Take care of your skin from a young age
Physiology of skin aging
Biological aging is the result of changes that occur in the body naturally. Biological aging occurs as a result of natural changes in the body, caused, among other things, by a gradual change in the balance of certain hormones and chemicals that are produced in our body.
Many of these changes are genetically predetermined, and they cannot be stopped.
However, some factors affecting our biological age can and should be controlled. For example, free radicals are unstable molecules that damage proteins, lipids and DNA of cells, accelerating the process of biological aging. You can resist them by using antioxidants – substances that can neutralize free radicals. A healthy diet with fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, as well as dietary supplements and the local use of certain cosmetics and procedures can help reduce the intensity and delay the onset of many changes that occur as a result of biological aging.
Environmental aging is a negative consequence of environmental impact. And here again, free radicals are to blame, which we get from many sources: ultraviolet radiation from the sun, pollution, smoke, bad weather and stress. Years of accumulated environmental stress in cellular structures lead to early aging of the skin.
The main environmental stress factor that damages the skin is exposure to sunlight. Damage to skin components under the influence of sunlight is called photoaging. Neither cigarette smoke, nor car exhaust gases, nor industrial emissions, nor snow and rain, nor other chemical and physical factors can compare in their destructive effect with sunlight. They are 90% to blame for the early aging of the skin. The "gentle sun" literally burns out collagen, elastin, melanocytes and the water barrier of our skin, which leads to wrinkles, sagging and dry skin. That is why exposed areas of the skin – especially the face and hands, to a lesser extent the neck and decollete – age much earlier than those areas of the body that are covered with clothes most of the time.
There are other causes of environmental aging. Smoke, soot, dirt damage the skin, contributing to the accelerated production of free radicals and increasing the effect of UV radiation. Bad weather conditions (dry air, wind and cold) deprive the skin of the necessary moisture and lead to dehydration, coarsening and weathering of the skin – which means the appearance of early wrinkles.
Cigarette smoke increases the amount of free radicals and can lower the production of collagen and elastin. Cigarettes also significantly reduce the amount of oxygen in the skin cells.
Mechanical aging occurs as a result of muscle movements that are repeated day after day and year after year. Of course, some movements cannot be avoided, but others are quite realistic to limit:
- Do not squint and do not frown – this is the main cause of the interbrow folds and "crow's feet" around the eyes. Poor eyesight – wear glasses or lenses, and do not forget about eye protection from the sun.
- Do not smoke and do not drink drinks through a straw – the addition of lips with a straw contributes to the appearance of pouch wrinkles around the mouth.
- Do not lift your eyebrows endlessly – this causes horizontal wrinkles on the forehead.
- Avoid the thinker's pose (chin or cheek in hand) – this causes creases around the mouth, on the cheeks and under the eyes.
- Do not sleep on your side or on your stomach – this also leads to creases, as well as to stretching of the skin.
- Do not rub your face – do not stretch the skin. This is especially true of the habit of rubbing your eyes when you want to sleep – the skin around the eyes suffers very much from this.
- Avoid weight fluctuations – when you get fat, the skin stretches, when you lose weight, it starts to sag.
- Do not read lying down and do not sleep on a high pillow – otherwise you will be provided with a second chin.
Signs of agingAn obvious sign of aging is dry skin.
Healthy, young skin maintains an appropriate level of hydration due to a sufficient level of hyaluronic acid, which has the ability to attract and retain moisture inside the skin. Also, moisture is retained by a sealed hydrobarrier of the skin, consisting of keranocytes – skin cells filled with keratin. With age, the skin produces less hyaluronic acid, ceramides and lipids, and the water barrier begins to break down. The following factors accelerate this process:
- Improper skin care: the use of strong cleansing agents and a lack of skin nutrition, which should be provided by properly selected moisturizing and nourishing cosmetics.
- Neglect of protective equipment during a stay in bad weather conditions: in the heat, in the cold, in a strong wind.
- Lack of protection of the skin from UV rays when in the sun.
A dull, uneven complexion is another visible sign of skin aging. A radiant complexion is an undoubted sign of youthful skin, as fresh new cells appear on the surface, and old cells are constantly exfoliated. Skin cells in the lower (basal) layer of the skin are constantly dividing and forming new ones. This process is called skin cell repair. As we age, the rate of regeneration of skin cells slows down, as well as the process of exfoliation of old cells. As a result, the skin becomes thinner, looks dull and uneven.
Several factors affect the process of slowing down the recovery of skin cells. In particular, due to weakened blood vessels, the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the basal cells in the lower part of the epidermis decreases. The sun's rays, penetrating into the deep layers of the skin, damage the basal cells and slow down the rate of their division.
