20s, 30s, 40s and 50s with Clarins

The health of our skin — whether on our face or on our body — plays a huge part in how old we feel and is seen as the most common indicator to others of our age. As the body’s largest organ, the  skin is hugely influenced by our body’s general well-being — if our body is not healthy, this is often reflected by our skin.
So what do we mean when we talk about “ageing skin”?
Some of the signs of ageing skin and why they occur are:
lThinning and wrinkling: Thinning occurs as the rate of cell production slows in the epidermis. The dermis may also become thinner, and these changes in both layers result in skin being more likely to crepe and wrinkle. Older skin is often described as being more ‘papery’
lSagging: Sagging occurs in older skin as less elastin (elastic fibres for suppleness) and collagen (dense fibres for strength) are produced. With this lower level of elastin and collagen, skin ultimately yields to the forces of gravity, causing sagging and drooping
lAge spots: Pigment cells contained in the epidermis (melanocytes) tend to increase in certain areas, particularly those areas like the backs of hands which have been exposed to the sun, and cluster together, forming what are known as age or liver spots
lDryness: Older skin has fewer sweat glands and oil glands. This can make skin more prone to dryness-related conditions such as roughness and itching Whilst these effects are likely to happen to all of us, the speed and extent to which skin ageing occurs is only partly influenced by genetic factors. Far more significant influences on ageing are lifestyle factors. And the list of skin “enemies” is likely to come as no surprise:
Skin enemy number 1: The sun
UV rays emitted by the sun (and specifically UVA rays) break down the collagen and elastin in our skin. UV rays also act as a turbo-charge for the production of skin pigment (melanin), resulting in the appearance of sun spots or age spots. Some dermatologists suggest that as much as 90 percent of problems associated with ageing are the result of too much sun exposure.
Regardless of the precise percentage, if you are looking for proof of the effects of sun, simply compare the skin on your face with the skin on a part of your body not often exposed to the sun (e.g. your bottom!).
Skin enemy number 2: Smoking
Smoking causes several adverse effects on skin, as the nicotine from cigarettes narrows the blood vessels and prevents blood from circulating to the tiny blood vessels in the upper layer of the skin. In addition smoking destroys collagen, which is responsible, along with elastin, for keeping skin elastic and strong.  A further effect smoking can have is to slow down the healing process of wounds.  A smoker’s skin is characterised by more wrinkles and a sallow/slightly grey complexion, resulting from poor circulation.
Skin enemy number 3: Pollution and the environment
Living in a polluted environment means that our skin becomes coated in grime, blocking our pores. Continually moving from centrally heated to air-conditioned atmospheres can also cause problems, with skin being alternatively dried and re-hydrated.
Skin enemy Number 4: Stress and lack of sleep
We all suffer from occasional bouts of stress, and skin can be one of the first organs to show external signs of internal stress: dryness, sensitivity, spots and excess oil are all symptoms. Getting enough sleep is also important, as it is while we are sleeping that our bodies and skin have time to repair and rejuvenate.
Slowing the ageing process
There is no shortage of cosmetic options available which promise to provide you with younger looking skin, from anti-ageing creams at one end of the spectrum to cosmetic surgery at the other. However, you might like to also try some of the following tried and trusted methods of confronting those ‘skin enemies’ and reducing the signs of ageing:
lProtect your skin in the sun: cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and apply a sunscreen with minimum SPF of 15
lAvoid smoking and smoky atmospheres
lDrink plenty of water: to keep the body and skin well hydrated.  Water is essential to transport nutrients around the body, to replenish cells, and for dissolving and eliminating toxins
lEat a healthy, well-balanced diet: as important for healthy skin as it is for a healthy body.
 Individual vitamins are particularly beneficial for healthy skin: for example, Vitamin A to encourage generation of new cells; Vitamin C for building new collagen; Vitamin E, working in conjunction with selenium (an antioxidant found in foods such as fish, red meat and nuts) to protect against pollutants
(To be continued next week)
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