What Are The Causes of Aging Skin?

What is the cause of aging skin? Skin aging, characterized by wrinkles, sagging, and thin skin has many causes. The causes of skin aging are often divided into intrinsic and extrinsic causes. This guide to the major causes of skin aging will discuss the science of what makes skin look old.

This guide to the aging process will continuously be updated as new discoveries about skin aging are made. For more detailed explanation about skin aging see Chapters 5 and 6 of the latest edition of my textbook Baumann’s Cosmetic Dermatology (McGraw Hill 2022).

Antiaging skin care ingredients target these specific processes that make skin old. There are many different types of antiaging ingredients and you should choose the ones that work best for your Baumann Skin Type.

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16 Bauman Skin Types

Biologic Causes of Skin Aging

There are numerous cell processes that cause aging, that’s why treating aging can be difficult. There are so many metabolic pathways to target such as:

Cellular senescence

Autophagy

Free radicals (reactive oxygen species)

Inflammation

Short Telomers

Slowing of stem cell production of new cells

Decreased growth factors

Loss of ability for cells to “hear” growth factors

Changes in gene expression

Increases in destructive enzymes like matrix metalloproteinases such as collagenase

Sirtuin Expression

Mitochondrial function

To protect your skin from the causes of skin aging, you have many skin care product options. You should choose antiaging skin care based on your Baumann Skin Type.

Skin Aging Science

Senescent cells cause skin aging. Skin cells (keratinocytes and fibroblasts) go through five different cell phases:

Stem cells

Proliferating cells

Differentiated cells

Senescent cells

Apoptotic cells

Cellular Senescence and Autophagy

Apoptotic cells are “dead skin cells” and are not viable. They are are eliminated by autophagy and other processes that recycle cellular components. That is why apoptotic cells are not believed to be harmful to the skin.

However, the more senescent cells you have, the more likely your skin is to wrinkle and age.

Senescent cells have lost the ability to proliferate and lysosomes and mitochondria lose functionality and lose the ability for autophagy.(5) Senescent cells are not eliminated from the skin, and they stay and causes skin aging.

The presence of senescence cells is associated with an increased rate of aging . The goal of rejuvenating skin is to reduce the number of senescence cells by increasing autophagy.

Senescent cells develop into the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) which is believed to be one of the major causes of skin aging.

SASP cells cause damage and aging by releasing:

proinflammatory cytokines

matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)

growth factors

chemokines

matrix-modeling enzymes

lipids

free radicals

extracellular vesicles (EVs)

Release of these substances by senescent cells causes inflammation, known as “inflammaging (9)”. This inflammation causes many problems such as loss of collagen, elastin and extracellular matrix (ECM) which leads to fibroblast compaction, reduced DNA synthesis, and eventually wrinkles, fragile skin and thin skin.

Autophagy is the important process in which organelles such as lysosomes and mitochondria(6) self-digest or “eat themselves”. Autophagy eliminates problem causing organelles and cells like damaged mitochondria, damaged lysosomes and senescent cells.

Sirtuins and Skin Aging

Activation of sirtuin (SIRT-1) has been shown to extend the lifespan in mammals. Caloric restriction (10) also activates sirtuin which is why intermittent fasting has become an antiaging strategy. SIRT-1 decreases senescence and activates autophagy.

How sirtuins affect skin aging

how free radicals age skin

How Do Free Radicals Cause Skin Aging?

Free radicals (1), also known as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are formed when oxygen molecules lose an electron and are left with an odd number of electrons. An oxygen molecule with paired electrons is stable; however, oxygen with an unpaired electron is “reactive” because it seeks and seizes electrons from vital components leaving them damaged.(2)

What causes free radicals to occur?

Free radicals are formed by:

damaged mitochondria

inflammation

normal cell metabolism

pollution

smoking

ultraviolet light

Normal cellular metabolism can result in free radical formation. Damaged mitochondria generate free radicals which is one reason why it is so important to protect your mitochondria with antioxidants.

Free radicals attack DNA, cellular proteins, and cellular membranes and steal electrons leaving these cellular components damaged. This can cause inflammation.

Free radicals increase amounts of:

inflammatory factors

transcription factors, such as activator protein (AP)-1

nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)

matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as collagenase, which degrades skin collagen

Destructive Enzymes and Skin Aging

Groups of destructive enzymes that cause aging are called matrix metalloproteinases or MMPs. MMPs are turned on by genes, inflammation and exposure to ultraviolet light and pollution.

Examples of destructive enzymes that cause skin aging are:

Collagenase breaks down collagen

Elastase breaks down elastin

Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronic acid.

enzymes that age skin

Short Telomeres and Skin Aging

Telomeres are composed of small pieces of repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes. These control the cell cycle. Each cell division shortens the telomere.

Telomere shortening may cause aging by triggering cellular senescence,(13) however, the role of telomere shortening in senescence is unclear.

Why are telomeres short? These are believed to play a role in telomere shortening:

free radicals

physiologic stress

inflammation

Genes That Cause Skin Aging and Wrinkles

Research is shedding light on which genes are important in skin appearance and function, but it is still many years too early to develop skin care products targeted to “genetic deficiencies”. Glass et al (20) showed that gene studies on aging must be done in human skin to be relevant. Genetic studies on animals and cell cultures do not tell us what we need to know about human genes that cause aging.

Aged skin has increased expression of inflammation-related genes, cytokines and proteases.

Genes that cause skin aging (21) are involved in:

cellular metabolism

DNA transcription

signal transduction

cell cycle regulation

epidermal differentiation,

keratin filaments

cornified envelope proteins

lipid biosynthesis

skin barrier integrity

mitochondrial function

cytokine production

immune response

Aging research is still in the early stages, but the pace of discovery has quickened. I will update this guide to the science of skin aging as new discoveries are found. But at this time, don’t waste money on skin care that claim to target the genes that cause skin aging. It is too early for us to completely understand what genes to target with antiaging skin care.

How Inflammation Causes Skin Aging

When skin gets inflamed, many destructive pathways get turns on known as inflammaging. Free radicals, destructive enzymes like matrix metalloproteinases, and immune cells all cause skin damage in inflamed skin that leads to aging. Build up of senescent cells also occurs. To prevent skin aging it is important to identify and remove the causes of skin inflammation and to turn off inflammation with anti-inflammatory skincare ingredients.

Using the wrong skin care products can cause skin inflammation.

Cosmeceutical Antiaging Skincare Ingredients Should Target the Causes of Skin Aging

Retinoids, growth factors, exosomes, defensins, antioxidants, heparan sulfate and ascorbic acid are all antiaging ingredients used to target the causes of aging skin.

The causes of skin aging are complicated. The best way for you to choose antiaging skincare that is right for you is to shop using your Baumann Skin Type.

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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