It’s one of the unavoidable facts of life: your skin changes with age. But just because getting older changes your skin doesn’t mean you can’t reduce the impact of those changes and even maintain a youthful glow well past young adulthood. You must understand what happens to your skin as you age to delay it.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, two types of primary skin aging exist. The first is intrinsic aging, which is the stuff you don’t have control over. For instance, your skin becomes drier and thinner over time. Your genes primarily determine the effects of this intrinsic aging.
On the other hand, extrinsic aging is premature or excessive aging due to environmental and lifestyle factors, such as smoking or repeated sun damage. Extrinsic aging generally magnifies and accelerates the intrinsic that’s already happening.
Intrinsic and extrinsic aging factors often occur together and can easily mix up. Therefore, following good overall skin health practices is essential to reduce the effects of extrinsic aging.
Here are some of the most common age-related skin changes and some ways to deal with them.
ROUGHER SKIN
Research published in Skin Research and Technology suggests that skin becomes significantly rougher with age. To keep your skin soft and supple, take good care of it. Ensure you’re exfoliating regularly to slough away dry, uneven, or dead skin. Getting rid of rough skin with an exfoliant will help show the soft, new skin underneath.
Once you’ve exfoliated, use a moisturizer to reduce age-related skin roughness. Choose a comfortable moisturizer that doesn’t cause a burning or stinging sensation, as this indicates skin irritation and potential skin damage.
WRINKLES
Wrinkles are one of the classic ways your skin changes with age and are perhaps the change you’re most eager to avoid. Wrinkles occur for various reasons, including natural skin elasticity and facial fat loss as you age.
Genetics play a significant role in how much someone’s skin is likely to wrinkle, but sun exposure is considered an enormous risk factor, particularly for people with lighter skin tones. One study published in Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology concluded that UV exposure could be responsible for up to 80 percent of visible facial aging signs.
For dealing with wrinkles that are already there, a noninvasive treatment like TempSure™ Envi may be a solution. Using a radio frequency for this treatment minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, tightening the skin through soft-tissue coagulation.
To prevent wrinkles in the first place, wear a wide-brimmed hat and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30, even on days when it isn’t sunny or when you’re inside a lot.
BLOTCHES AND DISCOLORATION
Blotches and skin discoloration are often significant side effects of smoking and regular UV damage to the face. Interestingly enough, though, according to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, traffic-related air pollution could also cause skin blotches and discoloration of the face.
Prevention is vital for facial blotches and discolorations since treating these issues once they’ve occurred is tricky.
Avoid damage to your face from excess UV exposure and avoid skin-dulling habits like smoking. Living in the countryside, away from areas of significant air pollution, and investing in a high-quality air filter for your home may also help brighten your skin.
Now that you understand how these factors age your skin, you can avoid damage-causing factors and keep your skin looking beautiful and young for years.
Comments