Photoaging occurs over a span of years. As you expose your skin to the sun, the skin
loses the ability to repair itself and the damage accumulates. The exposure to the UV rays in sunshine breaks down the collagen in the
skin and impairs the skin’s ability to make new collagen.
Facial Expressions: For many years women were urged to perform
facial exercises to maintain a youthful appearance. If you’re one of these women, stop doing it now. Studies have shown that repetitive
facial movement actually leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Each time we use a face muscle, a groove forms beneath the skin’s surface
which is why we see lines form with each facial expression. As our skin ages, and we lose elasticity, the skin stops being able to
spring back and these grooves become permanent lines and wrinkles.
Gravity: That immense and wonderful force that keeps us from
flying off the planet at it spins in place and zooms around the sun is constantly pulling on our bodies. The changes in our bodies
related to gravity become more pronounced as we age. Somewhere around our 50s when our skin’s elasticity begins to decline dramatically,
we see the tips of our noses begin to droop, the ears to elongate, our eyelids to fall, jowls to form and the upper lip to disappear
while the lower lip becomes more pronounced.
Sleeping Positions: Studies have shown that people who have
“favorite” sleeping positions and use them for years on end tend to develop lines and wrinkles, called sleep lines. As aging
progresses, these lines become etched into the skin and no longer disappear when upright. The direction these wrinkles follow
depends on the way the face is “crinkled” when pressed against the pillow.
Smoking: Cigarette smoking causes biochemical changes in the
body that accelerates the aging process. A person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes per day for a minimum of 10 years is much more likely
to develop deeply-wrinkled, leathery skin than a non-smoker. Long term smokers also tend to develop a yellowish cast to their complexion.
Additionally, a 2002 study showed that facial wrinkling, while not yet visible to the naked eye, can be seen under a microscope in
smokers as young as 20 years old.
Preventing The Aging Process:
There is nothing that can be done to stop (or even to slow) the Intrinsic Aging process
of the body, but much of the Extrinsic Aging can be prevented by following some simple tips:
• Avoid deliberate tanning, this includes sun lamps and tanning booths or
beds.
• Stay out of the sun between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. whenever
possible. These are the hours when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
• When you have to spend time outdoors during the day, wear protective
clothing, such as wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves.
• Always wear a broad spectrum sunscreen (one that offers both UVA and
UVB protection). This sunscreen should have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
of 15 or higher. You need to apply it to any exposed skin 20 minutes before
going outside. You should reapply the sunscreen after sweating or being in
the water, and you should wear it all year around.
Finally, there are many treatment options available to treat the visible signs of aging.
If your aging bothers you, see a dermatologist and discuss the options that are available and find the ones that best suit your needs and
your lifestyle.
