Now that I’ve got a baseline of skin research under my belt, I want to start understanding what’s really going on with different skin conditions. Fighting aging seems to be where most of my skin-care budget goes, so I thought I’d start here.
So what’s going on when our skin ages?
- As collagen production drops off, our dermal layer becomes thinner. Simultaneously, the elastin is wearing out, leading to less “bounce” and more “sag”. UV light can damage the elastin in your face, leading to the premature aging from sun exposure. It’s worth noting that much of the water in your body is contained in the dermis, so dehydration can also lead to skin appearing thinner.
- Your sebaceous and sweat glands produce less, leaving you with dryer skin
- There are fewer connection points between the dermis and the epidermis, providing less blood and fewer nutrients to the epidermis, and discourages the sloughing off of old cells
- We lose fat in the subcutaneous layer, making wrinkles and bony features more visible. The fat we do have also drops down (gravity, huh?), creating a baggier look around the chin and neck
- We also lose bone mass in our face, giving our skin less to hold onto
My 52 Week Project 