Getting old stinks doesn’t it…. But it doesn’t have to be that bad if we take care of ourselves… Of course the first thing we do, or try to do, is eat better and workout right? Which is great, but there is something else that shows our age, our face. We can cover up our bodies, but our face is always out there for the world to see – oh and the sun too.
We all know that it is not good to lay out in the sun, but our skin is also affected by the suns UV rays while driving in the car, going to the mail box, or any other time you step outside – which is why it is so important to apply a sunscreen each and everyday. Have you ever noticed that the left side of your face seems to have more freckles or pigmentation than the right? Think about what side of your face is next to the window while driving….
So – here are some stats… 90% of the symptoms of premature skin aging come from the suns UV rays. Some evidence shows that most (70%-80%) of the damage from the sun occurs before you’ve reached the age of 20 and show up 10 to 20 years later in the form of dark spots and sagging skin (so your cheeks may NOT be where they use to be). Honestly, most aging is environmental or from those free radicals we’re always hearing about. How many of you have noticed a change in your skin in the last 5 – 10 years? ok – that’s assuming you are in your 30 or 40’s like me. I know I did… which may be why I decided to go to school for skin care.
Let’s get to it, but first – a little bit about the skin. The skin is made up of three major layers. The subcutaneous layer is the most inner layer of the skin and contains large layers of fat to provide cushion for internal organs, blood and lymph vessels and nerve endings. The dermis is the middle layer, and the epidermis is the outer or protective layer. It is the dermis that contains the collagen and elastin fibrils which give the skin it firmness and bounce (keeps your cheeks where they are supposed to be). The UV radiation from the sun causes the collagen fibers to break down faster than they normally would chronologically, and as a result -the skin becomes thinner, loses its bounce, and most notably, starts showing signs of sun induced pigment. This sun induced pigment is caused by melanin hyper pigmentation which causes your skin to tan. Tanning is a temporary defense mechanism designed to lessen the effect of UV radiation on the body. The freckles or sun spots on your skin come from cells that have become so damaged by this process, that they start to clump and stick together. So that beautiful tan coloring you get from the sun, is actually your body trying to protect itself. Scary – right?
Can these damaged cells be repaired? Perhaps by laser treatments, although some laser treatments have been known to cause pigment issues as well. The good news is that there is a way to control the pigmentation in the skin. To go further into this I need to share a little more about the skin and how it works.
New skin cells are created in the deepest layer of the skin and from this layer; the cells begin their migration to the skin’s surface. Once the cells reach the uppermost layer of the skin (they are essentially dead) and continuously fall off as newer cells push their way to the surface. The entire process, from cell birth to sloughing away, takes approximately 28 days, but as we get older this process begins to slow down – another thing that we can control.
Finally, the how of it all… Pigment gels or skin brighteners contain ingredients that suppress these damaged pigmented cells, and retinols help to dissolve the outer layer of the skin. When you combine the use of these types of products two things happen – first, since the production of melanin is suppressed no new cells will contain it, and the ones that do, will migrate to the top of the skin and slough off – thus the clearer, brighter skin. Second – retinols increase cellular turnover by dissolving the outer layer of the skin. When this happens the body immediately starts to increase the speed and production of new cells to replace that protective layer. Through this process we are increasing the cellular turnover and restoring balance and radiance to lackluster skin… The end result -clearer, brighter, and more youthful looking skin – good stuff, right?
If you are interested in products or learning more about your skin – send me an email at leeanne.hebert@verizon.net.
References:
http://dermatology.about.com/cs/beauty/a/suneffect.htm
Mark Lees, Ph.D – Skin care: beyond the basics
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