Healthy Living Newsletter
Don’t Let Aging Get Under Your Skin
 When you look in the mirror, do you see the sagging lines of a blood hound? The wrinkles of a shar pei? Or the spots of a dalmation? Maybe all three?
Aging is a lot more and a lot less than what you imagine you see. But while skin may or may not be an accurate reflection of age; it’s the one that Americans seem to be most concerned about.
Many of the sags, lines and indentations that you see in the mirror are an inevitable part of the aging process. Starting at about age 30, most persons begin losing fat in the face (would that it were so easy to lose in other parts of the body).
Known as lipoatrophy, this happens beneath the skin in the cheeks, temples, chin, nose and around the eyes, transforming a face that was essentially convex in youth into one that is increasingly concave and skeletal during the later years of life.
The sunken cheeks and eyes of Abraham Lincoln (which were probably due to a medical condition, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), represent an exaggeration of what happens to most of us.
By age 60, you can expect some bone loss around the mouth, leading to changes in the shape of the chin and sometimes puckering around the mouth.
The loss of sweat and oil glands — combined with overheated air in the winter and overuse of soap and antiperspirants — may lead to dry skin and the “winter itch” that plagues about 85 percent of older Americans.
Sun, Smoke and Mirrors
The effect of natural aging pales, however, in comparison to the damage caused by two common hazards–smoking and sunlight.
Smoking impairs circulation, choking skin of the oxygen it needs, and introduces toxins that damage the connective tissue (collagen) and elastic fibers that maintain skin tone. It also alters the pigmentation, giving the skin a sallow appearance.
An even greater enemy, causing an estimated 90 percent of what is perceived as skin aging is ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or tanning lamps.
These rays penetrate the top layers of skin to break down collagen and elastin and cause changes to the pigment-producing cells. The result: sagging, wrinkles and mottled pigmentation.
Most at risk of what is known as photoaging are persons with fair skin who sunburn easily. Because of the risk of skin cancer, however, all persons are advised to take preventive measures by:
- avoiding sun exposure–particularly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.,
- wearing protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and long-sleeved shirt and
- using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 that protects against both ultraviolet A and B.
Sun protection is a strategy that ideally should begin in early life, and most dermatologists take a hard line about use of sunscreen and protective clothing even for casual excursions outside.
Very recently, however, some doctors have advised a little moderation in regard to sun exposure, particularly for persons age 60 and over.
Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D, which the body needs to absorb calcium and protect against loss of bone density that is common after age 50. Vitamin D has other health functions, including protection against prostate, breast and other cancers.
Seniors without health or nutrition problems who eat an adequate diet and get outside regularly probably get all the vitamin D they need. Others might make an effort to get out in the sun briefly without sunscreen. As little as 10 to 15 minutes’ exposure to hands, arms and face two or three days a week is sufficient, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
The freckles and age spots that start showing up at age 50 or so are associated with cumulative sun exposure — the more time you’ve spent in the sun without protection, the more spots you’re likely to have, depending, of course, on your genetics and skin coloring.
You may or may not be as old as you look, but the most important aspect of health is more than skin deep. If you eat a healthy diet, control your medical conditions and stay fit with aerobic exercise and strength training, the skin covering your toned muscles and healthy body should look as youthful as you feel. |
