Aging and antiaging products

The trend of anti-aging products is growing every year. There are more and more products that promise impossible effects and thus deceive consumers. We are currently in an era where aging is something bad and must be prevented at all costs. Due to such pressures, women in particular fall for various marketing tricks and spend large sums of money buying anti-aging products. But can anti-aging products really erase wrinkles and conjure up the appearance of 20-year-old skin?

First, let's look at some facts about aging.
Aging is a genetically determined process that is caused by internal factors. It is associated with
genetics, immunological function and hormones. In chronological aging, the skin becomes drier, the skin begins to thin after the age of 50, wrinkles appear and the skin becomes paler. The number of fibroblasts in the dermis decreases. Fibroblasts are cells that synthesize collagen. From the age of 20 onwards, the collagen content in the skin drops by 1%. There is another type of aging, namely photoaging, which is caused by external factors. It occurs as a result of long-term harmful environmental influences, such as UV rays, smoking and certain chemicals. Photoaging accelerates the normal (chronological) aging of the skin. Compared to chronological aging, photoaged skin is significantly more saggy, wrinkles are deeper, hyperpigmentation appears, and the skin texture is rougher. The biggest problem with photoaging is the formation of free radicals. However, this type of aging can be slowed down or prevented!

We won't achieve anything with anti-aging products alone, changes start from within!
From various commercials, you really get the feeling that buying this or that cream will give you the look of 20-year-old skin.
But this is simply not possible. No cosmetically active ingredient, no matter how effective, can
erase existing wrinkles and above all lifestyle! It is a misconception that the skin is affected by
only what we put on it. However, the greatest impact on the skin is what we put into the body! With a proper and balanced diet, regular exercise, avoiding the sun and smoking, we can have a positive impact on our skin. Regular consumption of food that includes lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, fiber and protein helps to improve the appearance of the skin. Sugar is added to processed foods, excessive amounts of which cause inflammation in the body and consequently the breakdown of collagen tissues and a clogged pore or two. Also, various fats (especially palm oil) and dyes and preservatives help our body age faster.
It is also advisable to regularly consume appropriate nutritional supplements, such as vitamin C, vitamin B and
omega-3 fats, which are essential for most everyone, even those who eat a proper and nutritious diet
is lacking. Additional consumption of these nutritional supplements maintains the body's immunological function and
prevents the formation of inflammation in the body. Inflammation in the body also manifests itself in the skin. Collagen replacement is another segment where we can help slow down the aging of our body. As we have already mentioned, the collagen content in the skin decreases by 1% every year. By taking dietary supplements containing collagen, we provide the body with the appropriate amino acids that the body needs to build its own collagen. Namely, the more collagen is broken down, the more the skin sags. However, the breakdown of collagen does not only affect the skin, but also the joints, so again, it is not just about the skin, but about the entire body.

But how do anti-aging products actually work?

Only when we restore our internal balance will we perhaps notice the effects of cosmetic products. These are not
They will simply erase wrinkles, but they also help improve the appearance of your skin in different ways. Anti-aging products work through different mechanisms.

Increasing skin moisture

As we age, the skin's barrier function also decreases. Our skin has a lipid layer that retains water in the skin. The normal relative humidity of the skin is 13%, but with aging, this percentage of humidity decreases. The reason for this is a reduced barrier function, which causes transepidermal water loss. In simple terms, this means that all the water that is not bound begins to evaporate from the skin, which makes the skin drier. That is why most anti-aging products contain moisturizers such as hyaluronic acid, glycerol, urea, as they increase the percentage of moisture in the skin and the skin looks fuller.

Acceleration of skin peeling
Retinoids and hydroxy acids are the most common ingredients in anti-aging products. But why would exfoliating help? Our skin renews itself every 28 days, and as we age, this cycle lengthens slightly. There are already a lot of dead cells on the surface of the skin, which makes the skin rougher and has an uneven complexion. Chemical peels remove dead cells from the surface of the skin, revealing live, healthy cells, which will make the skin smoother and more even-toned.

Stimulation of collagen and elastin synthesis

At the same time, exfoliants such as retinoids and hydroxy acids increase the synthesis of collagen and elastin in the dermis by acting on specific receptors. In this way, they increase the thickness of the dermis and, as we have already said, the more collagen fibers there are, the less sagging the skin will be.

Antioxidants
In my opinion, the most important ingredient in all cosmetic products, not just in anti-aging products.
aging. Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, resveratrol, alpha-lipoic acid,
superoxide dismutase and others. What do antioxidants do? Antioxidants scavenge free radicals in the body. Free radicals are formed excessively, especially when exposed to UV radiation. Excessive amounts of free radicals trigger inflammation in the body, and at the same time activate enzymes that break down collagen. Radicals also have a detrimental effect on our genetic code, proteins and lipids. So antioxidants protect the body from the harmful effects of radicals.

The best way to protect yourself from photoaging is with sunscreen!
Photoaging is what you should be afraid of, as photoaged skin looks significantly worse than chronically aged skin. The easiest way to prevent photoaging is to avoid UV radiation and use sunscreen daily, in the correct amount of 2mg/cm2 or 1⁄4 teaspoon with a protection factor of at least SPF 30 or higher. We cannot escape UV radiation even in winter, so protection is necessary all year round. Photodamage and inflammation in the skin can also occur in winter.

All changes in the body start from within, so for a comprehensive anti-aging approach, it is necessary to change the inside, only then will the condition of the skin begin to improve.

(Blog created in collaboration with Cosmedoc)