When does the skin age?

It's easy to forget that the skin is an organ - just like our heart or liver - which performs a list of life-sustaining tasks. It regulates body temperature. It is the body's sensor, registering pressure, temperature and pain. It is a barrier against the elements and a shield against bacteria and viruses.

It is also the body's 'mirror'. When we're tired, not eating properly, or physically or emotionally stressed, our skin reacts.

Skin is also the body's first line of defence. As such, it is easily damaged both by external causes - sunlight, air pollution - and internal factors, such as cigarette smoke or a diet that lacks nutrients, particularly antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and E. It is the way we treat our skin - not the ageing process - that 'ages' facial skin the most.

20s

The skin begins to slowly and steadily age. Dead skin cells are not replaced as quickly, collagen production slows and our skin loses elasticity. Signs of this type of aging include:

• Thinner skin
• Fine lines
• Dry, itchy skin

All that time we spend in the sun working on our tan contributes heavily to this. The hectic lifestyle, coupled with an irregular diet and sleep schedule, can lead to more free radical damage, puffiness, and toxic overload.

In our 20s, our main priority is to protect our skin and help it repair daily damage to prevent the formation of premature fine lines and wrinkles.

Our skin’s rate of regeneration slows down dramatically, leading to a dull and uneven complexion.

30s

Our main priority is to help slow the degradation of collagen and elastin by fighting free radical damage, while also helping stimulate their production. To maintain a youthful and dewy glow, it is also important to help skin promote its natural exfoliation, allowing younger skin cells to surface.

The layer of adipose tissue starts to diminish during this time, leading to thinner and more sensitive skin. The moisture barrier also begins its decay, leading to noticeably dryer and less elastic skin. Freckles, sun spots, age spots, and spider veins starts to show.

40s

It is important that we boost our level of skin hydration and use ingredients that are mild and non-irritating, all while helping even tone, reduce redness, and increase firmness and elasticity.

Hormonal changes send the skin into overdrive. The most noticeable change is the level of hydration, which is due to a rapid deterioration of our skin's moisture barrier. To fight this, it is important that we treat our skin with highly hydrating ingredients that also work to help repair the barrier at the same time. The skin also becomes thinner, pores become larger, and the surface layer of immunity on the skin drastically decreases.

 

 

www.longevity.about.com/
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/