Some say aging gracefully is a beautiful thing. While this may be true, some changes occur to the skin with age that we would like to slow down. Aging affects all parts of the body, leading to changes; some are visible, and others are not. Fortunately, we can prevent and reverse the appearance aging signs with topical care and treatments while nourishing our beauty from within.
How Your Face Changes with Age
There are many subtle (and some not-so-subtle) changes that occur on your face as the years tick by. You may notice your hairline gets higher, the connective tissues under your skin loosen, and your cells hold less water leading to dryness and wrinkles.
There are also structural changes that occur under the skin. When you were younger, the fat cells in your face were evenly distributed. Strategically placed pockets of fat helped plump areas of the face, including your temples and cheeks, around your eyes and mouth, and along your forehead. As you age, the fat that provides a toned, youthful appearance begins to lose volume and shift downward. As a result, facial features that were round and plump may appear hollower. And skin that was firm and tight may sag and become loose.
Another change that comes with age is facial wrinkles. Deep wrinkles called expression lines appear on your forehead and in-between your eyebrows. Other lines appear near your eyes and around your mouth. These deeper wrinkles are due to years of facial muscles working under your skin. Finer, less noticeable wrinkles due to sun damage, exposure to the elements, and even smoking start to appear as well.
In addition to wrinkles and changes in our fat cells, other changes occur on and under your facial skin each year.
Your skin appears thinner
As we age, facial skin (and the skin on other body areas) gets thinner and loses elasticity. Rather than appearing firm and “full,” aging skin looks more paper-like and, like a stretched-out elastic, cannot bounce back when stretched or pulled.
You lose bone mass
Believe it or not, yes, you begin to lose bone mass with age. Around age 35, the number of cells in your face that generate bone mass begins to decrease. In time, the bony structures around your eyes widen, which leads to hollow or flattened spaces below your eyes and over your cheeks. Also, the bones in the center of your face degrade, which changes how your skin sits on the bones and how your bones connect together. These changes lead to deeper smile lines and the appearance of jowls around your mouth.
Your skin cells change
Your skin is divided into three main layers; the outer part (epidermis), the middle (dermis), and the inner layer under the dermis (the subcutaneous layer). Each layer contains cells, connective tissue, and collagen fibers that support your skin, giving it flexibility and strength. With aging, cellular changes in these layers occur.
- Although the number of cells in the epidermis remains the same, this layer of skin becomes thinner.
- The number of pigment-containing cells decreases, leading to a transparent appearance. This also causes age spots or “liver spots.”
- Connective tissue and collagen levels decrease, which reduces your skin’s elasticity and strength.
- The blood vessels in the dermal layer become more fragile, which can cause easier bruising and bleeding under the skin.
- Oil glands produce less oil with age which may lead to dry skin and itchiness. This is especially true for women during and after menopause.
- In women, unwanted facial hair growth may increase.
What Can We Do to Slow Down the Signs of Visible Aging?
Some age-related change is inevitable; however, that does not mean you need to accept all of the potential, unwanted signs of aging. Some people want to postpone embracing these changes- at least for now. Below are a few tips for slowing down (and even reversing) the signs of aging with the help of our professionals at BB Aesthetic.
Protect your skin from the sun
Applying sunscreen to protect your face (and the rest of your skin) from the potentially harmful rays of the sun is the single most effective way to keep your skin appearing healthy and youthful. Much of the damage to your skin occurs with exposure to UVA and UVB rays. Therefore, applying sunscreen that protects you from both parts of the light spectrum is essential. Also, consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat when out in the sun.
Moisturizers and Skin Creams
Using a moisturizer can help to soothe dry skin and may temporarily make wrinkles less visible. Moisturizers designed specifically for your face contain water, making them less greasy. Many also contain specific ingredients that may help to bind moisture to your skin, making it appear more toned and subtle. Exfoliant creams and cleansers can help improve the appearance of your skin by removing dead skin cells that don’t naturally slough off as easily as they did when we were younger.
Injectable Treatments
The injectable market has grown substantially since the introduction of Botox several decades ago. Injectable treatments like Botox are used to treat expression lines on your forehead and between your eyebrows. Botox injections work by partially immobilizing the muscles that form these expression lines, so your skin appears smoother and many of your wrinkles disappear. However, it is important to know that Botox injections are not permanent; therefore, follow-up treatments will be necessary to achieve lasting effects.
PRP injection treatments are also becoming increasingly popular to stimulate the growth of healthy new cells and tissues for hair restoration, skin appearance, and under eye care.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers quickly and non-surgically treat lines and wrinkles caused by lost collagen and fat cells. Dermal fillers offer versatility as we customize the treatment according to your concerns, goals, and desires. Dermal fillers support the two sets of “parentheses” (the sets of lines that extend from your nose to the corners of your mouth) called the nasolabial folds. And another set that extends from the corners of your mouth to your chin, called as marionette lines. Our clients also enjoy dermal filler treatments for their mid face, cheeks, lips, smoker’s line, temples, and undereye areas. During our consultation, we will discuss if you are seeking voluminous lips, well-defined angular jawline, facial contour, no makeup glow, facelift, or other dermal filler effects.
Many different materials are used in dermal fillers. The most popular component is hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring chemical in your body. Like Botox injections, the effect of the dermal filler shots wears off after several months, so repeat treatments are necessary to maintain the fillers effects. While Botox effects may last for around 3 or 4 months, you may enjoy dermal filler effects for six months or longer.
Laser Treatments
Laser treatments can address issues with keratosis pilaris, pigmentation (such as brown and red spots), and acne scarring. They are also an effective way to resurface the skin, removing dead and dull cells to reveal healthier, more youthful skin below. Some resurfacing laser treatments pass through the outer layer of the skin to work in the dermis to stimulate inflammation, leading to collagen production.
Aging is inevitable but showing your age is optional with help from BB Aesthetic. Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of skin care treatments designed to help you turn back (or even stop) the clock on facial skin aging.
