Good skin care, a healthy diet and protection from the sun go a long way toward preventing premature wrinkling and dryness, but they can't stop the normal changes that take place with aging. Genetics also affect the rate of skin aging, but over time everyone's skin loses strength, elasticity and firmness.
Intrinsic Causes
The intrinsic causes of aging are simply the natural biological processes that occur as we grow older. Collagen and elastin are proteins found in the skin's connective tissue that provide strength and elasticity. As skin ages, the production of collagen slows down, and elastin begins to lose its effect. Sebaceous glands produce less oil, causing dry skin. The skin loses firmness as the layer of fat just below the surface thins out.
Extrinsic Causes
There are several external causes of skin aging, but the biggest factor is exposure to the sun. Over time, sun exposure results in photoaging; collagen breaks down and skin becomes wrinkled and leathery. The damage exists beneath the surface of the skin years before becoming visible, states the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Smoking, sleeping position and repetitive facial expressions also contribute to aging. Smoking accelerates the aging process. According to the AAD, a person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes a day for 10 years is more likely to develop deeply wrinkled skin than a nonsmoker. Lines that form from sleeping on your side or face-down eventually become wrinkles. Working the same muscle by repeating the same facial expression results in a permanent wrinkle as skin loses elasticity.
Prevention
The best way to slow down skin aging is by preventing damage from the sun. Use sunscreens that have a sun protection factor of 15 or greater and that have UVA and UVB coverage. Good nutrition and adequate fluid intake are also important for maintaining healthy skin that's less prone to premature aging. Follow a consistent skin care routine. Use moisturizers daily, use warm rather than hot water and use mild cleansers, states information from the Cleveland Clinic.
Treatment
Facial creams containing retinoic acid (tretinoin) have been approved by the FDA to fight aging by increasing collagen and improving skin texture and color. Salicylic acid also improves texture and color by exfoliating the skin. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) help decrease fine lines, irregular pigmentation, age spots and enlarged pores. Tretinoin and AHAs increase sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to wear sunscreen. Other treatment options include dermabrasion, laser resurfacing or chemical peels to restore skin, dermal fillers injected into the skin to soften wrinkles, botulinum (Botox) injections to relax small muscles and remove expression lines, and a traditional facelift.
Considerations
As skin ages, other changes become more common. Age spots (also called liver spots or lentigines) are caused by the sun and are usually harmless but can be treated. Brown or black wart-like growths, called seborrheic keratoses, are common and not cancerous. Years of sun exposure increase the chance of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It grows slowly, seldom spreads and looks like a small bump or red bleeding area on the head, face, nose, neck or chest. Malignant melanoma looks like a dark brown or black mole-like growth with irregular borders and variable colors. If an existing mole changes or a new mole appears, it should be examined by a physician, because melanomas can spread and be fatal.
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