Causes of skin Ageing
Ageing is a natural process; however premature ageing of the skin can cause concerns for younger individuals. There are several reasons for this, environmental, hormonal and biological factors all play a role in this. Certain factors are more likely to cause premature ageing than others/ These include:
The ultraviolet rays of the sun are an invisible form of radiation that penetrates to deep layers of the skin. As they pass through, they cause damage to collagen, which in turns results in darkening and pigmentation.
Individuals suffering from stress at work, or home may find themselves affected by premature ageing due to stress chemicals being released in the body triggering negative biological changes.
When in deep sleep, the pituitary gland in our brain secretes a growth hormone used to maintain body tissue health as well as promoting renewal; this includes the skin tissue. Prolonged lack of sleep means that an individual is not secreting the growth hormone, so the skin tissue is not healthily maintained or renewed. This leads to premature signs of ageing.
Individuals who smoke tend to experience premature signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles up to 10 years before a non – smoker. Premature ageing occurs in smokers due to the reduction of vitamin C in the blood, which causes a reduction in collagen production.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause accumulation of toxins in deeper skin layers, leading to premature signs of ageing.