Skin aging: chronoaging and photoaging



An important component of skin health is given by hormones that have the task of balancing biological and physiological processes in all organs and tissues, the action can be rapid (eg adrenaline and post-pituitary hormone), or with a latency period of hours or even days.

We can speak of direct action when the hormone directly affects the target organ (eg estrogens and androgens on the genital organs) and of indirect action when the hormone affects a gland that produces hormones with direct action (eg gonadotropins that stimulate the ovary to produce estrogen). In the course of life the individual produces less and less hormones and a bad diet, cigarette smoke, polluting gases, nervous diseases, tissue ischemia, a diet based on proteins or too rich in animal fats, intense physical activity, etc. they damage hormones and produce free radicals.

Free radicals are waste substances that produce our body and are found in cells; if they are in minimum quantities they are not dangerous, on the contrary they help us to free ourselves from germs and to protect ourselves from bacteria but if they are in excess they can cause damage because the free radical has only one electron and therefore it takes from the molecule with which it comes into contact another electron, the molecule takes it from another molecule and so on, triggering a chain mechanism that damages lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and DNA.

The cell defends itself because it has enzymes and vitamins (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, etc.), but there are cases in which the body produces too many and the cell does not have enough defenses and so the organism goes to a degenerative process called "oxidative stress" which damages mitochondria, cell membrane and DNA, favoring the onset of serious diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzaimer.

Free radicals are fought with antioxidants that restore the chemical balance in free radicals giving them the electron they need. Vitamin E, C, pro vitamin A, iron are antioxidants. Copper, zinc, selenium, magnesium, etc.

Usually a balanced diet is more than sufficient to perform an antioxidative action, experts always recommend taking at least four or five ounces of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables a day.

Aging components: chronoaging and photoaging

In skin aging we distinguish two components: the chronoaging (chronological aging) and the photoaging (photoinduced aging).

The two processes are independent of each other, but if they are both present they cause premature aging. The chronoaging is mainly due to the passage of time, but it also depends on genetic factors and hormonal modifications and is therefore an individual phenomenon because it can age without having deep wrinkles or on the contrary having the face marked despite young age, it begins after 25 years, to show up visibly from 40 years onwards. Even our skin undergoes profound changes, which affect its aesthetic appearance and its functionality.

At the level of the epidermis we find:

1) Slow cellular turn-over, reduction and thinning of the skin thickness which cause a finer and dull complexion.

  1. Hyperkeratosis, the corneal lamellae tend to cement and form a compact layer.
  2. Dehydration and therefore skin dryness due to a decrease in lipids.
  3. Melanocytes decrease, therefore skin more subject to pigmentary anomalies.

    2) Flattening of the dermoepidermal junction that generates a sagging skin.

    In the dermis we find:

    1. Loss of elasticity on the part of elastic fibers due to a worsening of the synthesis of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans.
    2. Reduction of vascularization, due to a lower intake of nutrients.
    3. Microcirculation alteration that causes blemishes such as dry skin or couperose.
    4. Vascular dysfunctions, increased permeability and capillary fragility.
    5. Physical and chemical modifications of the fundamental substance (deep dehydration, wrinkles).
    6. Decrease in hyaluronic acid and therefore less hydration and tissue protection.

    In the hypodermis we find:

    1. Slowing down of cellular metabolic activity which causes poor cellular turnover.
    2. Reduction of adipose tissue thickness that causes an emptying and deformation of the adipocyte network.

    3) Alteration of the fundamental substance that determines a lower skin elasticity.

    • In the mammary gland we find atrophy.
    • In the sweat and sebaceous glands we find sebum and sweat hyposecretion
    • In the hair we find: hair loss, hair and their whitening, appearance of unwanted hair.
    • In the nails of the hands we find less shine and fragility.
    • In the toenails we find thickening and streaks due to an alteration of keratin.

    To sum up, the main signs of skin senescence are: dry, chapped, dehydrated, loss of tone and elasticity, loosening, folds, wrinkles, stretch marks, rings of Venus in the neck, abnormalities of pigmentation, vessel dysfunction, telangiectasia, couperose, etc .

    The second type of aging is instead induced by environmental factors, among which the so-called photo-aging or photoaging plays a major role: a chronic insult caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, which produces premature aging. Among the other environmental factors responsible for skin aging are different types of pollutants, as well as harmful and irritating substances such as cigarette smoke.

    All these factors induce the formation of free radicals and the reduction of enzymes that have antioxidant properties, with the consequent thickening and loss of elasticity of the skin.

    In general photo-aging, or photoaging, causes accelerated aging which, with respect to chronological aging, is expressed with more accentuated cutaneous manifestations in relation to some aspects, such as cutaneous hyperpigmentation which, initially, is shown through the formation of freckles, but then evolves into real age spots. The possible dilatations of the capillaries due to prolonged exposure to the sun and the formation of skin tumors are more serious.

    To slow down the irreversible process of aging, facial gymnastics and beauty treatments for the face are very important to mitigate any imperfections such as wrinkles and the natural aging of the face that can occur in different ways.

    The skin, depending on its quality but also on the basis of the type of care dedicated to it, can be more or less marked, solid or vulnerable to atmospheric agents that in some way can accelerate physiological aging.

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