The skin is a fascinating organ. It's the external organ that others can see and touch. The skin provides bacterial and environmental protection and works with the brain to regulate body temperature. It is the largest organ in the body with a vast network of nerve fibers and cells that works to provide the sensory communication of touch, pain and pressure, heat and cold. Skin aging is unavoidable but there are many things you can do to avoid premature aging of the skin.
Causes
Environmental factors play a major role in premature aging of the skin. Premature skin aging is commonly due to exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Constant exposure to the sun makes the skin dry, flaky, and thick and leathery. Smoking contributes more than 4,000 toxins into the body that damage the organs of the body, including the skin. Alcohol, poor diet, lack of exercise, stress and insomnia are all culprits of premature aging of the skin.
What Are The Signs?
Signs of premature skin aging include fine or deep wrinkles on the face--particularly around the eyes and mouth--dark circles under the eyes and wrinkles around the neck and neckline. The skin may be sagging, dry and flaky and with dark spots along with a dull skin color and tone.
Prevention
Normal skin aging is unavoidable, but you can take steps to avoid premature skin aging, such as avoiding too much exposure to the sun. Always use a sunscreen to protect the skin from ultraviolet light. According to Health Unit website, a sun screen is anything that protects the skin from ultraviolet light, such as a hat or an umbrella, clothing, as well as a sun block or sun screen oils, creams and lotions. Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Use a skin moisturizer to hydrate and moisten the skin. Enjoy a healthy diet, get adequate fluids, exercise, get adequate sleep and reduce stress.
Considerations
There are three different types of light emitted from the sun. They are visible light, the infrared light felt as heat and the invisible ultraviolet radiation light, according to the Health Unit website. The ultraviolet radiation part of sunlight causes the most effect on the skin and is the one you need to most protect your skin against.
Research Study
A Science News post on September 2, 2009, on the Red Orbit website, entitled "Gene found to cause premature skin aging", states that an international team of scientists from 15 hospitals and research centers in 13 nations reported they've found a mutation of a specific gene that causes premature skin aging. Their findings suggest two things; first, increasing levels of the protein produced by the mutations of the PYCR1 gene could reverse conditions that cause fast aging and wrinkly skin; secondly, it also provides insight into how some unexpected genes help maintain youthful skin.
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