Some resolve to grow old gracefully. Others choose to fight it tooth and nail. No matter where you stand, aging is an inescapable part of life. Your skin serves as a means of protection, a source of sensation and the foundation for aesthetic beauty. Aging takes a harsh toll on your skin. As you age, your skin becomes subject to a series of changes that have a major impact on its appearance and functionality.
How Skin Ages
The aging process involves the gradual breakdown of some of your skin's structural components. Skin receives its strength and support primarily from fibers such as elastin and collagen. As these fibers weaken, your skin becomes less elastic and more vulnerable to gravity's pull. Your skin's outer layer, surface layer blood vessels and subcutaneous fat layer become thinner and more fragile. Skin discolorations and growths such as liver spots, age spots and skin tags start to form on your face, arms and other areas. Aging skin also loses moisture as oil production steadily decreases.
Effects
The effects of aging tend to be most visible on your face. The loss of elasticity and fat makes skin wrinkle, sag and look less full. As it thins, your skin will appear more translucent. This makes your veins more visible. Weakening blood vessels become susceptible to frequent bruising. The decreased production of natural oils makes your skin feel dry and irritated. You may also find that your skin takes longer to recover from injuries such as cuts and scratches.
Considerations
While aging is a natural, inevitable process, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, excessive exposure from the sun's UV rays can enhance and accelerate the effects of aging on your skin. Sun exposure is also the primary cause of skin discolorations such as liver spots and age spots. Shield your skin by staying out of the sun and by wearing a protective sunscreen whenever you go outdoors.
Treatments
While there is currently no known way to reverse the aging process or erase its effect on your skin, there are things you can do to improve your skin's appearance. According to the Academy of Dermatology, using a medicated cream called retinoic acid may help to improve your skin's texture and fade some skin discolorations. Facial wrinkles can often be reduced with skin resurfacing treatments such as soft tissue fillers. This procedure involves injecting fat or collagen fillers into wrinkle creases to fill them out. To help relieve age-related dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends bathing in warm water rather than hot water. Hot water has a tendency to over-dry and irritate skin. Rubbing a moisturizing lotion on your skin right after bathing also helps relieve dryness.
Warning
Most age-related skin discolorations and growths are harmless and mainly affect your aesthetic appearance. According to the American Academy of Dermatology however, some skin discolorations can eventually become cancerous. Squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma are two common skin cancers. Tell your doctor right away if you see something on your skin that looks suspicious.
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