What is aging?

It is an inevitable process, inscribed into the memory of every cell in our body, that begins from the very moment we are born.

Every step of this process has some characteristic signs:

At 20 years of age → fragility in the contour of eyes and first expression wrinkles. Daily gesturing (laughing, crying, speaking...) causes numerous muscle contractions. If you do not start caring for the skin at this age, lines of expression will eventually turn into deep wrinkles.

At 30 years of age → chronological aging. This type of aging is caused by the passage of years. It is manifested through the appearance of fine wrinkles.

At 40 years of age → wrinkles begin to appear start settling (they begin in the lip contour) and the skin starts to become drier and fatigued.

At age 50 → the first signs of sagging start to appear. Wrinkles become more apparent and the first senile spots appear (in hands and face).

50 years and onwards → and, above all, in the case of women and with the arrival of menopause, the aging process is accelerated: dry skin becomes apparent, senile spots and body sagging.

Types of facial aging

1. Intrinsic or chronological aging

Starts from the moment in which we are.

Caused by genetic and hormonal factors, and by free radicals.

Characterized by thinner, dryer, more flaccid skin, with wrinkles.

2. Photoaging or extrinsic aging

Premature aging of the skin due to undue and excessive exposure to the sun.

Some external factors generate an excess of free radicals that our organism is not able to neutralize entirely and end up damaging cells in our body prematurely, since they oxidize vital elements such as DNA, lipids in membranes and structural proteins like collagen and elastin.

The deterioration of these vital elements (DNA, lipids of cell membranes, structural proteins...) is going to manifest itself in the appearance of:

• Intense skin dehydration.
• Thickening of the stratum corneum.
• Deep wrinkles and marked folds.
• Loss of skin elasticity.
• Sagging.
• Yellowish skin, non-uniform skin tone.
• Irregular pigmentation.
• Dark spots.
• Spider veins.

UV rays

The Sun emits ultraviolet rays (UVA, UVB, UVC) that attack the cells of the skin:

• UVC: They do not penetrate.
• UVB: Burning and redness.
• UVA: Serious damage. Aging and wrinkles.

UV rays are most damaging when they are reflected in the following areas:

• Grass: (+ 10%).
• Sand (+ 15 / 25%).
• Water (+ 20%).
• Snow (+ 85%).

Causes of facial aging

Genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, sun, tobacco and alcohol, unbalanced diets, sedentary lifestyle, stress and lack of sleep, certain medications, pollution.

Signs of aging

1. WRINKLES? - Aging?-Expression.

2. SAGGING.

3. MANCHAS (melanic).

4. DULL SKIN

5. DEHYDRATION

Effects of aging

Epidermis:

• Slowing down of the process of cell renewal.
• Alteration of the barrier function of the skin.
• Flattening and atrophy of the basal layer.
• Corneocyte adhesion decreases.
• Laminated stratum corneum.
• Neovascularization.
• Changes in pigmentation.

Dermis:

• Degradation of collagen type I and II, reduction and alteration of fibers of elastin (elastosis) and decrease in the amount of hyaluronic.
• Decrease in the blood supply.

Habits and solutions to slow down the process of facial aging

• Take up physical exercise.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol.
• When we are exposed to the sun:
• • o Reduce to the minimum exposure to the Sun from 12 to 16 h. that is when it is more dangerous.
  • o Use a hat, long sleeved shirts and long pants, preferably tight, for greater protection.
  • o Apply sun protection before each exposure, and apply once again profusely and frequently, at least every two hours.
  • o You should always apply sunscreen again after swimming or sweating profusely, since products differ in their degree of resistance to water.
  • o Do not expose babies with only a few months to the sun. At six months old, begin to use sunscreen lotions and then expose them to the sun in moderation.
  • o From an early age, children should be taught to protect themselves from the sun. Damage from the sun begins after each exposure and accumulates over a lifetime.
• Do not always sleep on the same side.
• Eat a balanced (Mediterranean) diet.
• Clean, tone, moisturize and nourish daily the skin.

Systemic treatment

• With food supplements rich in vitamins, antioxidants...
• Capsules.
• Tablets

Topical treatments

• Contribution of different types of active ingredients to treat and prevent.
• Serums.
• Lotions.
• Gels.
• Creams.
• Gel-creams.

Active ingredients

-Retinol: increases the natural production of collagen. Stimulates the fibroblast and the synthesis of fibronectin (structure of the skin).

-Glycolic acid: Epithelializing: cellular renewal. Anti-aging: stimulates the synthesis of collagen, elastin and GAG's. It reduces wrinkles. Improves the dermal matrix.

-Resveratrol: Activates sirtuins, enzymes that protect the integrity of DNA against damages suffered by our cells.

-Plant stem cells: regenerating and epithelializing. Skin rejuvenation. Reduction of wrinkles. They protect the longevity of skin stem cells and delay their senescence.

-DMAE: Stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin. It increases the synthesis of acetylcholine and phosphatidylcholine.

-Mandelic acid: Anti-aging: Stimulates the synthesis of collagen and GAG's. It reduces wrinkles. Dermal remodeling. Keratolytic action.

-Hyaluronic acid: retains and absorbs water, in order to fill wrinkles from within. Improves elasticity.

-Organic silicon: restructuring of connective tissue: elastin, collagen and proteoglycan protector. Anti-glycation: It prevents the loss of elasticity, rigidity of the tissue and accelerated skin aging.

-Peptides: Regenerate the skin matrix by stimulating the synthesis of collagen, elastin, fibronectin and GAGs. Improve the firmness of the skin and reduce wrinkles.

-Snail discharge: renews, regenerates and repairs the skin. Fills wrinkles.

-Vitamins A + C + E + proteoglycans: antioxidant and skin lightening (inhibits the synthesis of tyrosinase).

-Ferulic acid: Photoprotector and antioxidant of vegetable origin derived from phenol.