How to slow down the aging process of the skin? -what is worth knowing?
Ever looked at someone older than you and thought, “Wow, what great skin they have.”
Aging your complexion with grace and dignity does not mean that you give up, on the contrary, it means you should know your skin and what works best for it.
The following article is written to help you understand what the skin cycle is, identifying your skin type and how all of this is so important to maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion.
What does skin do?
The skin tightly envelops you, defends you from the influence of the environment, cold, sunlight, pathogenic microbes. The skin is a complex system that transmits information from the outside world to the body. For the sake of our health and well-being, it is important to keep the skin in the best possible condition, because its appearance testifies to us.
Skin functions
The skin of modern people endures a lot of inconvenience every day.
Stress improper diet, contact with artificial plastics and chemicals – if we do not take care of our skin properly, it will not overcome all these adversities. Its natural protective layer, the so-called water-lipid jacket, will be weakened, and, when it gets thinner, the skin will become more sensitive, susceptible to infections, age faster and potentially succumb to serious illnesses.
Leather, with its approx. 2 m2 surface area and thickness of 1-4 mm, is one of our largest organs. Resistant to heat and frost. Not scared of water, as well as acids and bases, if they do not have too high concentrations. It remains soft, elastic, and resistant to stretching even when it is exposed to adverse weather conditions for many years or dried in air-conditioned interiors.
Its strength makes it perfectly suited to protect internal tissues and organs. With the help of a complex sensor system, it provides the brain with detailed information about the environment and ensures that the body adapts to the conditions prevailing outside.
Skin structure
The overall surface of the skin of an adult human depends on its structure and growth.
On average, however, it is assumed that it is from 1.5 to 2 m2. The thickness of the skin varies from 0.5 to 4 mm, although people working in difficult conditions may have much thicker skin on their hands, up to 10 mm. The skin is made of epidermis and dermis, which is connected to the underlying tissues deeper by means of subcutaneous tissue.
The epidermis is formed from a multi-layered squamous epithelium, which does not have blood vessels, which is why it keratinizes, i.e. dies, and systematically exfoliates. And keratinized cells are replaced by new ones. The epidermis has a deep reproductive layer. Pigment cells (melanocytes) are embedded in it, there is a synthesis of pigment (melanin), on which our complexion depends.
Skin colour depends not only on melanin, but also carotene and haemoglobin.
Melanin – with a colour range from red to black – is formed in melanocytes, cells lying in the lower layer of the epidermis. All people, regardless of race and skin colour, have the same number of melanocytes. But the melanocytes of dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin.
Carotene is an orange dye absorbed from vegetables such as carrots. It is deposited in the outer layer of the epidermis and is most visible on the hands and soles. Haemoglobin found in the blood vessels of the skin gives it a pink coloration, especially when there is a small amount of melanin in the skin.
It possesses the ability to divide (reproduce), that is, to create new structures, and has cylindrical cells – they constitute the basic layer of the epidermis.
Epidermal cells are also located in the vicinity of hair warts and around the back and side parts of the nail plates. Thanks to the sweat and sebaceous glands along with skin secretions – sweat and sebum- harmful metabolic products are removed, and the skin can act as a systemic thermostat.
The dermis has two layers: papillary and reticular. The first one borders on the epidermis and connects to it with small protrusions (warts). Warts are arranged in the so-called skin slats, which is particularly well visible on the fingers of the hand. These are our fingerprints.
The papillary layer passes into the second layer of the dermis – the reticular layer. This is where fat cells can appear.
In the subcutaneous tissue there are collagen and elastic fibres. It is vascularized and innervated, and thanks to its loose structure, it can move from place to place. In free spaces, fat cells willingly accumulate, forming a fat bedding.
Collagen fibres form a flexible network with thick meshes. It acts as a scaffolding of the skin. That is why, when around the age of 40 these fibres begin to disappear, in the most laboured places, e.g. on the face, waist, hands, the first, irreversible wrinkles appear.
In addition to collagen fibres, there are elastic fibres in the dermis (their origin and function are not yet fully understood; they probably give the skin elasticity) and individual blood cells and immune cells. At this level, in some areas of the body, e.g. around the nipples and their areolas and in the scrotum, there are also clusters of smooth muscles that enhance our erotic sensations.
In the skin there are capillaries (blood vessels) that become narrowed or dilated depending on physical (heat, cold) or mental conditions. Cooling or fear causes narrowing of the vessels and thus paleness of the skin, while an increase in temperature, embarrassment or positive emotions dilate the vessels, and this causes its redness.
With age, the epidermis does not exfoliate and renew as quickly as before. It is becoming thinner and dry. The skin produces less melanin, so the so-called senile brownish spots appear on it. In the dermis, the gel-like substance that fills the space between the connective tissue fibres disappears. This reduces the ability to bind water in the tissues, which reduces the elasticity and firmness of the skin.
Collagen fibres become brittle, the skin loses elasticity, wrinkles are formed. The increasingly lazy subcutaneous layer causes that few nutrients reach the dermis and epidermis. Malnourished skin sags and becomes prone to injury.
How does Skin Age?
Skin aging is a physiological process of the body that begins just after the birth of a person. Despite this, its first signs are visible only after years.
There are several theories that can explain this phenomenon. What is certain is that with age – especially after forty – the level of certain proteins and repair abilities of individual cells in our body decreases.
The causes of skin aging are also hormonal changes, such as a decrease in the level of estrogens or androgens. In addition, the aging process is inextricably linked to the impact of the environment.
