The ageing process in the skin and which treatments exist
The ageing process leaves its mark on us, whether we want it to or not. What actually happens in our skin as we get older? You often hear "I don't recognise myself" and "the changes came out of the blue". In this post we will take you quickly through the ageing process in the skin and what happens as we age. Then we will give some good advice on what you can do to minimise/slow the process, so that you can feel fresh all the way. Finally we give some tips on treatments you can have, which will give you a feeling of wellbeing.
The ageing process in the skin
Anatomy
Our skin consists of three layers. The epidermis, the dermis and the subcutis. At the very top of the skin (the epidermis) we find dead and old skin cells that fall off and are replaced by new, fresh cells. There are several treatments and products you can use to speed up this process. The point is to get old skin cells off faster and bring forward new and fresh cells just as fast. It takes approx. 1 month for the whole skin surface to renew. This process naturally slows the older we get. The epidermis is in turn divided into 5 layers. Here we find, among other things, melanocytes (pigment cells) and immune cells.
Image borrowed from GoogleThe functions of the skin
Through the skin we receive information about our surroundings via small nerve endings, receptors that register heat, touch, cold, pain and pressure. We also have sebaceous glands that produce sebum, an oil-like substance that lubricates the skin and prevents infection and drying out. In addition, this substance preserves the skin's elasticity. The skin also protects us against fluid loss and regulates temperature, to mention a few things.
Collagen and elastin
In the dermis there is a network of small threads (fibres). We have elastin fibres that make the skin elastic, and collagen that lies like a lattice and maintains the skin's strength and firmness. As we get older, the production of elastin and collagen also decreases, which makes the network of threads less taut, and the skin thus becomes looser and coarser. The skin cells are not formed as quickly and the outer layer also becomes thinner. This in turn makes it harder to retain moisture.
The sun's effect on the skin
The sun affects our skin to a much greater extent than most people realise. Wrinkles and lines come mostly from the sun and not from ageing itself. Although looser skin and wrinkles are a natural part of ageing, the sun and UV radiation speed up the whole process. Quite a lot, in fact. This happens because UV rays damage the collagen in the skin and the DNA in the skin cells. You can get not only furrows and wrinkles, but also freckles, moles and other colour changes in the skin as a result of too much sun. To illustrate how much the sun actually affects our skin, we have included a picture showing a pair of twins. The one on the right has smoked and been out in the sun as much as possible, while the one on the left has been more careful.
Tips and advice
There are some simple steps you can take to give yourself better conditions. These tips apply to everyone and to optimising health in general. We know, among other things, that stress affects the body and skin a lot.
Get enough sleep
Be physically active
Exercise your brain, learn something new, have a hobby
Go for walks in nature
Eat healthily and drink enough water
Try to have as little negative stress in your life as possible
Use acids and active ingredients in your skincare routine that give you plenty of moisture
Use sun protection EVERY DAY, all year round (this is the best anti-ageing product)
Treatments you can have to feel fresher, as quickly as possible
More and more people aged 45 - 55 come to us who have not had any cosmetic medical treatments before, and who now feel "dragged down", slack, tired and weary. It is important to know that, like everything else in this world, there is no quick fix here either. We have to start somewhere, and you must expect it to take a little time to get where you want to be with your skin and other treatments. We primarily want to work with the skin first, as the skin needs a good environment in order to function optimally. After that you can have wrinkle treatment to reduce deeper lines and fillers to work on tightening and volume loss. These 3 treatments give you the biggest difference in the shortest possible time:
Chemical peel is a good treatment to start with. A more even skin tone, reduced fine lines and restored moisture are things a chemical peel can help with. Consider a course of 3-4 peels and follow a tailored home-care programme, and you will already see and feel a difference.
Wrinkle treatment. For the prevention of deeper and more numerous lines/wrinkles.
Fillers. With fillers we can sculpt the face and restore lost volume.
We offer a free 10-minute consultation. Book an appointment here. Here we go through your wishes and thoughts and tailor the treatment and plan uniquely to you.
We are open from 10:00 - 18:00 on weekdays (Thursdays 12:00 - 20:00) and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays. A warm welcome to us <3 Hugs from all of us at Beauty Medical.
Sources:
https://nhi.no/sykdommer/hud/diverse/slik-eldes-huden/
https://sml.snl.no/huden
