Why Skin Ages

Sun Damage

Compare the skin on the underside of your arm to that on the front.That's one way to see how the sun damages your skin.The skin on your under arm is white and unflawed, but the skin on the front of your arm is darker and has been affected by the sun. In fact, you've been bombarded for years with the sun's ultraviolet alpha and beta waves (UV-A and UV-B rays); the more time you've spent in the sun, the more your unp ro tected skin has been injured.

	The best facial cosmetic-surgery candidates are healthy, active people who really love life and who basically see themselves as looking ten to fifteen years older than the person inside. - Dr. Kriston Kent

UV-A and UV-B rays are responsible for photoaging - sun-induced skin damage. UV rays are more harmful at high altitudes, in the summer, and closer to the equator. The sun causes almost as much damage as your biological clock does, sometimes more. Sunlight on unprotected skin penetrates several layers to stimulate pigment-producing melanin, which protectively comes to the surface and makes you tan or freckle. Tanned skin filters out some of the UV rays, but harmful amounts still get through. And over time those cute freckles may turn into liver spots, sun spots, or age spots.

Repeated sun exposure, beginning in childhood, accumulates to break down collagen and elastin, worsening wrinkles and fine lines. Sun exposure also breaks down blood vessels, resulting in spider veins. If you haven't protected your eyes properly, you may also have permanent squint lines.

You might see pink scaley lesions on your skin called actinic keratoses - small, hardened areas of sun-damaged skin that are often precancerous. Since sun exposure is the number one cause of skin cancer, ask your doctor about any peculiar or unexplained blemishes, especially if they grow or change shape.

Genetics

You have a lot to thank your parents and grandparents for, including your facial bone structure, skin thickness and tone, and pigmentation.These ancestors may have passed along other factors that affect your skin, such as a tendency to gain weight or a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, which often dries out the skin.

Poor Nutrition and Hygeine

greater the damage they cause to skin and overall health. Obesity can affect how early and how severely your face loses its youthful firmness. Not only is there more fat to slide into your chin and neck, but every time you lose weight only to gain it back, your skin becomes a bit more slack.

Proper cleansing and moisturizing of the skin is important, also.Too l i tt le hygiene is bad for the skin; similarly, over cleansing can remove natural oils, which is damaging to the skin.

Inadequate Sleep

Your body is rejuvenated every time you sleep, repairing the physical insults and psychological strains of the day.Tissues need a hiatus during which they, like you, get a new lease on life.Thus, chronic lack of sleep is a key contributor to premature aging.

Illness and Injury

Injuries and skin disorders such as acne and herpes can leave the face scarred and the features uneven. Chronic illnesses and long-term stress rob your skin of nutrients, especially when accompanied by inadequate self-care. Many medications and topical creams can also deplete nutrients, usually by making your skin more sensitive to the sun.The antibiotic tetracycline, the pain-reliever nap ro xen (Aleve), and skin-smoothing retinoids (such as Retin-A TM and Renova TM ) are just a few examples of sun-sensitizers, which make you more p ro ne to sunburn and resulting sun-damaged skin.

Use of Facial Muscles

You've heard of laugh lines, frown lines, even smile lines. Smiling and laughing are much more beneficial than harmful to your health, but repeated facial expression eventually can create lines and wrinkles.

Smoking

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