Avoiding the 'Seven Sins of the Skin'

Skin de-aging and repair is a key therapeutic element in anti-aging medicine, a specialty founded in 1993 by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), the world's leading professional organization promoting innovative science and research to prolong the healthy human lifespan.

Skin is the body's largest organ and is responsible for maintaining water and salt balance within the body, cushioning delicate internal organs, and serving as the first-line of defense against germs attempting to invade the body.

This last purpose is perhaps the most important reason to maintain healthy skin as we age -- healthy skin is better able to perform immunoprotective functions such as serving as our #1 germ barrier. For all these reasons, we can consider skin as our "Anti-Aging Survival Suit."

The majority of skin care problems can be grouped into seven categories, which we nickname as "The Seven Sins of the Skin." Fortunately, redemption from these sins is simple, if you adopt an anti-aging lifestyle that retards the onset or reduces the severity of these problems.

Skin Sin #1 Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Humans express feelings and, as such, these emotions become the fine lines seen with aging. Squinting leads to crow's feet (lines radiating from the corners of the eyes), frowning causes frown lines (furrows between the eyebrows), and laughing leads to laugh lines (arc-shapes around the mouth).

In addition, any other habits that cause small muscle contractions will produce additional places for fine lines and wrinkles to take hold. Wrinkles are a result of age-related weakening of the skin's ollagen and elastin, the fibers that keep the skin firm in youth.

Skin Sin #2 Skin Discolorations

Blotches in which small patches of skin appear to have a different color than the main skin area become common as we age. It is important for you and your dermatologist to watch your skin discolorations carefully. Most skin discolorations will likely be harmless -- warts and liver spots (also known as age spots) and others will be temporary -- such as melasma, caused by hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause, or seen in women taking birth control pills.

But, some skin discolorations can be harmful: A small flat brown spot can become cancerous, especially if its shape changes or it starts to itch -- early signs that signal melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

With age, however, a circulatory condition called "varicosity" becomes an issue. Most of us have heard of varicose veins, which are enlarged leg veins that appear blue and bulging, and sometimes are twisted and swollen. A faulty valve that returns blood to the heart is usually the cause.

Varicose veins that appear on the face are called spider veins, the size and nature of which are typically smaller than non-facial varicosities. Both varicose and spider veins are seldom dangerous, but some individuals experiencing them consider them unsightly.

Skin Sin #3 Thinning Skin

The skin of older people becomes papery thin. Specifically, as the stratum corneum thickens, the epidermis and dermis thin and suffer a decrease in oil gland activity. This is largely a function of hormonal decline.

Skin Sin #4 Dry Skin

As we age, skin becomes drier. Actually, xerosis, the medical name for dry skin, affects only the very outermost layer of the epidermis -- the stratum corneum -- causing the skin to become flaky, itchy or tight. Discomfort is often the prevailing complaint.

Genetics, disease, lifestyle, and the environment can all cause the skin to become dry, leading to dull skin (see Skin Sin #6). It is important to seek medical advice if no obvious cause of dry skin can be identified, since the complaint may be caused by an underlying medical problem.

Dry skin may arise as a direct result of another dermatological problem (for example, dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis). However, it can also be a sign of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland). Diabetics should always consult theirdoctor if they develop signs and symptoms of dry skin (or any other skin complaint), since diabetes can cause serious skin conditions.

Skin Sin #5 Rough Skin

Rough skin is commonly caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells on the skin's surface. These dead cells are usually discarded by the body via a natural process called exfoliation, in which newer cells push older skin cells to the surface and the uppermost layer of dead cells flake off to reveal the newer cells underneath.

However, for some reason exfoliation does not always happen. The resulting build-up of dead skin cells causes the skin surface to appear bumpy and rough in texture, and the complexion often looks dull (see Skin Sin #6).

Skin Sin #6 Dull Skin

Up to the age of 14, the skin on the face exfoliates naturally every 14 days. This quick rate of renewal leaves the youngster with a healthy-looking glowing complexion.

However, as we get older the rate of natural exfoliation slows down. By the age of 25 and over the skin will exfoliate every 28 days or so. The resulting buildup of dead skin cells can leave the skin looking dull or grey.

Skin Sin #7 Acne and Pores

Acne, America's #1 skin disease, is caused by a disorder of the sebaceous glands (glands in the skin that produce oil) that blocks pores, thus producing an outbreak of skin lesions we've nicknamed as zits, pimples, and other unflattering names.

Pores are tiny openings in the skin that provide a way for oils secreted by the sebaceous glands to reach the skin's surface. Despite popular thinking, the size of our pores is determined genetically, and we are born, live, and die with the same number of pores for our entire life (barring injury or surgery to the skin).

Pore size, however, is variable: genetically, some people have small pores (generally those with fairer skin) and others have larger pores (those with darker skin). Pores can become more prominent due to the cumulative exposure to sun: sun damaged skin looks more bumpy because the pores become more prominent.

General Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips

Redemption from the Seven Sins of the Skin is possible, and these tips will help you to achieve timeless skin: