Changes in your skin are the most apparent signs of the aging process. Aging skin is thinner, more prone to wrinkling and takes more time to heal after an injury, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). A person's level of skin aging can vary and is influenced by genetics, stress and exposure to the sun over the years.
Wrinkles
During the aging process, the fat layer that supports the skin begins to shrink. Without this layer to plump up the skin, the skin begins to sag and wrinkles, lines and furrows form. Skin also thins with age and becomes looser and drier, due to the changes in the connective tissue that give skin elasticity. The extent of wrinkling depends on the amount of sun exposure throughout your life, according to the AAD. People who work in jobs outdoors or who sunbathe frequently may develop more wrinkles than people who use sunscreen and avoid sun exposure. Use of sunscreen can prevent new wrinkles and reduce the chance that you will develop skin cancer.
Dry Skin
Decreased oil production affects the skin's ability to retain moisture, although this occurs earlier in women than in men. According to MedLine Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, oil production decreases in women after menopause, while men experience a minimal decrease after age 80. This decrease in oil causes dry, itchy skin.
Skin Diseases
Older skin is susceptible to several skin diseases. Seborrheic dermatitis occurs when red, greasy scales form on oily areas of the skin, such as the scalp, eyelids, eyebrows, nose, chest, breasts, underarms, navel and buttocks. The condition may go away without treatment, but can become a chronic problem without treatment. Shingles, a painful skin disease caused by the chicken pox virus, occurs more often with age. You can only develop shingles if you have had chicken pox earlier.
Blood Vessel Problems
Thinner skin and blood vessels mean that injuries may take longer to heal and bruises may develop more easily. Broken blood vessels and capillaries may cause red areas or lines on the face. Red bumps, called cherry angiomas, may form due to dilated blood vessels and enlarged blood vessels can also cause varicose veins, a painful condition affecting the legs.
Skin Growths
An increase in warts, age spots and skin tags is also part of the aging process. Some people develop seborrheic keratoses, which are raised brown or black growths on the skin. These growths can be removed by your doctor. Brown, black or gray age spots may develop on the skin as you age and occur due to the effects of years of sun exposure.
Skin Cancer
In addition to increasing wrinkling, significant sun exposure may increase your chance of developing skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma appears as a small bump or tiny bleeding spot on the nose, face, neck, head or chest. Malignant melanoma is the more serious form of skin cancer and is often noticed when a mole changes shape or color or when a new mole develops. While many skin growths are benign, new growths should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out skin cancer.
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