WHY OUR SKIN AGES: Information for understanding why our skin ages and how to slow down the process.

Did you know that in the past 10 years, we have discovered more knowledge about how to fight the aging process than we have in the past 200 years? For many years the belief was that aging was simply a result of the passage of time. What we have learned is that time is not your skin's greatest enemy. Aging has a lot to do with the damage you do on the inside.

Some of the key components in aging are the following: sun exposure, cigarette smoke (even secondhand), poor diet, pollution, lack of sleep, stress, and even exercise. (Exercise? Yes, we will get into that in a moment.) But the natural aging process contributes its part as well. As we age, oil production decreases, skin loses firmness due to reduction in collagen and elastin, and the skin's immune system weakens will result in skin sensitivity. Additional effects of aging are slower cellular turnover, thinning of the skin, less oxygen intake, and last but not least, age spots and pigmented cells resulting from past sun damage and genetics.

THE FREE RADICAL THEORY

One of the biggest breakthroughs in understanding aging has been the free radical theory. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that are created in our body by something as simple as circulation or digestion and self-induced activties like exercise, smoke, pollution, and the sun. Once they are created in our body, they literally bounce about, attaching themselves to stable molecules. They attach themselves to our "healthy" cells, permanently changing the molecular structure. Basically, free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules trying to get stable. Free radicals can virtually damage every part of a cell including collagen molecules. Once this occurs, the skin starts to age.

CHANGED CELLS

Aging can be summed up in two words: changed cells. What to do? Antioxidants to the rescue! Both topical applications of anti-oxidants (like Renée Rouleau Vitamin C & E Complex) and a diet rich in Vitamins A, C, E and Zinc, are your best defense against free radical damage. Antioxidants act like a catcher's mitt to capture these out-of-control molecules so that they cannot continue to damage our healthy cells. If you are interested in anti-aging, you must implement antioxidants into your diet and skin care program on a daily basis.

EXERCISE

Now to the exercise part. As we know, exercise is an important part of good health. However, you must understand that it also a major producer of free radicals. So if you do exercise, you must incorporate antioxidants into your lifestyle! Most nutritionists suggest taking an anti-oxidant supplement 1 hour before exercise so that you get maximum protection while exercising.

INFLAMMATION: ANOTHER CULPRIT OF AGING

There have been a lot of studies indicating that inflammation, both invisible and visible, is an indication of free radical damage. Sunburns, too many harsh chemical peels, strong detergent-based products, and "glycolic acid overload" all break down the skin's lipid barrier leaving it exposed and vulnerable to irritation and the production of free radicals. If the skin is irritated all the time, it is an indication of free radical damage. Microdermabrasion, laser treatments and chemical peels are in high demand now, but you don't want to be exfoliating and peeling all the time. Chronic irritation will cause your skin to age faster. Exfoliation is important to stimulate fibroblasts and create new collagen, as well as stimulate cellular turnover to fool your skin into behaving young. And if no exfoliation occurs, then everything atrophies (dies). The goal with your skin is to exfoliate as much as possible with minimal irritation. The skin likes little boosts, but not on an everyday basis.

We hope this article has given you a better understanding about why aging occurs and how you can help fight it!

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Information courtesy of www.reneerouleau.com, a website with useful skin tips and advice from skin care expert and celebrity esthetician, Renée Rouleau.