Chronological aging and changes in the skin are part of the natural aging process. Genetic factors and hormones influence the skin quality and durability over time. Thicker, darker skin tends to wrinkle less.
Environmental factors such as sun exposure, prolonged exposure to wind, cold and pollution cause cumulative damage to the skin over time.
Smoking also causes skin damage over time. Nicotine causes constriction of the blood vessels that decreases the blood flow to the skin. Toxic substances from smoking affect the skin through the circulatory system and may damage collagen and elastin fibres.
Degeneration of elastin fibres and collagen fibres causes the skin to lose it's strength with subsequent loosening of the skin. These changes in the skin lead to the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, deep facial expression lines and skin laxity. Fine lines and wrinkle are caused by the decline in the quantity and quality of the elastin fibres.
Additional changes in the skin is the gradual thinning of all layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis & subcutaneous layers). Loss of subcutaneous fat is seen in areas of the face and hands. The skin becomes drier due to the gradual decline in the activity of the sebacious glands. There are changes in hair growth with thinning of the hair on the body.
Sun exposure is the primary environmental cause of skin damage along with prolonged exposure to cold and wind. Sun exposure degenerates the elastin in the skin leading to the formation of wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Sun exposure also creates uneven pigment, formation of solar lentigines, dilated blood vessels (telangiectases), wrinkles and skin laxity.
Advanced Skin care and skin rejuvention may include skin tightening with Titan to address laxity. Laser Genesis to address texture and diffuse redness. Laser vein treatment for dilated blood vessels. LimeLight facial to address pigmented lesions but may also treat vascular issues. These treatment modalities may be combined with both Pearl and Pearl Fractional Laser treatments to address both epidermal & dermal changes. Cutera Laser based technology has been optimized to address the many issues of aging skin.
Reference: "Handbook of Cosmetic Skin Care"; Avi Shai; Howard I Maibach; Robert Baran
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