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What Causes Aging? How Our Bodies Change In Our Elder Years

Time slowly ticks by, changing us inside and out. Long revered as a sign of experience and intelligence, age is more than just a number; as our bodies age, we develop sagging skin, wrinkles, and dark spots. Our skin gets dryer and accumulates scars, stretch marks, and other marks that are a testament to the lives we have lived; however, some of us wish that these signs of aging were a little less prominent!

To slow down and reverse the signs of aging, we need to understand the processes that are at play. While research into these processes has come a long way, we still don’t know what causes every change in aging.

What Causes Aging In The Skin?

A leading area for aging research involves collagen. This is a unique protein that makes up about 75-80% of the skin in our bodies— it makes sense that the reduced production of this critical component would cause such a problem as we age. We know that there is also more production of the enzymes responsible for the break-down of collagen as we get older. Furthermore, our lifestyle can influence how quickly our collagen breaks down; overexposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can contribute to and speed up this whole deleterious process.

A few other factors add to aging, too; facial fat deposits diminish over time, leaving a bony facial appearance— this is also part of what causes wrinkles. Melanin (a skin pigment) also builds up in pockets over time to form age spots. When the odds are stacked against us to such an extent, what is there to do but sit back and watch?

How to Look Younger

Looking younger as we age will always involve our internal state; when we stress less, it shows! You may be happy to hear that there are some things you can do to postpone some of the more drastic signs of aging, though. One solution is to talk to your dermatologist about dermal fillers. This is a simple, quick (10-minute) procedure that can help plump up sagging, wrinkled skin for an immediate face-lift.

If you’re concerned about the appearance of age spots, visible capillaries, and sun damage, an IPL photofacial might work well for you. If you’re wondering how to get rid of wrinkles, you may want to talk to your dermatologist about optimizing your skincare routine, microneedling, or CO2 Laser Resurfacing for deep wrinkles.

Consult The Anti-Aging Experts

At the end of the day, we can’t completely stop the process of aging; after all, getting older is a part of life! Nevertheless, there’s no shame in wanting to slow the train down a bit. Here at Academic Alliance in Dermatology, we want you to be proud of and comfortable in your skin. Schedule an appointment with one of our dermatologists today to discuss your aging skin today!

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