Chapter 1. How and Why Skin Ages
For as long as one can remember, it has always been the pursuit of many to keep their
youthful looks, even at great costs. And in this day and age, the trend has not changed.
Now more than ever, methods, techniques and treatments meant to retain that “youthful
glow” proliferate everywhere. As it is the most tell-tale sign of getting old, anti-ageing
goods and services account for billions of dol ars spent in the hopes of delaying the onset of skin ageing
Unfortunately, many have been and are misinformed on how and why the skin ages
misleading these same people into buying products that only offer short-lived, if not
unsuccessful and disappointing, results.
It is therefore only smart to know just how the skin develops over time. In understanding
the hows and whys of ageing skin, the correct habits and treatments can then be
developed to retain as much one’s youthful looks for as long a time as possible.
First off, there are two types of ageing for the skin. There is the intrinsic (internal) ageing, which is caused by factors within one’s own body, such as genes and body condition; and
extrinsic (external) ageing, which is caused by factors outside one’s body, such as sunlight and lifestyle.
Intrinsic (internal) ageing
Ageing is a natural process and our genes determine how one goes through that process.
For some, ageing can set on earlier or later than most. On average, signs of skin ageing
begin to appear in the mid-20s.
As one grows older, the skin’s ability to snap back to shape (elasticity) starts to decrease.
That is because skin cells do not regenerate as fast as they used to - resulting to tougher, older skin. Although internal ageing begins in one’s 20s, the typical signs of wrinkles and sagging skin do not appear for until about a couple of decades more.
Other signs that indicate skin ageing are thinning, loss of firmness, dryness, and reduction of sweat production that prevents proper cooling of the body.
Extrinsic (external) ageing
Factors outside one’s own genes accelerate skin ageing Lifestyles and habits carry more
impact of why ageing skin occurs more prematurely in one’s lifetime.