SKIN AGING

Skin Aging

Skin Aging

Introduction

The aging process, from the biological perspective, can be defined as “cumulative changes in an organism, organ, tissue or cell leading to a decrease in functional capacity. In humans, aging is associated with degenerative changes in the skin, bones, heart, blood vessels, lungs, nerves, and other organs and tissues” (Hayflick, 1994).

According to the biologists, every individual has a unique aging process which is determined by the genetic makeup. Apart from the biological factors, the environment also has an effect on the aging process. With the advancement in technology, the environment is becoming more polluted, and pollutants are causing major environmental changes. Because of this the bio-physical and structural properties of the skin also changes making the skin more prone to severe damage. In this regard, air pollution plays a significant role the aging of the skin. Thus, air pollution can leave long-term as well as short-term effects on our health, affecting the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of the human beings.

Some significant changes marking the onset of the aging process includes; laugh lines or even frowning lines, white or grey hair, layers of fat around the midsection of the body, spread of middle age and so forth. Other changes, which occur with the aging process includes; clogged blood vessels, loss of bone tissues, which will not be noticeable unless they start to show serious consequences. If one has entered the time of aging and these changes are not prominent it does not mean that the aging process has not started, doctors suggest that people should go for regular check-ups even if they feel that they are perfectly healthy and smart.

Discussion

Aging of Skin

Aging is no longer associated with frailty and growing old no longer means looking old. If life is all about changes, then, the skin we all have is its proof. Skin is the most common part of our body which has high vulnerability towards change, and it can be seen through the skin aging process everyone goes through in his/her life. The process of aging is inevitable because our skin, as it ages, is at the mercy of a number of forces. These forces leave our skin in a very poor condition if they are not dealt with properly.

Since our skin is the largest organ of the human body which functions in many facets, it possesses a number of attributes along with filling complex roles such as warming, protecting and cooling the human body. The three layers of the skin work in coordination so as to rejuvenate it. However, with the passage of time, the effectiveness of the skin's system declines because of environmental and natural forces. These forces, in turn, mark the onset of aging with sometimes non-visible and sometimes visible signs. As a person advances in age, the amount of collagen and elastin production in the body significantly reduces. This slowdown initiates in the twenties, which is negligible at that time. However, the process accelerates as a person enters into later years of his ...