The Truth About Skin and Aging
Let's get down to basics now. We'd like to talk about how wrinkles and aging skin occur and what you can do to stall Mother Nature! First off, let's understand all about our skin and what makes it tick.
The top layer that we see and feel is called the epidermis or outer layer of our skin. Then there's the Dermis, or middle layer, and finally the subcutaneous layer or inner layer.
When we're young, our epidermis does a great job stretching and locking in moisture. The dermis, or middle layer is stretchy and elastic, which helps your skin look tight and perky. The key ingredient I'm talking about is elastin. Our body produces it and elastin does exactly what it says-stretches (elastic).
Another key ingredient to healthy skin is collagen which is found as proteins in the dermis. Healthy collagen levels assist in avoiding wrinkles.
As we get older, collagen and elastin production are slowed down in comparison to our youth. The skin becomes thinner and moisture isn't able to effectively lubricate the epidermis leaving it dry.
While this is happening, the fat in the inner layer, the subcutaneous layer, is diminishing. That fat layer is vital for plump, glowing skin. Without it, the skin starts to sag and wrinkles begin to appear. Also, where facial muscles frown or smile repeatedly, wrinkles start appearing.
Depending on your genetic background, type of skin, and your lifestyle, these components can dictate how much and when your face will wrinkle. I have oily skin, so my face looks pretty good for 43. But if I were to go out in the sun and not wear sunscreen or a hat to protect my face from the UV/UB rays, then my oily skin wouldn't hold up very well.
As with our body as a whole, we have to feed it, rest it, and exercise it in order to obtain optimum fitness. The same goes for our skin which is living also. It needs to be fed, rested, and kept away from bad stuff!
There are some very rudimentary needs our skin has to have in order to work at optimal levels:
1. Drink lots of water
2. Exercise and eat as healthy as possible—lots of salads!
3. Get plenty of rest
4. Don't drink or smoke
5. Use sunscreen (a more natural concoction if possible) and a hat!
6. Use a good moisturizer daily.
We work out so much and try to eat right, but what about our skin's nutrition? Read, “The Big Secret about Anti-Aging Wrinkle Creams,” to find out how to feed your skin the best stuff and start seeing results!