Aging Changes in Skin
Alternate Names : Thinning of Skin, Wrinkles - Aging Changes
Definition Aging changes in the skin are a group of common conditions and developments that occur as people grow older.
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Background
Skin changes are among the most visible signs of aging. Evidence of increasing age include wrinkles and sagging skin. Whitening or graying of the hair is another obvious sign of aging.
Your skin does many things. It protects you from the environment, helps regulate your body temperature, helps with fluid and electrolyte balance, and provides receptors for sensations such as touch, pain, and pressure.
Although skin has many layers, it can be roughly divided into three main portions. The outer portion (epidermis) contains skin cells, pigment, and proteins. The middle portion (dermis) contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and oil glands. The dermis provides nutrients to the epidermis.
The layer under the dermis (the subcutaneous layer) contains sweat glands, some hair follicles, blood vessels, and fat. Each layer also contains connective tissue with collagen fibers to give support and elastin fibers to provide flexibility and strength.
Skin changes are related to environmental factors, genetic makeup, nutrition, and other factors. The greatest single factor, though, is sun exposure. This can be seen by comparing areas of your body that have regular sun exposure with areas that are protected from sunlight.
Natural pigments seem to provide some protection against sun-induced skin damage. Blue-eyed, fair-skinned people show more aging skin changes than people with darker, more heavily pigmented skin.
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