Anti-Aging
Why do some people look younger than their actual age, while others look older? Why do some of us have lines and wrinkles, while others have silky smooth skin? The simple answer is genetics. But there’s much more to the story. Medical science points to three leading causes of skin deterioration and damage.
1. Decreased Collagen: As we enter our 50’s and 60’s, our bodies reduce the production of collagen – the large, moist molecules that are the building blocks of our skin. As a result, our skin loses moisture, becomes thinner and less elastic, and often changes color. Many of us develop facial lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, and age spots (hyper pigmentation).
2. Sun Damage: A key contributor to skin deterioration is sun damage – especially among the baby boomer generation. They may be the first significant age group to deliberately expose their skin to large doses of sunlight over an extended period of years. Medical research clearly shows that overexposure to the sun – mainly in the teenage years – has exacerbated skin deterioration among baby boomers.
3. Cigarette Smoking: Medical studies have shown that cigarette smoking accelerates the skin’s normal aging process by damaging collagen and impairing blood flow to the skin. Fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots often appear 10-20 years sooner among smokers. This is why many smokers look so much older than their actual age.
