The Ageing Process
The visible signs of ageing, like dryness, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin
tone, are all symptoms of what’s happening beneath the surface - in the dermal layer
- of your skin.
Dermatologists believe that up to 90% of skin ageing is caused by external factors
– environment, lifestyle and UV damage. Stress, smoking, alcohol and UV light all
produce free radicals, which are the skin’s main enemy. Free radicals attack the
skin in a process known as oxidation. The body has its own anti-oxidant defence
system that helps neutralize free radical damage, but as we age, the efficiency
of this system declines and our need for additional anti-oxidants increases.
Over time the skin’s essential supportive structure starts to break down. Collagen
fibres bundle together, elastin begins to lose its spring and this causes fine lines
and wrinkles to appear on the skin’s surface. The dermis gradually loses density
and blood capillaries become visible as the skin becomes more transparent. In short,
the older we get and the more exposed our skin has been, the more we need extra
help to keep our skin supple and smooth.
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