Aging Process of Skin

The skin is the largest organ of human body. It plays a number of important roles for keeping your body well-protected and healthy. The most significant ones are preventing invasion from micro-organisms, checking out excessive loss of fluid from the body through it and regulating the body temperature by evaporating water. The human skin comprises of three layers. These are the uppermost layer called epidermis, middle layer termed as dermis, and the bottom layer known as subcutis. The cells present in the epidermis are dead, hard and flat. The cells comprising the dermis are living and comparatively larger and more round. The subcutis consists of cells that are growing and getting pushed upwards. As the cells move up, they lose water because of pressure and dehydration.

The epidermis keeps shedding off its dead cells, which are replaced by the upcoming cells produced in the deeper layers of skin. This process of regeneration and replacement of cells keeps on repeating and the skin looks toned, firm and saturated with moisture. However, as you grow older, this natural process of regeneration and replacement of cells start slowing down. This affects the appearance and characteristics of your skin. Signs of aging of the skin are visible after the age of 25. The aging process of skin involves a number of dermatological changes. The substantial changes that occur in the skin as it ages are described as follows.

Skin Aging Facts

• There is slow replacement of cells in the epidermis.
• There is deceleration in the turnover of the surface layer of the skin.
• The number of blood vessels in the skin decrease. This causes the skin to lose its youthful glow and shine.
• Due to the above mentioned reason, the wound healing ability of the skin slows down to a noticeable extent.
• Several hormonal changes related to aging occur in the body that thins the skin.
• Thinning of the skin makes it more fragile and prone to damage caused by scratches.
• The skin loses its resistance against allergens and irritable environmental factors.
• There is a loss of skin's strength and elasticity. The reason is the formation of cuts and cross links in the collagen and elastin coils.
• The skin becomes dry and loose as it loses a large amount of substances responsible for holding moisture such as proteoglycans and GAGs.
• There is a loss of fat in abundance from the skin. This makes the skin look less chubby and smooth.

By the time you age, gravity keeps playing its role. The over-all result of various changes that take place in the skin aging process is the formation of wrinkles, deep spots, depressions and fine or deep lines in the skin. Aging process in humans is natural and sure to happen after a particular biological age. However, in this age of chemical pollution and stressful life, aging of the skin may occur prematurely. The factors that contribute to the early onset of the aging process of skin are as follows.

Factors that Cause Early Skin Aging

• Ultraviolet rays
• Diet deficient in vitamins and minerals. Read on anti aging vitamins for skin.
• Long term exposure to sunlight
• Stress
• Tanning caused by any agent or medium
• Over-use of cosmetics
• Smoking

See also:

• Anti Aging: Stop that Gray
• Anti Aging Research: Techniques to Prevent Aging

You cannot escape skin aging process but yes, you can surely delay its occurrence. You can do it by avoiding deliberate tanning of the skin, preventing yourself from sun between 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., avoiding smoking, keeping your skin well moisturized and eating healthy. Take a look at this list of anti aging foods for skin. In case you have to go out in the sun, then wear protective clothing like dresses with full-sleeves and hat. Also, apply sunscreen on the exposed area. For better protection, put on sunscreen lotion at least half an hour before going out. You may also use anti aging skin care products and anti aging creams. All these protective methods will assist you in the postponement of the aging process of skin. Still, don't forget you have to face it some day. It will be best if you learn how to feel proud and comfortable in an aged and wrinkled skin.