Signs of aging skin

The health and beauty of our skin as we were younger eventually disappears, and we develop wrinkles, dark circles under the eyes, spider veins and many other symptoms of aging. This is the natural aging process, affecting each and every individual.

Recognizing the First Signs of Aging Skin

At the basis of a successful treatment plan is recognizing the signs of aging skin when they first occur. This way, you can begin treatments immediately or put corrective actions into place in order to prevent premature aging skin.

Some signs of aging skin are obvious, while other symptoms of aging may go unnoticed. The signs can be divided into two main groups, not mutually exclusive (there is some crossover, but separating the signs helps determine the causes).

The first group includes changes that occur because of genetics, and it is called internal or intrinsic aging. The second group, extrinsic aging, is comprised of changes that occur because of external influences that affect the body, such as the environment.

• more fragile and susceptible to damage such as tears, cuts and bruises, and takes longer to heal
• fine wrinkles
• transparent (see-through)
• greater visibility of  pores
• dull and lifeless appearance
• hollowed cheeks and eye sockets
• sagging skin in the face, neck and upper arms, loss of the elasticity
• loss of firmness on the hands and neck
• dry, flaky and itchy – eczema
• spider veins – veins that are fine and red, purple or blue, resembling spider legs in appearance, all clustered in one area; spider veins typically appear on the feet, ankles and thighs
• varicose veins – enlarged leg veins, blue and bulging
• varicose ulcers – infections in the area of a varicose vein; they usually occur around the ankles, and affected areas are generally swollen, red, itchy and may contain pus
• purpura – rupture of blood vessels resulting in flat, purplish patches
• cherry angiomas – small bright red raised bumps caused by dilated blood vessels; cherry angiomas usually occur on the trunk of the body
• the cooling of the skin is affected, so less sweating occurs
• reduction in the amount of oil or lipid production, resulting in more dry skin care problems
• hair loss or unwanted hair on certain areas

• freckles
• age spots – flat brownish spots, that enlarge and darken with age (also known as liver spots or lentigines); age spots typically appear on the hands, face and back
• yellowish hue
• rough and leathery
• spider veins on the face
• fine lines and deep wrinkles
• loose skin due to loss of elasticity, leading to drooping nose and eyelids, elongated ears, disappearance of upper lip and a more pronounced upper lip, as well as sagging under the jaw and eyes
• scars become more obvious
• unevenly pigmented or mottled complexion
• thick wart-like, rough and red or brown patches, called actinic keratoses
• cancer
• development of shingles, i.e. outbreak of a rash or painful blisters

The changes in your skin are the most visible signs of the aging process. As we age, our skin become thinner, more prone to wrinkling and takes more time to heal after an injury, notes the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The pace and level at which a person ages can vary depending on genetics, stress and unprotected sun exposure over the years. These aspects are also studied by the National Institute of Aging.

According to the AAD, the extent of wrinkling largely depends on the amount of sun exposure throughout one’s life. People who work in jobs outdoors or who suffer from unprotected exposure may develop more wrinkles than those who use adequate sunscreen and avoid sun exposure. Use of adequate sunscreen can prevent new wrinkles and reduce the risk of cancer. As well, you can use anti aging skin supplements.

Decreased oil production occurs earlier in women than in men, affecting the skin’s ability to retain moisture. According to National Library of Medicine service MedLine Plus, oil production drops in women after menopause, while men experience a minimal decrease after age 80. This drop in oil production causes dry, itchy skin. You can find more information about this in healthy aging magazines.

Older skin is more vulnerable to a variety of diseases. Seborrheic dermatitis, for instance, occurs when red, greasy scales form on oily areas, such as the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, nose, chest, breasts, underarms, navel and buttocks.

The condition may improve even without treatment, however it can also become a chronic problem if left untreated. Moreover, shingles – a painful disease caused by the chicken pox virus – occurs more often with age. The condition can only occur if you had chicken pocks earlier.

Thinner skin and blood vessels cause injuries to heal more slowly, while bruises may develop more easily. Broken blood vessels and capillaries may cause red areas or lines on the face. In addition, red bumps (angiomas) may form due to dilated blood vessels, while enlarged blood vessels can also cause varicose veins.

Signs of aging skin include an increase of skin tags, warts and age spots, and some people also develop seborrheic keratoses, i.e. raised brown or black growths. Such growth can be removed by a doctor. Brown, black or grey age spots may develop as part of the aging process due to the effects of unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays over the years.

In addition to causing premature aging of the skin, unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays may also increase the risk of developing cancers. Basal cell carcinoma appears as a small bump or bleeding spot on the nose, face, neck or chest. Malignant melanoma is the more dangerous form of skin cancer, and it is frequently noticed when a mole changes shape or color or when a new mole appears. Many growths are benign, but new growths should be evaluated by a doctor just to be on the safe side and rule out skin cancer.