by kelly
/ February, 10 2021 01:30
Most of us have some idea of what causes wrinkles – the sun and aging. But do you know how wrinkles actually form in our skin? Probably not. Well, new research from Japan reveals the root cause of wrinkles and it’s fascinating.
Skin Elasticity Is the Key
Recently Shiseido (a major cosmetic brand out of Japan) analyzed the skin of 130 Japanese women from their 20s to 60s. Their research used advanced ultra-high resolution and ultrasonic technology to analyze the elastic properties of the skin’s layers.
It found that the difference in elasticity between the stratum corneum (the top layer of skin) and the dermis (the layer under the stratum corneum) increases with age. Specifically the study concluded that the stratum corneum becomes harder with age while the dermis softer and the greater the elasticity gap between the two, the deeper the wrinkles became.
This elasticity gap is present throughout our life – it just grows as we age. But there are also degrees to this gap even at a younger age. For example, the study found that even in younger skin those with a larger elasticity gap were more likely to form wrinkles during facial expressions.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could all know our skin’s elasticity?
Prevent Skin Aging
Of course knowing our skin elasticity doesn’t change what all the experts say about preventing skin aging. The experts, dermatologists, all agree that one of the keys to reducing premature skin aging is to protect your skin from the sun.
As the American Academy of Dermatologists states: “the sun plays a major role in prematurely aging our skin.” So one of the foundations of any good sun protection / anti-aging skin care regimen is to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen or SPF product every day.
For even more anti-aging skin care recommendations check out our article “The Ultimate Anti-Aging Skin Care Plan”.
Anti-Aging Smarts
It’s good to know the how and the why about wrinkles; besides making you the smartest at the party, it can help you in your anti-aging skin care plan. I always say a little skin and sun care knowledge goes a long way to our skin’s health.
For even more wrinkle and anti-aging skin care smarts, check out our Anti-Aging blog series.
