Page 44 - AM231004
P. 44
44 HEALTH AWEMainta Diaranson, 4 October 2023
A Closer Look at Aging Skin
Unveiling the Science Behind Wrinkles
WRINKLES, those telltale signs of
aging, are a subject of fascination for
scientists and a universal concern
for individuals. Imagine your face as
a vibrant party balloon: plump, firm,
and glowing with health. But as time
marches on, that balloon begins to lose
its vigor. The skin loses its tautness, the
structure sags, and the surface loses
its luster, ultimately forming wrinkles.
The human face is the canvas where
these wrinkles most prominently mani-
fest. It serves as the battleground
where various factors converge to
create these visible marks of aging.
Firstly, intrinsic changes take place
as skin becomes thinner, weaker, there’s a subtle, intricate pattern that aged skin contains more senes-
and less elastic. Supporting compo- on youthful skin that becomes more cent cells, which release inflamma-
nents like muscles, bones, and fat also pronounced with age. Known as the tory chemicals linked to conditions
diminish with age. Extrinsic factors, skin’s natural “microrelief,” it becomes like high blood pressure, diabetes, and
such as sun exposure, smoking, poor more accentuated as the skin loses cancer. Researchers are investigating
dietary choices, and pollution, further thickness and elasticity. Skin ages, and whether wrinkled, senescent cell-rich
accelerate the skin’s deterioration. these patterns become more visible. skin contributes to age-related cogni-
Additionally, facial expressions like tive decline.
smiling, frowning, and laughing etch Understanding the anatomy of wrin-
lines on the skin, and as we age, these kles isn’t straightforward. Under a Wrinkles predominantly form in
lines become more permanent. microscope, wrinkled skin appears exposed skin areas due to UV ray
almost indistinguishable from smooth damage from sunlight. Smoking is
The journey of wrinkles begins in skin. However, when isolated from another accelerant, reducing collagen
our twenties when the first fine lines surrounding tissues, wrinkles vanish. and creating lines around the mouth
appear, often in the form of horizontal Despite this, there are underlying due to both toxic compounds in smoke
lines on the forehead when we raise biological changes. As we age, fresh and the physical act of smoking.
our eyebrows. In our thirties, crow’s cell supply to the skin’s top layer,
feet emerge around the eyes, a result the epidermis, diminishes, making it In essence, wrinkles are the culmina-
not only of expressions but also of sun thinner. Changes to collagen, elastin, tion of complex factors affecting the
damage and squinting. Moving into and substances like hyaluronic acid skin. As we age, not only does the skin
our forties and fifties, lines under the in the underlying dermis reduce skin change, but the underlying tissues
eyes and around the mouth become strength, elasticity, and moisture also undergo transformation. Muscles
more visible as they deepen. Beyond retention. Moreover, the bond between weaken, fat pads shrink, bones resorb,
our sixties, wrinkles can appear all these layers weakens, rendering the and gravity takes its toll. It’s a multi-
over the face, some more than 2mm epidermis even more fragile. faceted process where everything that
deep. Interestingly, some creases keeps our skin firm starts to deterio-
aren’t solely due to facial expressions Interestingly, some scientists specu- rate. Understanding the science behind
but can result from sleeping positions, late that wrinkles might not only be a wrinkles sheds light on the complex
with consistent pressure on the face consequence of aging but could also aging process and the importance of
inducing further lines. play a role in the aging process itself. skincare and preventive measures in
On top of these age-induced creases, This theory stems from the discovery maintaining healthy, youthful skin.
