How the Skin Ages and Anti-Aging Treatments

Let’s talk about aging, shall we? Because I’m not def not getting any younger. And one of these days, my eye cream jussssst might not cut it (halfway kidding). As skin on the human body ages, it gradually becomes thinner and damages far more easily. It stretches and sags due to a lack of collagen and elastins. Lacking those essential materials, it can no longer heal well.

How Skin Ages

When young, the body produces collagen and elastins in abundance. Skin is plump, thick, and repairs itself quickly. As the body naturally ages, there is less collagen production, meaning the skin is less able to repair itself. Without collagen, the cells become thinner instead of plump. The skin loses elasticity and stretches out, giving it a sagging appearance. UGH.

Outside forces also contribute to aging. Overexposure to the sun causes premature aging of the skin and can give it a leathery appearance. Sun damaged skin also develops cancerous skin lesions. Smoking, even second hand, layers the skin with toxins that clog pores. And that, folks, is just one reason why I don’t participate now in those things.

Ways To Protect The Skin

There are many ways to protect the skin from further damage and premature aging. Taking better care of the skin will keep it healthy and younger longer. (Yes, please.)

Protection from the sun. When possible, wear long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses when exposed to the sun. Using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher is important in the effort to prevent skin cancer.
Keep skin clean. Makeup, sunscreen, perfumes, and outside toxins work to clog the pores. Always remove makeup at night to keep pores open and clean.
Use moisturizers. Even when the skin doesn’t look very dry, it may need hydration. Moisturize daily to keep the skin supple.

Treatments To Combat Aging

Even when doing everything right to protect the skin, there is no way to completely stop aging in its tracks. However, anti-aging methods do exist to counteract them.

Botox – injecting Botox into the facial muscles results in smoother skin and wrinkle reduction.
Chemical peels – chemical solutions are applied to the skin to exfoliate the surface layer in order to reveal the healthy cells beneath it. Results last a month or more, depending on the chemical used.
Dermal fillers – hyaluronic acid or another filler is injected under the skin to plump the skin, smooth lines, and fill in wrinkles. Fat may also be used, taking it from other parts of the body like the thighs and using to fill in the facial area.
Micro-needling – A manually applied device is used to roll tiny needles across the surface of the skin to create micro-sized injuries. The tiny wounds heal by producing fresh collagen, which rejuvenates the skin. Results last a short while, but the treatment is inexpensive so repeat sessions are affordable.
Plastic surgery – a drastic form of anti-aging, plastic surgery is often reserved for serious wrinkles and sags. The results are typically dramatic, but requires a long recovery period.
Skin resurfacing – Non-ablative laser-equipment is used effectively to resurface the skin without damaging the outer layer of skin. It works on the dermal layer to stimulate collagen growth and tighten the skin cells. Results last for as long as a year or longer.

Disclaimer: This a featured editorial post.