Our Skin - The Facts
The skin is the largest organ of the body and because it interfaces with the environment, skin plays a key role in protecting (the body) against pathogens and excessive water loss. Its other functions are insulation, temperature regulation, sensation, synthesis of vitamin D, and the protection of vitamin B folates.
The skin is composed mainly of three layers; epidermis, dermis and hypodermis.
Epidermis
The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin; it forms the waterproof, protective wrap over the body's surface and is where new skin cells are manufactured. The epidermis contains no blood vessels, and cells in the deepest layers are nourished by diffusion from blood capillaries extending to the upper layers of the dermis.
Dermis
The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. It contains the hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, apocrine glands, lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. The blood vessels in the dermis provide nourishment and waste removal from its own cells as well as from the Stratum basale of the epidermis. The dermis is also the layer that contains collagen and elastin fibres – the two components that diminish as we age.
Hypodermis
The hypodermis is not part of the skin, and lies below the dermis. Its purpose is to attach the skin to underlying bone and muscle as well as supplying it with blood vessels and nerves. It consists of loose connective tissue and elastin. Fat serves as padding and insulation for the body.
Causes of Aging Skin
There are two distinct causes of aging; intrinsic aging is caused by genes and extrinsic aging and is caused by environmental factors.
Intrinsic Aging
The natural aging process, intrinsic aging, is a continuous process that beings in the mid-20s. The changes caused by the natural aging process may begin in the mid-20s but the results aren’t visible for decades. Intrinsic aging causes collagen production to slow, dead skin cells do not shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly, and elastin, the substance that enables skin to snap back into place, has a bit less spring.
Signs of Intrinsic Aging
• Fine wrinkles
• Thin and transparent skin
• Loss of underlying fat, leading to hollowed cheeks and eye sockets as well as noticeable loss of firmness on the hands and neck
• Bones shrink away from the skin due to bone loss, which causes sagging skin
• Dry skin that may itch
• Inability to sweat sufficiently to cool the skin
Extrinsic Aging
A number of extrinsic, or external, factors often act together with the normal aging process to prematurely age our skin.
Causes of Extrinsic Aging
• Sun
• Facial Expressions
• Gravity
• Sleeping Positions
• Smoking
Prevention for Younger-Looking Skin
You can’t stop or prevent intrinsic aging but can prevent signs of premature aging caused by extrinsic factors by protecting your skin from the sun, quitting smoking, and eliminating facial exercises.
Dermatologists recommend comprehensive sun protection to prevent premature aging caused by the sun. Comprehensive sun protection includes:
• Avoiding deliberate tanning, including use of indoor tanning devices.
• Staying out of the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
• Wearing protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves, when outdoors during the day.
• Applying sunscreen year round. Sunscreen should be broad spectrum (offers UVA and UVB protection) and have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors to all skin that will be exposed. It should be reapplied after sweating or being in water.
Vivida® supplements and anti-aging creme can also help to battle the signs of aging. The supplements are designed to nourish the dermal layer under of the surface of the skin. Vivida® contains a unique combination of a natural marine extract, the powerful anti-oxidant astaxanthin, vitamin C and natural silica from horsetail to help the skin on the face and body to look healthy, smooth, flexible and supple by helping to support the skin’s moisture retention.
