Skin Aging

Skin aging, like all aging, is a natural time-bound process. It is characterized by skin thinning and atrophy, pigmentary changes, pallor, changes in skin texture, xerosis, loss of tensile strength and elasticity, increased laxity and wrinkles, increased fragility and decreased healing, alopecia, dysplastic changes, and decreased thermoregulatory control [1]. Skin aging does not occur in isolation and often correlates well with aging and mortality. It is often said that skin mirrors your internal health. Older-looking twins die earlier, have lesser physical and cognitive function, and have shorter telomere length [2]. “Looking older for one’s age” indeed correlates with early mortality [3], and more vascular age [4]. Therefore, restricting skin anti-aging treatments to fillers and toxins while ignoring general health measures is short-sightedness.