What Determines Our Skin Age?

As the years go by many of us will notice and wonder why our skin might look older or younger than other peoples. We all start with great skin when we are young and it is our unique lifestyle that affects our how skin ages over time. As we know good skincare like our award-winning natural anti-ageing face products will have a positive effect on how our skin ages, but there are so many more things that we can do to determine how our skin ages.

The signs of ageing on our faces are numerous and often begin to appear gradually over time. One of the most noticeable signs is the development of fine lines and wrinkles, typically around the eyes, mouth, and forehead. As we age our skin loses its elasticity and collagen production decreases, it can lead to sagging, particularly around the jawline and cheeks. Ageing can also result in a loss of volume, leading to hollowed cheeks and thinner lips. Age spots or hyperpigmentation may appear due to prolonged exposure to the sun. Additionally, the skin often becomes drier and more prone to rough texture as natural oil production diminishes with age.

There are so many causes to skin ageing. Much of it is a natural process that we all experience as we get older, however, there are so many other factors that are involved in how our skin looks. There are three main factors that influence how our skin will age. These are genetics, sun damage and lifestyle factors.

How Lifestyle Affects Skin Ageing

If we live a healthy lifestyle, keeping skin hydrated internally and fed with a healthy diet full of protein, good fats, fruits and vegetables; instead of processed food, sugar and alcohol, then it will show in our skin. Likewise exercise also plays a role in the health of our skin, as it does with every other organ in our body. Keeping active and exercising is great for skin as it improves the circulation and reduces inflammation. Getting enough sleep every night also plays a significant role in our skin health, as it is during sleep that our systems repair itself.

One of the other great things that we can do to help skin as part of our lifestyle is to use high performance natural skincare products like Nakin’s. Good skincare can fight off stress to the skin and protect from signs of ageing. At Nakin we have everything that you need to keep the face and neck conditioned, protected and hydrated. Take a look at our range in the links below.

• See our award winning face cleansers that are kind to even sensitive skin.
• See our award winning anti-ageing creams that rejuvenate naturally.
• See our award winning anti-wrinkle eye cream for fresh revived eyes.
• See our award winning lip care for soft, hydrated plump lips.
• See our full clean natural anti-ageing products face range.

How Sun Damage Affects Skin Ageing

One of the main factors of skin ageing is undoubtedly damage from the suns UV rays. UV rays cause damage to the skin layers and this is known as photo ageing. One of reasons that our face, neck and back of hands are so susceptible to skin damage is because they are exposed to UV rays so regularly, often on a daily basis. It is therefore essential to use sunscreen diligently and cover up with clothes, hats and sunglasses.

The environment can also affect how our skin ages in other ways, and this is especially true of cold weather and pollution. Chilly weather and indoor heating systems suck moisture from the skin, and pollution generates oxidative stress and inflammation.

How Genetics Affects Skin Ageing

Genetics definitely plays a huge role in how quickly our skin ages. The National Centre for Biotechnology Information reported that studies on twins have shown that up to 60% of skin ageing variation between individuals can be attributed to genetic factors, with the remaining 40% being due to non-genetic factors.

A factor is how dark and oily our skin is. Oilier skin tends to show ageing slower than dry skin, and darker skin tends to better protected from the suns UV rays. Oilier skin seems to have a more shielding effect on skin ageing. Whereas dry skin is a lot more vulnerable to damage from environmental stressors and loss of hydration, plus dry skin can exacerbate lines and cause skin to lose its glow.

There are so many other genetic factors that can play a role too, such as the shape of our face and features, plus the thickness of our skin. If we have thin skin, it is more susceptible to UV damage and more easily showing signs of ageing such as lines and wrinkles. 

The process of skin ageing is influenced by a complex interplay of genetics, sun damage, and lifestyle factors. Genetically, each of us is predisposed to ageing at a certain rate, governed by our DNA and hereditary traits. These genetic factors determine baseline aspects such as skin thickness, texture, and elasticity. However, external factors like sun damage can significantly accelerate the ageing process. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun breaks down collagen and elastin fibres in the skin, leading to wrinkles, sagging, and pigmentation issues. Lifestyle choices also play a pivotal role. Habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, and lack of sleep can contribute to premature ageing by reducing the skin’s ability to repair and regenerate itself. Conversely, a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, sufficient hydration, and proper skincare can help mitigate some of these aging effects and promote a more youthful appearance. It is great to know that with the right care of our skin we can significantly reduce how our skin ages over time.

We hope that you found our feature about some of the factors that determine our skin age. As we outlined it is mostly down to genetics, sun exposure and lifestyle. However, there are other factors that can play a part. There are many cosmetic procedures such as Botox, fillers, peels and surgical procedures that can influence how our skin looks. Another factor can be hormone replacement therapy as it can have an effect on skin age for women after the menopause. The loss of oestrogen in menopause also contributes to a loss of collagen, which affects how our skin looks. Generally, after menopause women see more noticeable wrinkles and skin has a less supportive framework and instead becomes more fragile. Hormone replacement therapy can have an effect on this as it provides oestrogen. At Nakin we only advocate taking medicines that are prescribed by a doctor as being required to benefit our health. We are only mentioning the HRT as it can be a contributing factor.

At Nakin we believe in letting skin age naturally, but helping it to look as good as it can with our natural anti-ageing skincare products. To find out more about us visit the links below.

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