What are the ANATOMY CHANGES while we age?
1.Collagen - Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body and is found in the connective tissue in the dermis (middle layer of skin) as well as in other tissues and bones. It creates flexibility and provides strength, support and structure. Our collagen production declines with age (it is thought at around 1% each year from our early twenties) and the quality also reduces. This natural decrease in production and quality is worsened by factors such as sun damage, stress, poor food choices, smoking, hormonal changes and environmental factors
2.Elastin - While collagen gives our skin firmness and strength, the protein elastin gives our skin elasticity. As we age our elastin production declines, which can leave the skin with a leathery appearance and less firmness and bounce. The skin is like a rubber band that is stretched over and over and soon loses is elasticity
3.Muscles - The muscles in the face help give our skin lift, fullness and strength. As we age we lose muscle tone and mass. Gravity also pulls and atrophies the muscles, causing them to “fall”, which results in the skin on top of the muscles becoming looser. Muscle fibers also start to shrink. Muscle tissue in the face is replaced increasingly slowly with age
4.Fat - The fat in the face changes as we age. In some areas it starts to reduce and waste away, in others fat pads start to droop, and in others fat can accumulate. This causes the face to look gaunt and older in places such as the cheeks and eye sockets where we lose fat, and can mean jowls and a double chin form where fat builds.
5.Bone - As we age our bones show signs of shrinkage and a loss of density, which can cause our face structure to change. Bones lose calcium and other minerals, becoming weaker as a result.
6.Cell turnover - due to a decrease in collagen and elastin, as we age our cell turnover rate slows down. Cell turnover is the rate at which new healthy skin cells are made and the rate at which the cells in the bottom layer of skin are moved to the top layer of skin. This can result in dull, rough, dry and blemished skin
7.Dehydration - during aging there is a natural dehydration of the stratum corneum due to a breakdown of skin cells, which causes a thinning of the epidermis and dermis. There is also a reduction in GAGs, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), in the skin. The skin makes HA to retain moisture in the cells and it has been shown to be important for hydration, nourishing collagen and lubricating of joints. Levels start to fall in our forties and due to hormonal changes there is also a natural reduction in oil production which can cause the skin to look drier and wrinkles to appear more apparent
8.Hormones - hormones can play a part in all the changes mentioned above. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can affect our skin, causing everything from a destruction of collagen to sluggish lymphatic drainage
9.Expressions - Expressions are linked to both verbal and non-verbal communication, thoughts and emotions as well as habits such as squinting in the sun. The repetition of these expressions over and over gradually start to form lines which become deeper as we age. Our skin’s ability to “bounce back” decreases, and lines and wrinkles start to develop. One way to avoid this is to do daily Face Yoga to reduce current lines and to prevent new lines forming
10.Sleep position - sleep is essential for good skin but the wrong sleep position can cause lines on the skin. Sleeping on your side and particularly on the same side every night can cause repetitive creases and therefore lines and wrinkles on the face and neck. Try to sleep on your back or swap sides as often as you can
11.Screen time - screen time is one of the major causes of posture related facial aging. Bending forward to look at a phone can cause lines in the neck and when this is done multiple times a day it can age the skin
12.Stress - when we are under pressure our body goes into “fight or flight” mode, our inbuilt physical and mental response to danger of any kind. Our body reacts as though we are in a life-threatening situation. Chronic stress is exhausting for all our systems and organs and can have devastating effects on the body and mind. It can also affect the face by contributing to collagen and elastin breakdown, dehydration, stress-related expressions, muscle weakness, sluggish circulation, poor lymphatic drainage and slow cell turnover. Negative emotions, such as sadness, grief, worry or anger, show on our face. It is hard to hide negativity that’s going on inside. Along with the physical reasons how stress ages the face, the thoughts and emotions related to stress can show in many ways too
