Aging Skin 101
An increased understanding of the structure and function of the skin is helping to drive the development of
products that reduce the visible signs of facial aging, according to the American Academy of Dermatology
(AAD).
With aging, all skin cells begin to produce excess amounts of
free radicals--unstable oxygen molecules that, under ideal circumstances, are removed by naturally occurring
antioxidants within the skin's cells. In aging skin cells, antioxidants are in short supply. The free radicals
generated are left unchecked and cause damage to cell membranes, proteins, and DNA. These free radicals eventually
break down a protein substance in connective tissue (collagen) and release chemicals that cause inflammation in the
skin. It is a combination of these cellular and molecular events that leads to skin aging and the formation of
wrinkles, the AAD says.
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