Aging Skin Characteristics for Rochester Residents

All tissues in the body gradually break down with age, and the skin may also undergo a unique aging process that is linked to the UVA and UVB light from the sun. Early detection of these two aging processes in the skin enables plastic surgeons to intervene with the most conservative options that promise optimum results.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Fine lines and wrinkles evolve from changes within the dermis, the layer of skin between the outer cuticle and epidermis, and the deeper hypodermis. An abundance of elastin and collagen in the dermis provides volume to young skin, making it resilient to the formation of wrinkles. Photoaging aside, the skin undergoes changes that diminish the ability to maintain volume. Collagen production decreases once a person reaches the age of 20 and continues to decline at an average rate of 1% each year. Moisture retention declines when a person reaches age 30, and this causes fat cells to decrease in size, resulting in even less skin volume and a dull appearance. Regular collagen production ceases at age 40, and any existing collagen fibers become stiff and break down. The changes continue until age 50 when the subcutaneous tissue loses fat stores and is thin. Dermal fillers, injectables, and surgical facelifts address these changes and rejuvenate the skin.

Solar Lentigines

Commonly known as age spots, solar lentigines are small areas of the skin with excess melanin. The most common cause of solar lentigines is sun exposure. The brown appearance of solar lentigines is believed to be caused by the accumulation of lipids, proteins, and cell waste. Removal of these damaged cells with laser skin resurfacing stimulates cell turnover and the production of new healthy cells.

Skin Cancer

The effects of sunlight on skin cells are well documented and understood by most patients. Sunlight contains energy that changes cell structure down to the DNA level. These changes create abnormal cells that grow without the cellular turnover that is seen in normal healthy cells. As the damaged cells reproduce, the lesions that develop are designated as skin cancer. The cancerous cells may remain isolated in a single type of tissue, such as the skin, or infiltrate other tissues, such as internal organs. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and most skin cancer can be addressed with surgical excision of the cancerous cells and reconstruction of the healthy skin.

Learn More About How Your Skin is Aging. Contact Natural Face Clinics.

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Sang W. Kim, offers advanced treatments for photoaging and chronological aging of the skin. To learn more, contact us to schedule a consultation.