Ageing Skin

The skin like any other organ is not immune to the ageing process and ageing skin is part of the natural ageing process. How your skin ages will depend on a variety of factors such as genetics and environmental factors such as weather, climate and pollution levels, individual factors such as lifestyle – e.g. smoking and stress level.

How can I prevent skin ageing?

It is not possible to entirely prevent the natural ageing process of the skin however avoiding the causes of premature ageing such as excessive UV exposure, avoiding smoking and wearing pollution protector on skin to prevent against free radical damage are viable ways of preventing premature ageing. Anti-ageing treatments to boost collagen and elastin levels can be used as a way of slowing down the natural process of ageing. High quality skin products to protect against UV damage such as Obagi SPF pollution protection such as Obagi vit c 10% and Obagi retinol 1% to increase cell turnover can also slow down the ageing process.

How does sun exposure cause ageing skin?

The main cause of premature skin ageing is damage by the UV rays of the sun -UVA rays and UVB rays. UVA rays are responsible for sun spots, formation of wrinkles, increasing facial sagging and other symptoms of early ageing of the skin. UVB rays are responsible for causing skin cancer and sunburns. Thus, both kinds of UV rays can damage the skin. The skin has a naturally occurring chemical called melanin. Upon reaching the skin, the UV rays interact with melanin present in the skin. Melanin absorbs the UV rays and protects the skin from sun damage and premature aging. The chemical reaction between melanin and UV rays is what results in tanning. It is however important to note that melanin can only offer a limited level of protection from the harmful effects of UV rays. When the level of exposure to UV rays crosses the threshold of protection offered by melanin, it can result in different kinds of skin damage and sunburn. Repeated instances of excessive exposure to UV rays can result in aged skin, sun spots, age spots, dull skin with fine lines, freckles, wrinkled skin, discolorations, dry and rough skin, leathery skin texture, and sensitive skin. The most important part of preventing ageing is to protect the skin from UV damage – Dr Leah clinic recommend using Obagi SPF daily.

Does smoking cause skin ageing?

Yes- smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. Free radicals damage cells, leading to, among other things, premature ageing by depleting the collagen and elastin stores of the skin.