Unfortunately whether we like it or not we are all going to age – What our aim is is to ensure we age well. 

This article is going to look at the 5 causes of ageing. Let’s understand what actually causes us to age, It’s important to understand the causes before we can make the necessary changes.

1. Collagen Breakdown

Represents 75% of the skins dry weight. The quality and quantity plays a big part in the appearance of the skin. If we want to slow down aging it is imperative we slow down the breakdown and degradation of collagen fibers

2. Inflammation

This is how skin defends itself against foreign invades, such as bacteria and viruses. Inflammation also initiates the tissue healing process and limits the damage to skin cells caused by every day, pollution and chemicals. Inflammation is important in the short term – Long term excessive chronic inflammation is one of the most common attributes in early onset skin ageing, signs to looks for: Skin sensitivity, redness and irritation.

3.Oxidation

This involves free radicals which are highly reactive small molecules that can damage virtually any molecule is the body, including the important cellular structure found in the body’s target organ, the skin.

This kind of free radical damage creates havoc in every layer of the skin hypodermis/dermis and epidermis.

Our bodies have been built with internal antioxidants, but they are not enough to protect our skins from irreversible breakdown.

4.Photo defense

Repeated exposure to UVC (ultra violet light) - The sun is responsible for 90% of premature aging, skin damage and skin.

The sun is carcinogenic and harmful to the skin, it only takes a few hours a day over the years of skin exposure to cause noticeable changes to the skin with every bit of exposure the skin loses its ability to repair itself and so the damage begins.

Sun exposure breaks down the collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen.

The exposure to the sun also damages the skin‘s ability to spring back, this damaging the elastin. This damage causes the skin to appear loose, wrinkled and leathery.

5.Glycation

This is as a result of a high sugar intake, Glycation causes the skins proteins (like collagen and elastin) to lose their ability to function normally and accelerates skin ageing.

Glycation occurs when excess bodily glucose molecules link to the skins collagen and elastin fibers; this cross link can form chemical bridges between proteins. Glycation fiber’s can become rigid, less elastic and have reduced regenerative ability which can lead to damage such as laxity, cracking and thinning skin