Causes of Aging Skin: What Can We Do?

Serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As we get older, our skin loses its natural elasticity, often resulting in unwanted bags and wrinkles. Some of the aging process is unavoidable and is determined by our genetic makeup. Other factors that age the skin externally, these are the forces we are more readily able to change, but whatever the cause of aging skin, many cosmetic treatments are available for making your skin look younger.

Intrinsic Factors on Aging

Intrinsic, or internal aging are the factors we cannot change, our physical age and genetic makeup are the factors that result in older looking skin. Beginning at about age 20, our skin loses its elasticity as natural collagen levels decrease.

Wrinkles and age spots may appear as well as a general skin laxity. Since intrinsic factors are hereditary, the only treatment options are skin care with a variety of creams, or some form of cosmetic procedures like injectable fillers such as Restylane, facelifts, or skin resurfacing, such as Obagi Blue Peel, microdermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing.

Extrinsic Factors on Aging

The forces that age the skin externally are known as extrinsic aging factors. These include:

• Sun
• Gravity
• Sleeping habits
• Facial expression
• Smoking

Fortunately, these factors are possible to address at least in some measure, to help minimize the damages done to our skin.

The Sun

Avoid prolonged sunlight and wear adequate amounts of sun block. Sunlight is essential to overall health and wellness, but don't overdo exposure. Tanning beds should be avoided at all costs if you want to protect your skin from harmful UV radiation.

Gravity

This is one external factor over which we have no control; gravity is going to remain a constant force as we age.

Sleeping habits

Some people lay on their sides, or on their face. Prolonged sleeping in a particular position causes wrinkles and folds in the skin. Mix up your sleeping postures to even out the forces acting on your facial skin.

Facial expressions

While this may be difficult to control at times, extreme animation in your facial expressions may cause wrinkles, laugh, or frown lines. Try to comport a relaxed demeanor.

Smoking

The easiest and most obvious solution is to quit smoking. Smoking ages skin rapidly by decreasing circulation and skin elasticity. Prolonged smoking also causes a sickly yellow pallor over your skin. People who quit smoking show remarkable improvements in their skin tone in a matter of weeks.

If after taking care of the extrinsic forces acting on your skin, you are not satisfied with your appearance you can discuss all of your cosmetic options-surgical and non-surgical-with Dr. Barber, call or email our offices today to schedule your initial consultation.