Skin aging is a complex process influenced by a combination of intrinsic (internal) and extrinsic (external) factors. Whatever the causes, we’re all very aware of how our skin looks and feels, and many of us are interested in ways to slow skin aging down.
Intrinsic Skin Aging
There are a few contributory factors that impact intrinsic skin aging. These are:
- Genetics: Your genetic makeup determines the natural aging process of your skin, which is why some people have brilliant skin well into their older years, and others don’t. That being said, skin aging usually begins in your mid-20s and includes the slowing down of collagen production, loss of elastin, and decreased cell turnover.
- Hormones: As you age, hormonal changes, particularly for women during the menopause, can affect skin thickness, moisture levels, and elasticity. These in turn play an integral part of how our skin looks and behaves.
- Wear and Tear: Over time, our skin ages through normal wear and tear. Making repeated facial expressions, sleeping positions and gravity all contribute to the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin.
Extrinsic Skin Aging
Extrinsic (external) factors that contribute to skin condition and behaviour include:
- Sun Exposure: The sun emits Ultraviolet (UV) rays, and these are the primary external factor that accelerates skin aging, leading to “photoaging”. Photoaging is where UV rays break down collagen and elastin fibers, causing wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and a loss of skin firmness. As concerns have grown over holes in our ozone layer, awareness has also grown about levels of UV exposure.
- Environmental Pollution: Environmental pollutants (that is, pollutants that have been released into the environment) such as fumes, toxins and chemicals can generate free radicals, which damage skin cells and accelerate aging. Common causes include emissions from buildings and vehicles, natural events such as volcano eruptions that release toxins like CO2 and sulphur, and human activities such as deforestation and waste production.
- Lifestyle Factors: Introducing lifestyle habits such as smoking, poor diet and alcohol consumption can contribute to skin aging by affecting circulation, collagen production, and overall skin health. Stress is also a major factor that affects skin health, which can be then further exacerbated by poor lifestyle habits.
- Skincare Habits: Improper skincare routines, such as not using moisturizer or over-exfoliating, can damage the skin’s barrier and lead to premature aging. There are a range of products designed to be gentle on the skin, so research is important to make sure the products you use will benefit your skin condition.
Slowing Down Skin Aging
Many of us are interested in slowing down skin aging and keeping our skin supple and healthy for as long as possible. Regardless of age, it’s never too late to implement good skincare practices which can include:
- Using sunscreen: Broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should be used daily, even on cloudy days, to protect against UVA and UVB rays.
- Wearing protective clothing: Hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved clothing can help shield skin from the sun, which also helps to prevent sunburn.
- Seeking shade: Avoiding direct sunlight, especially during peak hours (10 AM to 4 PM), reduces UV exposure and the harmful effects this can have.
- Eating a balanced diet: this should be rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
- Drinking plenty of water: this helps maintain skin moisture and elasticity.
- Taking regular exercise: Exercise improves circulation and promotes healthy skin by increasing blood flow and oxygen delivery to skin cells.
- Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol: Smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and depletes oxygen and nutrients, while excessive alcohol dehydrates the skin and can lead to inflammation.
Putting an Effective Skincare Routine in Place
If you don’t already have an effective skincare routine in place, then now is the time to start. This includes:
- Cleansing: Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt and makeup. You don’t want to strip the skin of its natural oils so choose one with natural ingredients if possible.
- Moisturizing: Hydrate the skin to maintain its barrier function and prevent dryness. This can help to slow down the aging process and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- Exfoliating: Regular exfoliation (around 1-2 times a week) helps to remove dead skin cells and promote cell turnover. Avoid overdoing it though, as this can dry the skin out and cause redness.
Alongside the above, using topical products specifically designed to reduce aging can be beneficial. There are a number of products available, which vary in ingredients depending on what you are trying to achieve.
- Retinoids: These help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production. Skin color is also improved as new blood vessels are produced in greater quantities, which can help to fade the colour of age spots.
- Peptides: strings of amino acids that act as building blocks for proteins in various areas of the body. Peptides for the skin help with the production of collagen and elastin.
- Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that helps, in part, with hydrating the skin. Skin hydration is key for strength and elasticity.
- Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E: These are key to protecting skin cells from damage and also help improve skin texture.
Anti-Aging Skincare Products
There are several products we can recommend, including:
Ingredients: Retinoic acid, Tretinoin
This helps to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the visible signs of aging like fine links, wrinkles and dullness.
Available in a 50ml airless pump bottle.
Youth Gems® range of topical products
There are 5 products in the Youth Gems® peptide skincare range, which can all be used together as part of an ongoing skincare routine or separately.
Ingredients (in all products): Argan oil, Carrageenan, Cocoa oil, Jojoba oil, Raisin seed oil, Rutin, Thymus peptides, Vitis Vinifera.
All products in this range contain skincare peptides as well as a range of other supportive ingredients including various natural oils, plant extracts and moisturizing components.
This is a natural plant based cream made from eggplant extract. Whilst its primary purpose is to treat non-melanoa skin cancer (BCC and SCC), it is also effective on sun spots, age spots, Keratoses and Keratocanthmoas.
Ingredients: Rhamnose, Solasodine Glycosides
Available in a 20ml tube.
Aminoguanidine is a potent anti-aging supplement that actively protects the proteins in our body, including collagen and elastin which are vital to skin condition.
Ingredients: Aminoguanidine
Available in boxes of 120 x 75mg tablets.
Novisyn® Plus oral hyaluronan tablets help to hydrate the skin and lubricate the joints. It is easily absorbed by the body and contain Vitamin C for an added antioxidant boost.
Ingredients: Hyaluronan, Vitamin C
By combining sun protection, a healthy lifestyle, a consistent skincare routine and dietary supplements, it is possible to slow down the aging process and maintain healthier, more youthful-looking skin.