This means that cells exposed to, for example, oxidative stress will age faster, and therefore, taking care of our health, we have a good chance of significantly delaying this process.
The most important proteins in the skin are collagen and elastin. With age, there are fewer and fewer of them in our skin, as well as saccharides, because the productivity of fibroblasts, i.e. the cells of the dermis responsible for their production, decreases. A decrease in the level of collagen and elastin makes the skin lose its firmness and elasticity. The less firm the skin, the easier and faster wrinkles are formed, they are also deeper and more durable. In addition, the skin is less and less resistant to gravity and over time in some areas begins to lose elasticity.
The amount of water-binding hyaluronic acid is also reduced, and the hydrolipid layer becomes thinner. What is the latter? It is a coating, also called a hydrolipid coat, that covers the skin. It consists of water and lipids, that is, structural proteins, fatty acids, ceramides, and other substances. This layer is designed to protect the skin from external factors (m.in air pollution, microorganisms, UV radiation), and helps the skin maintain an adequate level of water and elasticity.
Why does skin age?
lower level of structural proteins in the skin (collagen, elastin)
weakening of regenerative
abilities thinner hydrolipid coat – the skin is more exposed to external factors
skin dehydration
Skin hydration level.
During the skin aging process the level of its hydration is crucial. The lipid coat ensures that the epidermis does not lose excessive amount of water, which is necessary for the proper course of all processes occurring in the skin. When the skin loses its proper level of hydration, it not only becomes visibly dry, but also regenerates more slowly and signs of aging, such as wrinkles, appear on it faster.
Reducing the protective layer weakens the skin, making it more exposed to harmful external factors. In turn, its exposure to such factors significantly accelerates aging, which is why its protection is so important. When does the skin begin to age? This process begins incredibly early, around the age of 25. Although the effects are not yet visible or are very subtle, this is the best time to start anti-aging care.
Signs of skin aging
How will we know the first signs of skin aging? Usually, mimic wrinkles appear first, especially those in the delicate eye area. Over time, there are more wrinkles, they are deeper and deeper and more difficult to shallow. The skin also loses elasticity, and the subcutaneous fat layer can move. This leads to the formation of even drooping cheeks, which clearly changes the contour of the face and visually significantly ages it.
And what are the less obvious symptoms of the fact that the aging process has begun?
Discoloration may appear on our skin (this is the result of pigmentation disorders). Small blood vessels can be clearly dilated and thus more visible. The skin also acquires an earthy shade, becomes dull, devoid of radiance. It is also possible to have excessive keratosis – we observe then that the epidermis becomes rough and dry and may also peel.
How to slow down the aging process of the skin?
For the preservation of youth, general care for health is especially important. The condition of the skin says a lot about what is happening inside our body, so one of the first actions aimed at slowing down skin aging should be to consolidate a healthy lifestyle. It is not only about a balanced, vegetable-rich diet and drinking the right amount of water, but also the so-called “work-life balance”, i.e., ensuring that in addition to duties and work in our lives there is also a place for rest and relaxation. It is also important to get enough sleep – a one-time sleepless night does not have profound consequences, but regularly sleep deprivation and living in constant tension can strongly affect the state of health and faster aging of the body – including the skin.
Also try limit drinking alcohol. Do not smoke cigarettes
Already around the twentieth birthday, it is worth developing the habit of regular skin care. At that point it should be based primarily on moisturizing the skin. This custom should stay with us forever, although in later years it is also worth rolling out heavier guns in the fight for beautiful skin.
In addition to moisturizing, cleansing is also crucial. We should do this not only in the evening, before bedtime, but also in the morning. It is worth thoroughly cleansing the skin of impurities and makeup residues, and in the morning – primarily from:
- Sweat, which is secreted by sleep (with it toxins are excreted from the body),
- Mites from bedding,
- Dust
- Sebum.
Cleansed skin should be toned (restored to its proper pH with a tonic), and then it can be moisturized and nourished with the help of appropriate cosmetics.
What care treatments slow down the aging process?
If you want to take care of the condition of your skin, you must remember to systematically perform all basic care treatments, including make-up removal, exfoliation of the epidermis and intensive moisturizing use for the body and face. Also, the facial massage itself should be used daily, with each application of the cream, after removing makeup.
Facial massage not only improves the absorption of cosmetics, but also stimulates blood and lymph circulation, improves skin tone, and has an anti-wrinkle effect.
Do not forget about the eye area – it requires a different cream than the rest of the face, because there the skin is thinner and loses elasticity faster.
Is it Possible to stop the aging process?
Aging of the skin is an inevitable process, but if we constantly care for it and take care of its condition, we can successfully delay the appearance of the first signs of old age. The basis for the care of aging skin is, home care cosmetics for the body and face with firming, smoothing and revitalizing effects.
Professional Salon / Spa Treatments.
Although they are not able to stop the aging process of the skin, they can effectively slow it down. Thanks to this, our complexion and body will retain their beautiful appearance longer and even at a mature age will exude radiance and energy.
The treatments are preformed to reduce the signs of skin aging in my salon include:
- CPL Skin Rejuvenation
- Laser Skin Volumetric
- Microneedling,
- Chemical/Fruits Peelings Treatments
- Natural Face Lift Massage
- Bio-Esthetic Kinesiotaping
- Home care routine
- Naqua Therapy
- estGen Therapy
Please feel free to get in touch to discuss any of the point mentioned in this article as I have a real passion for helping people to age with grace and dignity whilst also maintaining a youthful glow.