Addressing Aging Skin at its Roots

Though aging skin may have been affecting the masses ever since humans first began walking the planet millennia past, modern science has provided further insight that aging skin goes much deeper than just genetics.

In a scientific review of air pollution’s effects, researchers revealed that continual exposure to negative air quality can chip away at the skin’s natural shield against the surrounding atmosphere, bringing on heightened oxidative stress that’s been associated with visible extrinsic aging of the skin as well as impactful skin conditions like rosacea, acne, and skin cancer.

Regular tobacco use likewise exacerbates and accelerates the skin’s aging process, as tobacco smoke has been shown to be toxic for the body’s cells. Effects of consistent tobacco ingestion include hydration loss, a compromised moisture barrier and diminished skin elasticity, which can induce visible aging in trouble areas like the nasolabial folds and subsequently worsens the depth of smile lines on the face.

When it comes to nutrition, your daily diet can have a much larger impact on your skin’s aging than one might think. Regular ingestion of fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and minerals has been associated with lower rates of epidermal dryness and reduced facial aging, while consistently consuming common food ingredients like sugar and saturated fats has been associated with premature aging and an increased propensity for early on-set wrinkles.

Exposure to these aforementioned factors can cause the skin’s natural collagen production and elasticity to break down

As we humans continue to grow and mature with time, exposure to these aforementioned factors can cause the skin’s natural collagen production and elasticity to break down, leading to wrinkled and sagging skin.

Interestingly enough, the visible effects of aging present themselves differently among men and women. A 2020 study on the gender-related differences of facial aging among caucasians showed that marionette lines – that is, wrinkles running vertically from the mouth to chin – are more prevalent in women, while nasolabial fold lines are more exacerbated in their male counterparts.

However, as previously mentioned, ethnicity plays a major factor in your propensity to contracting premature wrinkles; individuals with naturally higher levels of melanin are less likely to experience visible signs of aging than their less-melanated peers, as melanin’s photoprotective properties can have a huge impact on shielding the skin from factors like unwanted ultraviolet ray exposure.

While the power to address factors like smoking and nutrition is directly in your hands, avoiding the sun altogether or removing yourself from air pollution is likely impossible. As a result, maintaining a robust daily skincare routine – including disciplined sun protection – can be the make or break solution behind preventing premature aging, promoting skin regeneration, stimulating collagen and improving the outward appearance of the skin.

Aging skin is all but inevitable, but with a little help from science-backed products custom tailored to your environment, preventing your skin from visible aging may be simpler than you think.