, It is more difficult for our skin to defend itself against damage and skin becomes drier, less elastic and supple. There are two types of skin damage:
- Intrinsic aging
- Extrinsic aging
Intrinsic aging is the natural aging process of skin. The degenerative effects of free radicals and the body's inability to heal their damage have an impact on the genetic clock. This is also when the skin becomes more dry, thinner, and when fine lines start to appear. There is progressive aging of the skin that cannot be totally avoided.
While external or environmental variables like pollution, smoking, and bad diet cause extrinsic aging. Additionally, the most frequent cause of severe skin damage is exposure to UV rays as it breaks down the natural collagen of the skin and its elasticity. The connective tissue of the skin will start to break down due to the UV exposure thus making the skin weaker and more susceptible to wrinkles and dry skin.
After the age of 25, your body may begin to develop fine lines as a result of the gradual loss of collagen, which gets worse as you age.
Although developing wrinkles as we age is natural, this can be delayed when you start taking care of your skin now. The following can help reduce wrinkles and keep your skin moisturized and healthy:
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Lifestyle Changes: Smoking hastens the aging process of the skin as well as drinking alcohol. Alcohol may cause your skin to dry up and make your skin appear older. Additionally, stress may trigger the production of cortisol which can cause the skin's collagen to break down. Changing your diet into an antioxidant-rich one can help reduce wrinkles and dry skin and may protect against the formation of free-radicals
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Cosmetic Surgery: Cosmetic surgery whether invasive or noninvasive such as fillers, facelifts, and laser therapies might give you faster results and reduce any signs of aging however, it can be more costly. Moreover, there are medical procedures that may cause surgical complications such as heavy bleeding, swelling, infection, pneumonia, and blood clots,
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Skin Care Products: Skin care products such as moisturizer and sunscreen may help protect your skin from a faster progression of aging. Moisturizer can help your skin from dryness and can reduce the risk of developing wrinkles. Since UV rays cause the skin to produce free radicals, wearing sunscreen may protect your skin from the damaging UV rays that can cause sunburns, skin cancer, and wrinkles. Using sunscreen will not fully prevent your skin from the sun’s damage but may help minimize it.
