Growing old is process that really has no cure. As the environment wears down on the outside surfaces of the skin (extrinsic aging), and free radicals and loss of moisture wear on the inside (intrinsic aging), the skin is the first to show external signs of old age through age spots, wrinkles, and thinning or drooping of the skin.
Collagen
One aspect of the skin aging process revolves around collagen. Collagen is an important protein in the connective tissues of your body responsible for skin firmness. According to Dr. Suzan Obagi, director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center in Pittsburgh, after the age of 20, you produce 1 percent less collagen each year. This loss of collagen causes the skin to become thinner and more fragile with age. This loss of collagen can also cause skin to wrinkle and droop.
Elastin
Elastin is another important protein found in the skin that affects the aging process. Elastin is produced by fibroblasts which naturally decrease in ability to produce elastin as you age. Elastin is responsible for giving your skin the ability to stretch and rebound. The loss of rebound in your skin can contribute to wrinkle formation.
Sebum
The process of aging also has an effect on your sebacious glands. Sebacious glands produce sebum, an oil which coats the skin and helps to protect if from moisture loss. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, the sebacious glands naturally start producing less sebum as you age, allowing your skin to dry out faster. Dry skin cells are not as healthy looking, are more fragile and do not provide as much stretch to the skin tissue as well hydrated cells do.
Melanin
Melanin is also affected by aging, most prominently in the appearance of age spots, also known as liver spots. According to the Mayo Clinic, as you age, your body begins producing greater amounts of melanin. Melanin is the substance in your skin that creates pigment (color). This excess melanin can clump together resulting in high-concentration areas of melanin on the skin in the form of spots. Years of excessive exposure to the sun or tanning beds can accelerate the appearance of age spots, as UV radiation from these sources activates the production of melanin.
Free Radicals
The body's aging process can also be influenced by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules of oxygen in the body that have an unpaired electron, and are created in the body through exposure to sunlight. To balance itself, a free radical steal electrons from other substances in the body, such as collagen or elastin. This changes the structure of collagen and elastin, breaking it down and changing its structure, accelerating the aging process. Free radicals are fought off by substances made in the body called antioxidants. Antioxidants can also be found in the foods you eat, such as blueberries, grapes, kidney beans and cranberries.
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