One thing that we cannot change is the natural aging process. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful look.
While natural aging is genetically determined, extrinsic aging can be prevented. As youth and perception of beauty are considered to be of great importance increasing number of new cosmeceuticals have been developed in recent years.
For few of us moisturizing regularly and using a good SPF serve the purpose. For Some they need professional treatments like Laser to reverse age signs.
The biggest confusion here is when to start and what ingredient should start with at different stages of life.
Here we would like to give a clear idea about antiaging care in your skincare regimen.
Common Reasons for Skin Aging:
- Sun Exposure : UV radiation from the sun and other sources of light breaks down collagen and elastin in the skin, which are responsible for maintaining the skin's youthful appearance and texture. This leads to skin sagging, wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging.
- Poor Diet: Eating unhealthy foods can deprive the skin of the necessary vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs to stay healthy. This can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging.
- Stress: Stress can lead to inflammation, which can damage the skin and speed up the aging process.
- Lack of Sleep: Not getting enough sleep can cause the skin to become dull and dry. Lack of sleep also reduces the body's ability to repair itself, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin.
- Smoking: Smoking restricts the flow of oxygen to the skin, which can lead to premature wrinkles and a dull, greyish complexion. It also breaks down elastin, leading to sagging and wrinkles.
These factors lead together to cumulative structural and physiological alterations and progressive changes in each skin layer as well as changes in skin appearance, especially, on the sun-exposed skin areas.
Role of Cosmetics in Antiaging Care:
All these anti-aging cosmetics have antioxidants (e.g., Vitamin C, niacinamide, different polyphenols and flavonoids) and / or cell regulators (e.g., Retinol, different peptides, collagen and growth factors).
Antioxidants:
Vitamins C, B3, and E are the most important antioxidants because of their ability to penetrate the skin through their small molecular weight.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) regulates cell metabolism and regeneration, and it is used in 5% concentration as an anti-aging agent.
Topical application of green tea polyphenols before UV exposure reduces DNA damage in the skin.
Cell Regulators:
Cell regulators, such as vitamin A derivatives, polypeptides and botanicals, act directly on the collagen metabolism and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin fibres.
Vitamin A (retinol) and its derivates (retinaldehyde and tretinoin) are also a group of agents with antioxidant effects. They can induce the biosynthesis of collagen. Retinol has positive effects not only on extrinsic but also on intrinsic skin aging and has a strong positive effect on collagen metabolism.
Polypeptides or oligopeptides are composed of amino acids and can imitate a peptide sequence of molecules such as collagen or elastin. Through topical application, polypeptides have the ability to stimulate collagen synthesis.
Aesthetic dermatology contributes to “healthy aging” not only in cosmetic means but is also playing a significant part in prevention, regeneration, and delaying of skin aging combining knowledge of possible local and systemic therapy, laser devices and invasive procedures.
The reason because it is well known that there is a progressive decrease of hormone synthesis with age. The main hormonal deficits in humans are due to menopause, andropause and partial androgen deficiency of the aging male. Hormonal changes also leads to aging.
Signs of Ageing:
Ageing first takes place internally and then reflects on the outside in the form of lines.
Ageing starts as early as 21, but the visible signs start appearing post 30. So, it is recommended to start with anti-ageing products by 25.
First signs of aging are visible when you see wrinkles, age spots, dryness, loss of skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and skin becomes saggy. These Wrinkling and pigmentary changes are directly associated with premature photo-aging.
In contrast to thin and atrophic, finely wrinkled and dry intrinsically aged skin, premature photoaged skin typically shows a thickened epidermis, mottled discoloration, deep wrinkles, laxity, dullness and roughness.
How to Avoid First Signs of Aging?
It is necessary to stop the degradation of the skin primary structural constituents, such as collagen, elastin, to prevent the formation of wrinkles.
Daily skin care may increase skin regeneration, elasticity, smoothness, and thus temporarily change the skin condition. Some products do promote the natural synthesis of these substances except elastin enhancing.
Is Sunscreen Effective in Controlling Photo-aging?
The strategies aimed at preventing photo-aging include sun avoidance, sun protection using sunscreens to block or reduce skin exposure to UV radiation
Another approach for preventing wrinkle formation is the reduction of inflammation by topical or systemic antioxidants which should be used in combination with sunscreens and retinoids to enhance their protective effects. Retinoids help to promote collagen production, and anti-oxidants, particularly in combination helps to reduce and neutralize free radicals.
Now we know about the lines that is wrinkles; so, what causes saggy skin?
Gradual loss of skin elasticity leads to sagging. In older skin, collagen looks irregular and disorganized leading to saggy skin.
To improve skin elasticity and age signs regular use of topical agents from anti-wrinkle creams to various filling agents are essential in skin care between 20-25 years of age.
Research says that anti-aging effect of the skin is continuous, step-by step process, which combines various methods of the skin bio-revitalization and rejuvenation, augmentation, restoration of each skin layer individually and in the light of many other factors—from life style to the immune, genetic, emotional and health status in general.
Conclusion:
Three primary structural components of the dermis, that is our skin, are collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Depletion or change in any of these layers leads to age signs. A dry and unprotected skin would definitely age faster than hydrated and protected skin. So it’s best to first get the basics right, which would eventually help in keeping the skin young and healthy. It is never too early to start taking care of your skin, so you can begin using anti-aging cream at any age. However, it is important to be aware that some anti-aging products may be too harsh for young skin, so it is best to speak to a dermatologist or skin care professional to determine the best course of action.