Skin is essentially made up of three layers. The epidermis or outermost layer helps our skin hold in moisture and oil. The dermis, which lies under the epidermis, makes up 90% of the thickness of our skin. The dermis contains collagen and elastin, two types of proteins that give our skin its strength and elasticity. The fat layer, which lies under the epidermis and dermis, serves to insulate and protect our inner organs and acts as a sort of cushion that helps keep the skin plump and smooth.
Our facial skin tends to show signs of aging faster than the skin on the rest of the body due to external factors, such as:
- sun exposure
- cigarette smoking (inhaled or secondhand)
- environmental toxins
- a low-nutrient diet, especially one lacking in vitamins A, C, E and folic acid
- excess alcohol consumption
- stress
- harsh soaps or detergent-based moisturizers
- sleep deprivation
The prime culprit: the sun. Wrinkles are formed as the sun breaks down collagen or the elasticity of the skin. Compounding the impact of the sun is the fact that with age (an internal factor) our body’s ability to repair itself slows down considerably. The skin around the eyes is particularly susceptible because it is thinner and more delicate than the rest of the face and is ground zero for sun damage. However, antioxidants like alpha lipoic acid can repair the skin, thus improving or erasing a wrinkle. This is good because with proper care, we can have wrinkle-free skin in our 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.
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