How does our skin ageing?
Our skin is our protective layer against the outside world. It protects us from the cold, the sun and the rain and helps to regulate our body temperature. Its importance is almost as big as its size: it measures around 2 square metres and weighs 5 kg. And in only one centimetre squared of skin, there are 5 hair follicles, 15 oil glands, 100 sweat glands, 4 metres of nerves, 1 metre of blood vessels, 5000 sensitive organs and 5 million cells.
Our skin is a reflection of our inner health and of unavoidable ageing. It continues to change with the passing of years and continues to reveal the most visible signs of time. As we get older, our skin loses elasticity and turgidity, the oil and sweat gland activity reduces, its ability to repair itself decreases and it becomes more susceptible to alkaline solutions (soaps).
How do our skin layers age?
The traces of skin ageing before becoming visible in our complexion are shown in the deeper layers of our skin:
- Epidermis: A thinning by generally 10-50% occurs on the surface layer of our skin. Cell renewal also becomes slower and fewer lipids are produced, which can lead to dryer skin, a higher sensitivity to UV rays and an increase in the risk of infections.
- Dermis: from the ages 25-30, collagen decreases by 1% each year. This, combined with the decrease in elastin, causes wrinkles to appear and leads to more capillary vessels breaking, which results in less oxygen and less of a rosy glow in our skin.
- Hypodermis: this is the deepest layer, whose condition largely depends on our fat layer. Over time, less and less lipids are stored, the layer loses volume, and consequently, deep wrinkles and possible sores appear on our skin.
What are the signs of a mature skin?
Our face represents our physiological development and is also the most visible reflection of the passage of time. But, what are the clear signs associated with mature skin?
- Wrinkles: they appear due to the thinning of our skin tissue. The decrease in cell production in the epidermis means that it loses volume and wrinkles.
- Less firmness: over the years, our skin produces less elastin and collagen, falling due to the effect of gravity.
- Blemishes: they appear particularly in the areas that have been most exposed to the sun, due to the multiplication of melanocytes (responsible for giving our skin its pigmentation) which grow and group together forming spots or blemishes.
- Dryness: ageing skin can be rough and/or sore, since it has less sweat and oily glands to nourish the tissues.
Tips to prevent premature ageing
The first thing you should know is that skin ageing is a natural and irreversible process. However, and in accordance with a report by the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, genetics only influence 25% of the ageing process of our skin. The remaining 75% is due to “external causes”, such as stress, tobacco, solar radiation and a poor diet, which trigger the oxidation of cells or free radicals.
In this way, by reviewing and changing some of our habits we can reduce the signs of time on our skin. As always, prevention is the best medicine. Here are our tips for you to follow:
- Healthy diet: Our skin needs to hydrate itself and nourish itself from within. A poor diet in the long run leads to wrinkles and blemishes to appear prematurely. Whereas a diet based on fruit and vegetables (a source of antioxidants) helps to neutralize free radicals and to delay skin ageing.
- Avoid a large amount of sun exposure: 90% of the problems associated with the ageing of our skin are due to an excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. Long-term exposure leads to photo-ageing, premature skin deterioration. For this reason, it is essential to use the appropriate sun protection products.
- Stop smoking: nicotine and the chemical products in tobacco stimulate cellular oxidation of the dermis, damaging its elasticity and strength.
- Appropriate skin care: Treating your skin how it deserves will help to delay the signs of ageing. Applying dermatology formulae for hygiene, toning and hydration will give us a healthier and more beautiful complexion.
- Healthy lifestyle: when we talk about healthy lifestyles we are referring particularly to getting a minimum of 8 hours sleep, avoiding stress as much as we can and drinking at least 2 litres of water a day.
Despite the fact that skin ageing is part of our natural lifecycle, it can be up to us to reduce the clear signs of age. Having a number of beneficial habits and taking care of ourselves using dermatologist approved treatments will make our skin mature in a healthy way, both inside and out.
