Aging of the skin is a complex phenomenon and it can be due to various factors broadly divided into intrinsic or internal and extrinsic or external.

1. Changes Due To Aging Of Skin
Aging of the skin is a complex phenomenon and it can be due to various factors broadly
divided into intrinsic or internal and extrinsic or external.
What is Intrinsic Aging?
It is a function of individual heredity and is seen with the passage of time. This process is, of
course, inevitable and beyond voluntary control. However, there have been recent
advances with respect to antioxidants (Vitamin C and E) and few retinoids and their role in
prevention or delaying of intrinsic aging. Having said that, a lot of time and research needs
to be done before proving the role of antioxidants.
What are the changes of the skin due to intrinsic aging?
The changes seen due to intrinsic aging are greying of hair, decreased number of hair
follicles, laxity of the skin due to decreased dermal collagen, elastic fibres and ground
substance, thinning and ridging of nails, and loss of skin fat.
What is Extrinsic Aging?
These are the changes of the skin due to external factors. The most important external
factor is cumulative UV exposure. Other extrinsic factors involved are smoking,
environmental pollutants and use of harmful chemicals / cosmetics.
What are the changes of the skin due to extrinsic aging?

2. The changes seen due to extrinsic aging are dryness, freckles, wrinkling, senile purpura,
guttatehypomelanosis, and comedones.
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Avoidance of smoking and consuming alcohol along with embracing a healthy lifestyle with
exercise, diet control goes a long way in delaying the aging of the skin due to external
factors.
Regular and religious use of sunscreens. As explained earlier, cumulative UV exposure is
responsible for extrinsic aging hence regular use of a broad spectrum sunscreen with a high
SPF goes a long way in preventing sun damage to the skin.
Use of moisturizers. Dryness or Xerosis is a sign of skin ageing and is also aggravated by
dry climate and irritants. Hence, use of mild soaps and lactic acid containing moisturizers
can prevent dryness. Moisturizers should be applied immediately after bathing, when the
skin is hydrated.
Topical application of retinoid creams and alphahydroxy acid makes the wrinkles less
noticeable.
Facial rejuvenation by use of chemical peels, LASER skin resurfacing, dermal fillers,
BOTOX injection and facelifts can also be tried with variable results.
Article Source http://www.skinclinicbangalore.com/post/changes-due-to-aging-of-skin/1008
Published at Dr. Kisalay Saurav’s blog