How the body changes after age 30 and why the face ages sooner

It is very common to find articles that deal with the benefits of hyaluronic acid and vitamins C and E. But, after all, what does the state of the skin of our face depend on? And what can we do to treat it and improve its appearance? Reducing collagen and elastin deficiency, using sunscreen and taking care of diet are ways, but it makes no sense to talk about it if we don’t consider other processes, such as changes in the body’s bone mass and hormonal balance.

O awesome.club studied the result of some scientific research on the changes that happen with age and brings you some details.

Over the years, the skin’s elasticity decreases and people start to take care of it more and more: we apply creams and serums, massage, adopt cosmetological procedures and many other techniques to improve the physical appearance of the skin of the face.

The appearance of wrinkles does not depend only on the skin, but also on changes in hypodermic structures: soft tissues, subcutaneous fat and skull, subject to bone remodeling. By understanding these mechanisms, it is possible to slow down aging.

Bone remodeling is an ongoing process during which mature bone tissue is removed (a process called bone resorption) and new tissue is formed. Throughout life our bones are renewed, but after the age of 35-40, deterioration processes begin to prevail over growth processes.

With age, our skeleton gets bigger (on average 10%) and its fragility increases. For example, the pelvis grows actively until the age of 25-30, when the body prepares for the birth of the baby in women. After age 40, the hip shrinks and this process continues into old age.

Bone remodeling not only affects the body, but also the skull:

decreases the extent (‘height’) of the face (especially with missing teeth); bony protuberances become deeper; eye sockets change shape and increase; the jaw becomes wider; the nose gets bigger and its tip “falls off” due to changes in the bone base.

The nasolabial folds get deeper because the jaw bones change with age. This is also related to loss of elasticity and tissue changes under the skin. But this area is mainly related to the dental arch.

The eye sockets widen with age and the upper inner and outer corners can bruise more easily. For this reason, the eyebrows appear higher and, close to the eyes, the famous wrinkles or crow’s feet appear (in the corners), since the pillar for the fine tissues that existed before is no longer there.

For some time, people believed that the lifting helped to rectify the situation. This idea was based on a traditional concept of facial aging: the skin loses its elasticity, sags and wrinkles appear.

With the development of new technologies and through three-dimensional analysis, scientists have come to understand how the splanchnocranium changes, and which parts are more prone to resorption. Often, correction of bone structure appears in the foreground.

So the main approach when it comes to face care changes a bit:

slow down bone resorption; eliminate the factors that increase its deterioration.

As not only the bones deteriorate, but also the layer of fat, it is not worth believing in promises to give the skin the same youthful look that we had when we were 15 or 20 years old. For this, it is necessary to know the peculiarities of the aging of the face so as not to cause damage to it.

In order for the face to remain radiant and as youthful as possible, it is necessary to slow down the aging of the skin and the changes in the skull; that is, bone resorption.

In youth, the skin is smooth because the body has enough collagen and elastin and the fat on the skin’s surface is evenly distributed (on the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes). With age, collagen tends to decrease and the fat layer loses volume, which causes the skin to begin to sag.

How to slow down skin aging:

First, you need to change your eating habits. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends eating less sugar, as it helps accelerate aging; in addition, it is important to eat more fruits and vegetables to prevent cell degeneration. It is important to hydrate the skin without causing trauma with exfoliating and aggressive masks. It is also recommended to avoid excessively marked expressions on the face so as not to create deeper wrinkles. It is essential to protect the skin from the sun, wind and cold. Experts at Harvard Medical School recommend using sunscreen every day.

How to slow down the process of bone decay:

Monitor hormone levels: for example, hormones from the thyroid glands reinforce resorption; estrogens, on the other hand, slow it down. Despite the importance of vitamin D, too much of it can affect bones. It is important that there is a balance, and this can only be achieved by consulting an endocrinologist. Avoid Botox injections. Studies show that they accelerate bone deterioration. Solve teeth problems in time. Even the lack of a tooth deforms the jaw and affects its appearance. Lips may appear thinner, nasolabial folds deeper, and the face shape may appear rounder. Therefore, the lower jaw of people with dental prostheses decreases: in 10 years it loses 60% of its volume. Implants that replace the root of the tooth help to prevent this process.

As we could see, the face changes with age not just from a visual perspective. Skin care is very important, but understanding the changes in the layers of fat and bones helps to avoid wasting time and money on manipulations that do not bring benefits, such as Botox injections.

What is your skin care routine? Share in the comments!