Aging Skin

 

The Characteristics of Aging Skin

Aging Skin is nothing but inevitable. We cannot keep our skin from growing older as we do, however we can take steps to make it look younger. The biggest organ on our body is our skin, and there is no way to hide it completely. Even those with a youthful appearance cannot completely overcome the appearance of their skin, which is bound to develop wrinkles and lines as the years go by.

The Functions of Skin

Skin is more than just a covering for the body tissues, organs, and bones that lie beneath it. It functions as a protective layer that helps the body combat disease and injury. Without skin, we would be unable to regulate our body temperature; sweating serves the function of cooling the skin, and everything underneath. Through our sense of touch conveyed by the skin, our brain receives signals to help it regulate body temperature.

The Facts about Aging Skin

Just like acne forms in response to an overabundance of sebum and dead skin cells and eczema appears as a reaction to any number of irritants, aging skin is the direct result of naturally occurring events in every human being. The result is:

     •    Sagging skin due to loss of muscle tone changes in connective tissue
     •    “Turkey neck” – loosening skin along the neck and jaw line
     •    Furrows between the eyes
     •    “Laugh lines” around the eyes
     •    Drooping eyelids
     •    Creasing around the mouth and along the sides of the nose
     •    Dryness and wrinkles from loss of fat in the outer layers
     •    Thinner, translucent skin

All of these events occur due to two major causes. These are the internal factors, such as heredity, and external factors, such as lifestyle, habits, and the environment. There is nothing we can do about internal factors, but we can prevent external factors from aging our skin. We can also use treatments to improve the appearance of skin which has suffered damage.

Some Treatment Options

There are any number of anti-wrinkle creams, eye creams and skin firming treatments available on the market today.

Most of them contain some form of natural vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, B, C, and E and zinc. Some of the newer antioxidants extracted from fruits and other food sources are also popular. All of these ingredients work by nourishing the skin and ridding it of toxins as well as repairing and healing damaged tissue.

There are specific day formulas, which are lighter and less apt to cause irritation, and night creams which are meant to do their repair work while you sleep.

More advanced medical treatments for aging skin include Botox injections and other fillers for wrinkles, alpha-hydroxy or retinoid creams, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels.

Aging Skin can make you look older than you should. There is no need for this. Take good care of your skin now, before problems start occurring. But if you have already damaged your skin, look into any of the anti wrinkle and skin firming treatment options readily available. You’ll look, and feel, a whole lot younger!