Skin aging

The concept of skin aging is one that has been studied and researched for many years. The fight against aging is one that the anti-aging industry has made billions of dollars off of each year and there is no shortage of demand for anti-wrinkle creams, serums, and treatments. Of course in order to fight aging skin it helps to know how it works and the effect it has on the skin.

There are actually two types of skin aging that occur in adults: 'extrinsic' and 'intrinsic'.

Extrinsic skin aging

Extrinsic aging is about how your skin interacts with the environment. Photo-aging, being a premature aging of the skin as a result of excessive sun exposure, plays a major role in the process of extrinsic aging. When your skin comes into contact with a lot of UV rays, this causes it to lose its elasticity and collagen, resulting in sagging, dull skin. Additionally, UV rays also create fine lines and premature wrinkles, as well as leathering of the skin.

Many people who experience photo-aging tend to have tough and roughly textured skin as well as fine lines and wrinkles. Smoking, lack of sleep and other external, environmental factors such as wind, extreme cold or extreme heat, and air pollutants, all contribute to extrinsic aging. In order to prevent the onset of extrinsic aging, it is crucial that you:

• stop smoking
• eliminate pollutants where possible
• get plenty of rest each night
• practice diligent sun care through use of natural, organic sunscreen or sunblock products
• Wear protective clothing for additional help in preventing damage from the sun as well as the extra environmental factors

Intrinsic skin aging

Intrinsic aging is the type of aging that occurs naturally with the progression of time. As we get older, the majority of us will experience the inevitable fine lines, then wrinkles and sagging skin, no matter how careful we are with the extrinsic factors above. So, although some factors of extrinsic aging can produce the same results, the effects of intrinsic aging happen regardless of the effects of extrinsic aging! From the moment we are born, continually through our lives, the format of our skin will change. With time, the skin will start to naturally lose fat and firmness. As the production of collagen and elastin slows down, the more prone your complexion will become to fine lines and wrinkles.

The further complication of progesterone loss in the female body as you approach menopause and then move beyond it, also results in the skin becoming drier. Poor circulation is another factor influencing skin aging processes, as it results in a dull-looking skin. While these all seem like problems that are impossible to overcome, there are some ways you can improve how you will age intrinsically. One such thing is natural progesterone, but there are a variety of anti-aging products available that may meet your specific aging concerns. Be sure to focus on finding something that works well with your skin type and most importantly, contains ingredients to assist your skin naturally to improve it's ability to produce the elastin and collagen that it needs to combat the aging processes.

The greatest indictor of how intrinsic skin aging will affect you in the future is genetics so you may want to turn to your family for a glimpse into how your complexion may potentially age years from now. Look at your Mom and Dad, or your Gran and Grandpa and see if there are some pointers for you!