As you can see, there’s much more to the skin than meets the eye. But what you should also realize is that not only is the skin constantly at work, it’s also constantly changing. As we grow, and grow older, our skin modifies itself to meet our needs. Let’s take a look at how age affects the skin.
From the very start of life, the skin is working to protect the rest of the body from infection. A newborn’s skin comes in contact with bacteria even before the child is out of the birth canal. In fact, throughout your life you will have bacteriausually harmlessfeeding, multiplying, and dying on the surface of your skin. For the most part, the stratum corneum bars entry for these bacteria, which settle into folds and creases in the skin for moisture, warmth, and protection.
At birth, the skin is thin and easily torn. A baby’s skin does a poor job of protecting it against the elements. Because its blood vessels and sweat glands are not yet functioning well, the skin has no way to regulate temperature. The delicate skin is also very susceptible to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Chemicals and medications are also easily absorbed through the skin. At this early age, sweat glands are barely functioning.
Many newborns have a blotchy look because their muscles and blood vessels are initially poorly developed, causing blood to pool under the skin’s surfacea normal condition that soon disappears. The process of birth itself can also irritate an infant’s skin, causing redness that usually fades within a few days. Some children are born with birthmarks, areas of pigmented skin. While a birthmark itself is harmless, it is a risk factor for skin cancer and should prompt precautions against exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Of course, as the infant matures, so does the skin. During childhood, the skin is often at its best. Typically, there are few signs of wear and tear, and the blotchy redness of infancy has disappeared. Though the eccrine sweat glands are now functioning normally, the apocrine glandsthose that produce body odorhave not yet reached maturity, nor have the oil-producing sebaceous glands. At this age, there are few instances of rashes and acne, and most children heal quickly with little scarring.
At adolescence, the trials typically begin. During puberty, the body begins to produce the hormones that will engineer the person’s transformation into adulthood. This move toward sexual maturity, however, also means changes for the skin. The hormones being pumped into the body cause the sebaceous glands within the skin to enlarge and produce oil that brings on acne. The apocrine glands are also called into action by the hormones, creating the advent of body odor, and the eccrine glands begin to produce even more sweat.
Generally, after adolescence, changes to the skin cease, and its condition stabilizes. For women, this status quo may be thrown off by hormonal changes. Oral contraceptives, for example, which alter the body’s hormonal balance, often cause changes in the skin. Pregnancy also brings with it physical and hormonal changes that may affect the skin. In about 75 percent of women, stretch marksraised, red, shiny lines, also called striaeappear on the breasts, thighs, and Changes in pigmentation also commonly occur during pregnancy. A woman’s nipples may darken, and spotty pigmentation may appear around the eyes and forehead. This “mask of pregnancy” is called melasma. Also, a dark line, called the linea nigra, may appear between the navel and the middle of the lower abdomen during pregnancy. These changes disappear within a month or two of delivery
Spider veins and varicose veinspermanent purple tangles that lie close to the surface of the skinoften develop during pregnancy. For some women, pregnancy may mean a temporary reprieve from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis as hormonal activity seems to improve these diseases. However, other conditions, such as yeast infections, may flare up during pregnancy
As the years pass, the skin becomes subject to the effects of time. Though you might have no intention of slowing down wit age, your skin has a different plan. Through the years, the rate of replacement of skin cells in the epidermis gradually slows, and by the age of 65, it may take twice as long as the typical 28 days to rejuvenate the surface of the skin. The slower turnover of cells means thinner, rough-looking skin.
The melanocytes within the epidermis slow their production of pigments, making it more difficult to tan. This decrease is also responsible for graying or whitening hair. Brown or yellow spots may appear on the skin due to changes in pigmentation. These spots, called age spots, are common in older adults. While most are harmless, they may be removed for cosmetic reasons. (Any unusual spots that bleed or grow rapidlyespecially if they are irregular in shape or colorshould be examined by a practitioner for signs of skin cancer.)
Within the dermis, elastin and collagen fibers begin to break down, leaving the skin more fragile and vulnerable to sagging and wrinkles. The water content of the dermis diminishes, triggering dry skin and less flexibility. Aging makes the blood vessels more delicate, which results in more frequent bruising and slower healing after an injury. Nerves within the skin become less sensitive, diminishing the sense of touch.
Hormones can play a role during the later years, as well. For women, this occurs at menopause, the stage of life during which a woman’s levels of naturally produced estrogen begin to wane. This decrease in hormones triggers hot flashes, sudden increases in body temperature, flushed skin, and profuse sweating. For men, changes in the way the hormone testosterone functions, as well as slight declines in hormone levels, can lead to drier, less flexible skin as well as hair loss.
Chronological aging is inevitable, but photoaging, which is caused by sun exposure, actually accounts for more skin problems. Taking steps to minimize sun damage throughout a lifetime can do a lot to prevent future problems. For those already seeing the effects of photoaging, there are also tips for preventing and improving the condition of your skin.
