Aging dermis: understanding your skin

Aging dermis. Dermis is the name given to the second layer of your skin. This layer is what controls how you appear to others.

Let's take a few minutes to understand the science of this important skin layer.

• The dermis makes up about 90% of your skin's thickness.
• It includes both collagen and elastin fibers.
• Your dermis also contains fibroblasts - the cells that repair your skin.
• Ir includes your sweat glands and the special glands found in your armpits, ear canals, nipples and genital areas that secrete 'pheromones' which are subtle attractors to the opposite sex.

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Aging dermis - what happens to this second layer of your skin as you age?

Your dermis undergoes a number of changes as you grow older:

1. One of the most noticeable changes to your Aging dermis is in the bonding between it and the outermost layers of your skin. The tiny projections from your dermis that connect it to your epidermis (outer layer) become flatter. This results in fewer of nutrients moving to the outer layer of your skin and fewer moisture holding molecules between the two layers of skin. Result? YOU get 'dry skin'.

   Also, since these tiny projections on your dermis are flatter, the attachment between the layers is less firm. This means that even a minor injury can cause the two layers to separate. Skin blisters can occur more often as you age.

2. The blood vessels in your dermis also change - especially if you have been exposed to much sun. Think of all the notices about using Sun Screen every time you go out? These are not just cancer prevention reminders. The sun causes the blood vessels in your dermis to thicken and then as you age they begin to dilate. Result? - the spidery web of tiny red threads you sometimes see in older people.
3. But the most common result of your aging dermis is a reduction in the cells (fibroblasts) that actually make both collagen and elastin. When this happens your skin can not renew itself quickly and your ordinary skin repair process slows down. Your elastin fibres becomes rigid and your skin loses some softness or elasticity.

   If you have been exposed to the suns ultraviolet rays often, this breakdown in elasticity is more severe. That is why you see some people who have spent a great deal of time outdoors(without sunscreen) with 'tight' skin.

   Although it is normal for your skin to get thinner with age, an increase in rigidity of the elastin can cause your skin to thicken in some areas. Again this is especially true in sun exposed skin. The destruction and tangling of collagen and elastin leads to wrinkling. The greater the destruction, the greater the wrinkling. (Now you know why everyone advises using Sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 every time you will be in sunlight.)

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Revised 10/2011