Intrinsic ageing, also known as natural ageing process, is a continuous process that normally begins in the mid-twenties. Within the skin, collagen production slows down and elastin has bit less spring. Dead skin cells do not shed as quickly and turnover of new skin cells may decrease slightly. Intrinsic ageing depends on time. The changes occur partially as the result of cumulative endogenous damage. While these changes usually begin in the twenties, the signs of intrinsic aging are typically not visible for decades.
Following are some intrinsic factors which cause skin ageing
Hormonal Influence:
Ageing is the phenomenon of life determined by a genetic program. Along with growth of age, the modified gene loss, DNA methylation and phosphorylation reaction decreases, telomere shortens, DNA self-repair ability drops, oncogene and tumor suppressor gene regulation can result in chromosome mutation, normal cell differentiation all of these can lead to skin ageing.
As humans age, there is as reduction in sex hormone production because of decreased functional reserves of the endocrine organs. Women experience a rapid decline in serum levels of estrogen after menopause. The decrease in testosterone is critical to intrinsic ageing because of its wide-ranging interactions with the body, skin and behavior. Skin collagen content and thickness decreases with the hormonal effects of castration.
Antioxidant capacity:
One of the most important cause of skin aging is the damage caused by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced from endogenous (byproduct of cellular metabolism) & exogenous (develop from UV radiation and pollution) sources. The excessive free radical toxicity can cause the ageing of skin by attacking the chromosomes, mitochondria, cell membrane and connective tissue and other biological tissue.
The body has innate antioxidant defense system to neutralize ROS through the production of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
Anatomic variations:
Thin skin is easily photo damaged as compared to thick skin. Also, the distribution of lipid in skin can lead to ageing. In areas of the body with high blood flow, for example lips, fingers, nasal tip and forehead, blood flow decreases with age as compared to areas with baseline low blood flow.
Signs of intrinsic skin ageing:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Crows feet
Thin and transparent skin
Loss of underlying fat leading to hollowed cheeks and eye sockets with noticeable loss of firmness on the hands and neck
Bones shrink away from the skin as a result of bone loss, which causes sagging skin
Dry skin with pruritus
Inability to swear sufficiently to cool the skin
Greying of hair eventually turning white
Comments