From the very start of life, the skin is working to protect the rest of the body from infection. A newborn’s skin comes in contact with bacteria even before the child is out of the birth canal. In fact, throughout your life you will have bacteriausually harmlessfeeding, multiplying, and dying on the surface of your skin. For the most part, the stratum corneum bars entry for these bacteria, which settle into folds and creases in the skin for moisture, warmth, and protection.
At birth, the skin is thin and easily torn. A baby’s skin does a poor job of protecting it against the elements. Because its blood vessels and sweat glands are not yet functioning well, the skin has no way to regulate temperature. The delicate skin is also very susceptible to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Chemicals and medications are also easily absorbed through the skin. At this early age, sweat glands are barely functioning.
Many newborns have a blotchy look because their muscles and blood vessels are initially poorly developed, causing blood to pool under the skin’s surfacea normal condition that soon disappears. The process of birth itself can also irritate an infant’s skin, causing redness that usually fades within a few days. Some children are born with birthmarks, areas of pigmented skin. While a birthmark itself is harmless, it is a risk factor for skin cancer and should prompt precautions against exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Of course, as the infant matures, so does the skin. During childhood, the skin is often at its best. Typically, there are few signs of wear and tear, and the blotchy redness of infancy has disappeared. Though the eccrine sweat glands are now functioning normally, the apocrine glandsthose that produce body odorhave not yet reached maturity, nor have the oil-producing sebaceous glands. At this age, there are few instances of rashes and acne, and most children heal quickly with little scarring.
At adolescence, the trials typically begin. During puberty, the body begins to produce the hormones that will engineer the person’s transformation into adulthood. This move toward sexual maturity, however, also means changes for the skin. The hormones being pumped into the body cause the sebaceous glands within the skin to enlarge and produce oil that brings on acne. The apocrine glands are also called into action by the hormones, creating the advent of body odor, and the eccrine glands begin to produce even more sweat.
Generally, after adolescence, changes to the skin cease, and its condition stabilizes. For women, this status quo may be thrown off by hormonal changes. Oral contraceptives, for example, which alter the body’s hormonal balance, often cause changes in the skin. Pregnancy also brings with it physical and hormonal changes that may affect the skin. In about 75 percent of women, stretch marksraised, red, shiny lines, also called striaeappear on the breasts, thighs, and Changes in pigmentation also commonly occur during pregnancy. A woman’s nipples may darken, and spotty pigmentation may appear around the eyes and forehead. This “mask of pregnancy” is called melasma. Also, a dark line, called the linea nigra, may appear between the navel and the middle of the lower abdomen during pregnancy. These changes disappear within a month or two of delivery
Spider veins and varicose veinspermanent purple tangles that lie close to the surface of the skinoften develop during pregnancy. For some women, pregnancy may mean a temporary reprieve from skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis as hormonal activity seems to improve these diseases. However, other conditions, such as yeast infections, may flare up during pregnancy
As the years pass, the skin becomes subject to the effects of time. Though you might have no intention of slowing down wit age, your skin has a different plan. Through the years, the rate of replacement of skin cells in the epidermis gradually slows, and by the age of 65, it may take twice as long as the typical 28 days to rejuvenate the surface of the skin. The slower turnover of cells means thinner, rough-looking skin.
The melanocytes within the epidermis slow their production of pigments, making it more difficult to tan. This decrease is also responsible for graying or whitening hair. Brown or yellow spots may appear on the skin due to changes in pigmentation. These spots, called age spots, are common in older adults. While most are harmless, they may be removed for cosmetic reasons. (Any unusual spots that bleed or grow rapidlyespecially if they are irregular in shape or colorshould be examined by a practitioner for signs of skin cancer.)
Within the dermis, elastin and collagen fibers begin to break down, leaving the skin more fragile and vulnerable to sagging and wrinkles. The water content of the dermis diminishes, triggering dry skin and less flexibility. Aging makes the blood vessels more delicate, which results in more frequent bruising and slower healing after an injury. Nerves within the skin become less sensitive, diminishing the sense of touch.
Hormones can play a role during the later years, as well. For women, this occurs at menopause, the stage of life during which a woman’s levels of naturally produced estrogen begin to wane. This decrease in hormones triggers hot flashes, sudden increases in body temperature, flushed skin, and profuse sweating. For men, changes in the way the hormone testosterone functions, as well as slight declines in hormone levels, can lead to drier, less flexible skin as well as hair loss.
Chronological aging is inevitable, but photoaging, which is caused by sun exposure, actually accounts for more skin problems. Taking steps to minimize sun damage throughout a lifetime can do a lot to prevent future problems. For those already seeing the effects of photoaging, there are also tips for preventing and improving the condition of your skin.
