Clive Anderson - AT THE DERMATOLOGIST THE SKIN is the largest, most accessible organ of the body. It is also the most exposed organ to the environment and suffers from chronic exposure to the elements the sun and to a lesser extent wind.
Certain changes take place naturally in the skin as we age. While many of these age-related changes are inevitable some can be reduced or delayed by healthy lifestyle choices and good skin care.
SIGNS OF AGEING:
Thinning of the skin - the epidermis or upper layer of the skin becomes flattened. The lower layer or dermis also decreases in thickness and the underlying fat layer gets thinner. These changes make the skin more likely to wrinkle. Wrinkles are formed most often where the skin folds repeatedly.
Sagging - less collagen and elastin (the support structures of the skin) are produced. Older skin is more likely to droop and sag aided by gravity. This occurs especially along the jaw line (jowls) and bags form under the eyes.
Age spots - the pigment-producing cells of the skin reduce in number. The remaining cells may enlarge and cluster together forming age spots. The loss of these pigment-producing cells at the base of the hair follicle results in graying of the hair.
Dryness - Older skin has fewer sweat glands, producing less sweat, resulting in dry, rough skin.
Hair changes - Hair follicles atrophy resulting in less dense hair in both men and women. Eyebrows, ear and nasal hair coarsens and get longer especially in men.
Nail changes - There is a decline in growth rate of the nails with age. The nails increase in thickness and may develop ridges. Nails become brittle, dull and yellowish in colour. Toenails may become harder and may sometimes overgrow and become curved.
TO REDUCE THE SIGNS OF AGEING:
Limit sun exposure - sun exposure leads to photoaging
Don't smoke and avoid second-hand smoke - cigarette smoke promotes wrinkling of the skin and accelerates photoageing
Eat a healthy diet with adequate amounts of fruits, vegetables and cereals.
Be gentle to the skin, avoid skin irritants such as perfumed and anti-bacterial soaps.
Moisturise regularly - dry skin is more likely to develop lines and wrinkles. Moisturise several times daily especially if the skin is itchy.
Treat skin diseases early.
ANTI-AGEING TREATMENTS
A wide range of anti-ageing treatments is available. These include:
Topical preparations - prescription creams containing retinoids have been shown to counteract photoageing with regular use. The alpha-hydroxy acid products work by increasing the production of the skin's building blocks and reducing roughness. Other products help to remove uneven pigmentation.
Facial Peels - chemicals applied to the face to exfoliate or remove the outer layer of cells and to encourage faster regrowth of younger- looking skin.
Laser resurfacing - lasers are useful in treating wrinkles, age spots, acne scars and benign skin growths.
Botox - the injection of Botulin toxin results in paralysis of the muscle and the flattening out of wrinkles such as those between the eyebrows and around the eyes.
Cryotherapy or Electrosurgery - to remove so-called facial warts, skin tags and other growths.
Cosmetic surgery - some cosmetic surgery such as the eye lift (blepharoplasty) and face lift (meloplasty) can reduce the signs of ageing.
The fountain of youth is yet to be discovered but there is a lot that we can do to slow down the inevitable.
Dr. Clive Anderson is a Dermatologist and Venerologist.
