Tips to delay the aging process

Although looking older as the years go by is inevitable, there are a few ways to reduce the signs of aging.

Our skin protects the body from environmental factors such as wind, humidity and sunlight. The epidermis is the surface layer of the skin that shows the most visible signs of aging. This layer has the sebaceous glands that produce sebum, a natural oil.

The pores of the skin secrete sebum to lubricate the skin to keep it soft. As a person grows older, the epidermis becomes thinner. The skin also becomes drier because the oil glands produce less sebum. Skin that is dry and thin makes fine lines, deep creases, and wrinkles more noticeable. Age spots also develop if there is excessive sun exposure.

The middle layer of skin is called the dermis. This section of the skin contains the proteins, collagen and elastin that give skin strength and elasticity. The dermis also has blood vessels, which send nutrients to the epidermis to help with skin cell renewal. As the skin ages, the body produces less collagen and elastin, which makes the middle layer thinner. As a result, skin starts to sag, droop and become looser because there is less collagen and elastin. As time passes, the middle layer also provides fewer nutrients, so the top skin layer can't renew itself as well or as quickly.

The inner skin layer is the subcutaneous layer. This layer contains the fat deposits that keep the skin plump and full. The amount of fatty deposits slowly decreases as we age, which causes the layer to become thinner. With less fat, the skin develops hollows in the skin under the cheeks and around the mouth area.

The best way to delay the signs of aging is to use sunblock whenever you are outdoors. The UVA and UVB rays of the sun damage the skin in a number of ways, including burning the skin and making it dry.

Another way to delay aging skin is to avoid tanning beds. Smoking also causes wrinkles around the mouth and crow's feet around the eyes. A bad diet, drug use, and excessive alcohol consumption also lead to premature aging of the skin.

Although you can't avoid the aging process, you can prevent premature aging by using sunblock your entire life. You can't do anything about genetics, but with a healthy diet and lifestyle, you may be able to delay the signs of aging skin until you are in your 50s or 60s.