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Nov 30 / 2021

Skin

Aging of the skin is the most obvious change over time, so that the image we have of older people is generally gray and wrinkled.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and one of the most exposed to the effects of external agents.

It is made up of three basic layers:

  • Epidermis: contains a layer of dead cells, with a protective protein called keratin, and a layer of living skin cells, some of which have specialized in the production of pigment to protect us from ultraviolet rays, which are the melanocytes.
  • Dermis: middle layer in which there are very thin blood vessels (capillaries), sebaceous glands, nerve endings for pain, touch and temperature changes, hair follicles (the root of the hair) and some fat, along with connective tissue support, made up of collagen and elastin fibers that give resistance and elasticity respectively.
  • Hypodermis: in which there is basically fat (here with fundamental functions of internal temperature control), blood vessels somewhat larger than the capillaries, roots of thicker hairs and sweat glands.

    • Changes in the skin are one of the first external effects of aging, with the appearance of wrinkles, spots and flaccidity, as well as the appearance of white hair, gray hair. The reasons for these signs are:

    • Decrease in subcutaneous fat and collagen in the dermis and epidermis, which causes flaccidity and less elasticity. The skin takes on a finer and more delicate appearance and wrinkles appear.
    • Greater fragility of the superficial layers of the skin is observed, especially between the epidermis and the dermis. There is a great facility for the presentation of spills and superficial bruises.
    • Greater difficulty in removing dead cells, which increases the residual keratin layer. Although this is necessary for protection against mechanical stimuli, the increase in its thickness means a greater rigidity of the skin, which contributes to the appearance of cracks.
    • Decrease in pigment cells, melanocytes, in an irregular shape, causing light and dark spots. This fact is also responsible for the appearance of gray hair.
    • Less activity of the sebaceous glands, which reduces hydration and protection of the skin.
    • Degeneration of the sweat glands, which makes it more difficult to regulate the temperature.
    • Changes in blood circulation in the dermis and decreased passage of nutrients from the dermis to the epidermis (which does not have capillaries and is nourished by diffusion), which causes a delay in the healing of epidermal lesions.
    • Increase in the thickness of the nails with a decrease in their elasticity and resistance due to the increase in keratin already mentioned and due to a worse blood circulation at the level of the nail root.

    In addition to these changes that occur over time, the effects of ultraviolet light (the most important external agent in aggressions to the skin, with a cumulative effect throughout life), environmental toxins, are usually added. tobacco and stress. For all this it is evident that the most important thing to reduce these effects is sun protection from childhood and adequate hydration. Likewise, it is convenient to apply moisturizing creams or lotions to improve the resistance and elasticity of the skin.


    (Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)

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