The aging process
Aging happens to us all and generally it happens at the same rate, although there are various factors that influence the process. Inherited factors such as skin type, skin care routine, a person’s general health, and what age the person is, all have an effect.
If your parents age well, have good skin, and good health, chances are you will too. However, whilst inherited factors play a different role in the aging process for different people, we are all exposed to environmental factors that contribute to aging.
During normal metabolism, our cells create tiny electrically charged molecules, known as free radicals. When exposed to various environmental factors these free radicals are stimulated and become very reactive, interacting with proteins, DNA and some minerals. They interfere with normal cell function and can often cause irreversible damage which accumulates as we age.
The sun and UV exposure are well-known for stimulating the aging process. It is not yet known which chemicals within our environment stimulate free radical production: crop sprays, household cleaning products, pesticides, car pollution, or products we use, such as shampoo and conditioners. Scientists are researching what pollutants are affecting our environment and thus will affect us.
The aging process affects the skin in the following ways
- Cell renewal is much quicker in youth and the older we get.
- The genetic information in each cell reduces a small amount every time the cell reproduces, so the body cells of someone older do not have the same information as the cells of someone who is younger.
- Hormone production in both sexes varies with age and contributes to the skin’s development, health and deterioration.
- As we get older, fewer skin cells are being reproduced.
- In time, the underlying structure supporting the skin begin to weaken, offering less support. The collagen and elastin fibres in the skin degenerate, muscular tension diminishes and wrinkles appear.
- The adipose (fat) tissue supporting the skin will also start to sag with age.
- Sun damage and pigmentation disorders can become more noticeable as the melanin production within the skin lessens. Age/liver spots may appear on the surface of the skin (epidermis layer).
The stages of the aging process
Stage 1
20 – 30 years
This is the start of aging and is defined by the presence of fine wrinkles. The pigmentation begins to diminish.
Stage 2
35-50 years
Expression wrinkles start to appear around the eyes and corners of the mouth and mild keratosis (dry patchy skin) may be visible.
Stage 3
From 50 years
This is characterised by the presence of more stubborn wrinkles and more obvious discolouration and keratosis.
Stage 4
At this stage, more deep and widespread wrinkles are apparent. There is a tendency for the skin to have a yellow tone and there is an increase in frequency of the skin’s distortions. The increased dryness levels further aggravate the skin’s elasticity, whilst there is a reduction of sweat and sebaceous secretions. The skin becomes progressively used to the effects of tissue impairment and gravity. The facial structure and shape may be lost during the aging process.
Metabolism and Age
The aging process also has an effect on our body. Our metabolism begins to slow down, we begin to store more fat and cellulite becomes more prominent.
In order to keep us alive and our body functioning normally, such as breathing, repairing cells and digesting food, we have a continuous chemical process going on inside our body which is referred to as our metabolism. As we age our metabolism begins to decline. There are various factors to consider when we look at our metabolic rate. Inherited factors such as body size, age, gender and genes may determine the rate of our metabolism, although it is not yet fully understood. There are specific factors for consideration too such as: lifestyle, diet, general heath and body condition, exercise, medical history/ medication, smoking, alcohol, drugs, sleep, and pregnancy to name a few.
Our body types will also play a role in the aging process and our body type may change as we get older. Muscle cells require more energy to maintain than fat cells. As we get older, we tend to gain fat and lose muscle. This explains why your metabolism may slow down as we get older. On average our basal metabolism diminishes by 10% each decade after the age of 20 years, which can then favour fat accumulation, particularly around the waist, abdomen, hips, and thighs, and to a lesser extent to areas of the face.
Fat and Ageing
There are different types of adipose (fat) tissue: hard, soft and trapped.
Hard adipose tissue is solid and cannot be picked up easily and can be difficult to distinguish from muscle. Therefore care must be taken to correctly identify hard adipose tissue which may lie directly over well-toned muscles.
Soft adipose tissue can be easily picked up and separated from the muscle layer beneath it.
Trapped adipose tissue typically consists of fat found between bundles of muscle fibres and is common in people who used to train regularly but no longer do so.
As we age and our body begins to store more fat the appearance of cellulite becomes more apparent. Cellulite consists of fatty tissue and waste products. As adipose (fat) cells have poor blood circulation, toxins within them stagnate and cause water retention, which typically causes the ‘orange peel’ appearance, thus causing the skin to appear lumpy and dimpled. This is typically seen on the thighs, buttocks, and backs of the upper arms. Cellulite is more common in women than it is in men and it can be observed even in the slimmest of figures. Cellulite can be viewed as soft or hard cellulite depending on the age of the person and the time over which the fatty tissue has been building up.