Factors contributing to skin aging

There are several causes for premature aging of the skin. Avoiding exposure to these harmful conditions and pollutants can help you to hold onto a healthier and youthful skin for longer. The main contributors are discussed below.

FREE RADICALS

Certain chemicals and pollutants as well as harmful rays of the sun cause oxygen atoms to undergo a change in their structure causing the formation of "free radicals". These "free radicals" or unstable oxygen atoms are damaging to the body and in particular to the skin. Damage is done by the free radicals to the elastic proteins needed to ensure skin firmness. Oxygen atoms that become unstable in the form of free radicals are corrosive and will damage any protein that they comes in contact with. Unfortunately because pollutants and sunrays cause the production of free radicals this also means that the proteins in your skin are damaged.

Although oxygen is everywhere, you can limit damage by limiting exposure to ultra violet radiation from the sun. Smoking is the other the culprit as tobacco introduces these harmful radicals into the body. Smoking also causes a depletion of essential nutrients and vitamins in the body. There is a narrowing of the blood vessels that supply the skin with essential nutrients. Since blood vessels are narrowed, fewer nutrients make their way to the dermis. Less oxygen is transported and the overall effects of the free radicals are depletion in elastin and collagen. This directly influences the skin's firmness and strength. Apart from this, facial expressions made when smoking also contribute to wrinkles.