Aging Skin
What Is Aging Skin and What Causes It?
An important way we assess one anothers’ age and health, whether conscious or unconscious, is by the condition of a person’s skin since there are many clear indicators of aging skin, some of which can be premature without proper care. Most people are familiar with wrinkles and age spots. We see them all the time in the elderly in our lives, and as we get older, we see these signs on our bodies.
More about Aging Skin
None of this really answers what aging skin is, though. As we age, our skin becomes thinner and less elastic, even though the number of cell layers doesn’t. The number of melanocyte cells containing pigment decreases, but the sizes of the ones you still have increase. This makes skin generally look paler and more translucent while feeling perceptibly thinner as you age.
Though skin is generally getting paler, the number of hyper-pigmented spots on your skin ([age spots[link to page]]) increases, especially in areas that are often exposed to the sun, such as your hands, arms, and face.
The reduced elasticity of your skin as you age is largely a result of decreased collagen production; sun exposure worsens this significantly. In people with high levels of sun exposure, this leads to a leathery, “weather-beaten” appearance. This is made worse by gradually reducing oil production, which starts for women during menopause and leads to drier, itchier skin. The loss of moisture aggravates a whole range of symptoms, from wrinkles to skin infections.
Even as your skin grows thinner, the vessels within your skin are also growing more fragile and less elastic, leading to more frequent and worse bruising and worse distribution of vital nutrients. These veins are made more vulnerable by a reduction in the subcutaneous fat that keeps you warmer and insulated in youth. One reason the elderly grow cold more easily is that the blood in the veins in their skin is very nearly uninsulated by thinning skin, making hypothermia and hyperthermia a greater risk since your body is less able to regulate its temperature.
Common Problems Associated with Aging Skin
According to government health studies, over 90% of the elderly population has some type of skin disorder. These problems are aggravated by many underlying conditions, including but not limited to diabetes, stress, heart and liver disease, nutritional deficiencies, obesity, adverse reactions to medications, blood vessel diseases, allergies to plants, sensitivities to climate and clothing, and sunlight.
Here is a list of some of the common skin conditions experienced:
- Elastosis (loss of skin elasticity)
- Liver spots and other abnormal pigmentation
- Thickening of the skin making it look and feel leathery
- Keratoacanthomas (non-cancerous skin growths)
- Melanoma, Basal Cells Carcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer)
Treatments Available At
Meg & Co.
The best option is to prevent the effects of aging on the skin with protection from the sun, good nutrition and hydration, and moisturizing your skin often. We also offer the following treatments to reduce the symptoms and decelerate the progress of aging on your skin.
LaseMD Ultra Skin Resurfacing
Our powerful, cutting-edge LaseMD Ultra Skin Resurfacing technology allows us to go in and significantly reduce age spots, fine lines, and many other signs of aging skin. As with all lasers, there’s a small amount of pain comparable to being snapped with a rubber band during treatment, but this doesn’t both most patients to any significant degree, and not at all compared to the great results!
Genius RF Microneedling
RF microneedling stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, giving a fuller, more youthful look to aging skin. This is especially well-suited to reducing sagging and wrinkles, though it doesn’t make a significant difference to the pigmentation of your skin. This can be used in combination with laser resurfacing for stunning results with our “Total Skin Solution” package for significant savings and incredible results.
Carbon Laser Facial
The patented Hollywood Spectra Carbon Laser Facial is a powerful cleansing and moisturizing treatment favored by Hollywood stars before big appearances. This same technology is now available to help your aging skin look and feel younger!
Botox
Botox helps to reduce the appearance of aging skin by smoothing out existing wrinkles and fine lines. It works by paralyzing or weakening specific muscles or blocking nerve signals at the injection site, so that the muscles can’t contract and worsen the appearance of wrinkles. Botox results can typically last anywhere from three to twelve months, depending on the type of treatment.
Dysport
Dysport can help reduce the appearance of aging skin by minimizing moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. It works by temporarily relaxing the muscles that cause these lines, providing a more youthful and smooth appearance. Dysport results can typically last up to 5 months.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are a popular cosmetic treatment used to reduce the signs of aging in the skin. They work by adding volume and hydration to areas of the face that have become sunken or wrinkled over time. Common areas that benefit from dermal fillers include the cheeks, lips, under-eye area, nasolabial folds, and jawline.
Safety Considerations
As with all laser treatments, when you get laser skin resurfacing, you need to be careful to protect your treated skin area from the sun with sunblock and/or protective clothing for several days after treatment to ensure a speedy and uncomplicated recovery from treatment. There are also some contraindications for microneedling, so make sure to talk to your technician before receiving this treatment.
Injectibles are generally also quite safe unless you have an allergy to any of the ingredients. In cases of an allergic reaction, or sensitivity, there can be adverse reactions. If you’ve never had an injectable you’re getting before, let your technician know so they can start with a small initial test treatment before committing to the full treatment.
Maximizing Results
For the best possible results, we suggest combining RF microneedling and laser skin resurfacing with our total Skin Solution package. This combined treatment provides such transformative results some of our clients have described it as a “non-surgical facelift.” When you schedule at least 3 appointments with this service, you get an additional 15% off the package cost, ensuring long-term results that wow co-workers, friends, and family!
Injectables all have a limited lifespan, so talk to your technician when you’re using one of these treatments to address your aging skin so you can proactively keep up and address all your concerns.
FAQ
What Factors Accelerate Skin Aging?
The biggest single factor is sun exposure. The more sunburn you experience early in life, the worse and earlier you’ll have symptoms associated with aging skin. Other important factors include skin hydration and nutrition.
How Can I Prevent My Skin From Aging Prematurely?
Protecting your skin from the sun with protective clothing, sunscreen lotion, and not tanning will help reduce the severity and speed of skin aging. Making sure your skin remains moisturized and healthy will also help to maintain your skin’s integrity and elasticity longer.
What Are Common Symptoms of Aging Skin?
There are many possible symptoms of aging skin. Some of the most common symptoms are wrinkles, reduced elasticity, thinning of the skin, increased pigmentation spots, increased susceptibility to tearing and infection, and increased translucency.