Aging dermis: the bilogical facts of skin

Aging dermis : the basics. The second of your three skin layers has an important part to play in your overall attractiveness and health. This layer of your skin makes up about 90% of your skin's thickness.

It includes collagen and elastin fibers and it contains fibroblasts, the cells that repair skin. It also has sweat glands and special glands found in your armpits, ear canals, nipples and genital areas that secrete 'pheromones' that are subtle attractors.

This layer of your skin undergoes a number of specific changes as you age.

1. One of the most noticeable effects of Aging dermis is the change in the bonding of the two outermost layers of your skin. The tiny projections from the dermis that connect this skin layer with the epidermis become become flatter. As a result there is less sharing of nutrient and moisture holding molecules betweenthese two outer layers of skin. Also, since the projections are flatter, the attachment between the layers is lessened. Even a minor injury can cause the two layers to separate and so skin blisters occur more often as you age.
2. The blood vessels in this layer also undergo change - especially if there has been much sun exposure.The sun causes blood vessels thicken and later they begin to dilate. You can often see a spidery web of tiny redthreads in aged skin.
3. The most common sign of aging dermis is the reduction in the cells (fibroblasts) that make collagen and elastin. As a result your skin does not renew itself so quickly and the ordinary skin repair process slows down. Elastin fibres become rigid and so your skin loses some elasticity. If your skin has been exposed tothe suns ultraviolet rays, this breakdown in elasticity is more severe.

   Although your skin normally thins with age, the increase in rigidity of the elastin may cause your skin to thicken in some areas. Again this is especially true in sun exposed skin.

   While your collagen is thickening, the elastin begins to thicken and tangle also. Again this is more noticeable in sun damaged skin. (Now you know why everyone advises using Sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 every time you will be in sunlight.)

   The destruction and tangling of collagen and elastin leads to wrinkling. The greater the destruction, thegreater the wrinkling.

If you want to begin a program to protect your skin - one that will reverse some of the damage already caused,you will be able to do so. The Murad program was created by a dermatologist who is a leader in the care ofaging skin. See: Murad - Leader in Skin Care ScienceWhere skinkcare meets healthcare.Get glowing luminous skin year-round.

If you wish to understand the third layer of your skin and how it ages, click on: Hypodermis aging

Go to Index of articles about skin care: Aging dermis and Index of general skin care articles