Wrinkles and deep wrinkles on the skin are the third visible sign of skin aging. The protein collagen, which is located in the dermis, supports and protects the skin. With age, the production of collagen decreases, but it begins to break down faster than before. This leads to an overall decrease in the amount of collagen in the skin. Areas with less support begin to fall in, and wrinkles appear.
A decrease in the level of collagen, again, is provoked by many factors. Firstly, with age there is a natural decrease in the number of intermediary molecules that stimulate the production of collagen. At the same time, the amount of collagenase enzyme increases, which breaks down collagen. Free radicals that damage collagen chains and stimulate the activity of collagenase also affect the reduction of collagen levels.
Mechanical impact on the skin as a result of too active facial expressions also leads to the destruction of collagen. In addition, with age, a decrease in the level of hydration of the skin makes collagen brittle, and it breaks easily.
Loss of skin density and elasticity is another sign of aging. All three types of skin aging: biological, environmental and mechanical – lead to a decrease in skin density. As we age, our body produces more and more of the hormone DHT, which negatively affects the production of elastin, another structural protein of the dermis. This ring-shaped protein restores its shape after stretching and provides skin elasticity. With age, elastin fibers lose their elasticity. This general decrease in the level of elastin content leads to the fact that there are areas of reduced density, especially along the jaw line, neck and around the eyes.
Enlarged pores are also a sign of skin aging. Initially, the pore size is genetically predetermined. However, as we age, our pores tend to visually enlarge. This is due to the accumulation of dead cells around the pore. Exfoliating the skin and cleaning the pores helps to reduce their pore size.
Pigmented spots are also a clear sign of skin aging. Normal skin pigmentation is needed to protect from sunlight. Melanin, a photoprotective skin pigment, is produced in specialized melanocyte cells in the lower layer of the epidermis. As we age, the activity of melanocytes decreases, making the skin more susceptible to damage due to UV exposure. At the same time, the process of distribution of melanocytes is disrupted, and they begin to group unevenly. This leads to the appearance of age spots.
Pigmentation disorders are primarily affected by age-related hormonal imbalance, which leads to a decrease in the number of melanocytes, as well as to excessive production of melanin. Secondly, UV rays penetrate the skin and damage melanocytes. Thirdly, improper skin care can lead to skin irritation, which stimulates the production of melanin.
How to avoid early skin aging In addition to general recommendations – do not wrinkle, avoid sunlight and other adverse factors, ladies and gentlemen who want to keep their skin young for as long as possible can be advised to contact a cosmetologist without fail.
A specialist will take care of your skin much better than you yourself: he will recommend the necessary procedures, select medications for home care.
The arsenal that cosmetologists use in the battle for youth inspires respect. This includes mesotherapy, biorevitalization, all kinds of peels, botox injections, contouring, and, of course, numerous masks, creams and skin care programs. Only a professional can choose from all the variety of tools that you need.
Serums and fortified cocktailsYou can delay the appearance of the first signs of aging by using serums – concentrated preparations containing nutrients and moisturizers, antioxidants, and so on.
Serums help to make skin care more intense, so that results with their help can be achieved faster.
For many procedures, cosmetologists use fortified cocktails. Coming directly into the skin, vitamins have a life-giving effect on our appearance.
Thus, vitamin C protects the skin from infections, helps to heal wounds and cuts, and also supports the normal formation and restoration of red blood cells. Vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of collagen. But most importantly: vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that saves cells and tissues of the body from damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin B6- helps amino acids that build the cells of our body. Vitamin B6 is also involved in the synthesis of proteins, including collagen and elastin. Vitamin B6 also fights skin irritation.
Vitamin B5 promotes revitalization – the return of vitality and energy to skin cells, and stimulates the internal forces of the body to activate the mechanism of intensive skin regeneration.
Vitamin E is an equally powerful antioxidant. It performs an important protective function in the body, fighting free radicals and protecting fatty acids from them, especially unsaturated ones, necessary for cell membranes. In addition, vitamin E protects against hyperpigmentation, sagging skin. It also improves the transport of oxygen to tissues, nutrition of the skin and mucous membranes, thereby preventing dry skin, improves the condition of hair and nails, promotes "rejuvenation" of the body.
Vitamin A contributes to the normal synthesis of proteins and metabolism, ensures the health of cells, teeth and bones, the correct distribution of fat deposits. It slows down aging and helps new cells to appear and grow, supports and restores tissues of all skin layers and the structure of mucous membranes. Vitamin A treats skin problems and diseases: pimples, acne, psoriasis; heals damage – burns and wounds, promotes collagen synthesis and the formation of new, normal and healthy tissue.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru21.05.2013