Skin aging: premature and natural, aging factors
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Aging is a complex biological process of metabolic and structural and functional changes in the body that captures both internal organs and systems and tissues that make up the external appearance. The tissues that make up the external appearance, of course, include the skin, as well as some muscles (in particular, mimic muscles of the face and neck).
Age changes in the skin have always been in the focus of dermatologists' interests. There are a lot of theories of aging. Thus, AF Weismann postulates are well known, indicating that aging is a genetically programmed process or the result of accumulation in toxic tissues of metabolic products that interfere with cell repair. There are hypotheses of age-related changes in DNA of cells, including shortening of telomeres of DNA molecules, changes in telomerase activity, etc. In recent years, the hypothesis about the role of various active oxygen species (ROS), including its free radicals, in cell damage, based on the theory of "oxidative stress". It is believed that telomerase DNA is most sensitive to active forms of oxygen, which, in turn, cause shortening of telomeres, leading to apoptosis (programmed death) of cells. According to the thermodynamic theory of aging, widely used in gerontology, dynamic fluctuations in pH and ambient temperature have a significant effect on the morphofunctional state of body tissues. According to other theories, an important role in the appearance of signs of aging is also played by a complex of age-related immune and neuroendocrinal disorders
Aging can be natural and premature. The age range of natural aging is 50 years. This is a process that can not be prevented. Premature aging includes a complex of signs of age-related changes in the body as a whole, and skin in particular, which can be corrected with the help of modern techniques.
It is necessary to distinguish between endogenous and exogenous factors of natural and premature aging. Endogenous factors include genetic features, endocrine dysfunctions, foci of chronic infection, and others.
Exogenous factors include ultraviolet radiation, aggressive weather influences, unfavorable working conditions (frequent change of climatic and temporal zones, night shifts, work in hot shops, on the street, etc.), unbalanced diets, improper skin care.
Types of skin aging
Currently, it is common to distinguish three main types of skin aging: chronological, associated with menopause (menopausal, or hormonal) and associated with ultraviolet radiation (photoaging). Quite often chronological and menopausal aging is united by the common term "biological aging".
Each of these varieties of aging has its own causes and is characterized by certain morphological changes and the dynamics of manifestations on the skin.
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