Extrinsic ageing explained
There are a number of external factors that affect the skin and cause signs and symptoms of premature ageing. While most premature ageing is caused by over-exposure to the sun’s UV rays, there are additional, contributing factors. For example, other atmospheric factors such as air pollution, visible light and infrared radiation (IR). Lifestyle choices can also significantly contribute to skin ageing; smoking, chronic stress and excessive alcohol consumption lead to older looking skin.
UV Rays: Overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is the primary cause of premature aging. The harmful UV rays can damage the skin's collagen and elastin fibers, leading to wrinkles, pigmentation, and sagging.
Air Pollution: Environmental factors like air pollution can also accelerate the aging process of the skin. The pollutants in the air, such as particulate matter and free radicals, can cause inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and dullness.
Visible Light and Infrared Radiation (IR): Apart from UV rays, visible light and infrared radiation (IR) also play a role in premature aging. They can penetrate the skin and generate free radicals, causing collagen degradation and contributing to the formation of wrinkles and skin sagging.
Lifestyle Choices: Certain lifestyle choices can significantly contribute to aging skin. Smoking, for instance, restricts blood flow to the skin, depletes essential nutrients, and damages collagen and elastin fibers. Chronic stress and excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to premature aging by damaging the skin's barrier and increasing inflammation.
The most common signs of extrinsic (external) aging include thinning of the skin, loss of elasticity, increased fragility, and the appearance of wrinkles. Sun exposure can further contribute to pigmentation or sunspots and accentuate premature wrinkling.
To protect your skin from these external factors and slow down premature aging, it's crucial to adopt a comprehensive skincare routine that includes daily sun protection, using antioxidant-rich products, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The most common signs of extrinsic ageing are thinning of the skin, laxity, fragility and the increased appearance of wrinkles. Sun exposure can also lead to pigmentation or sun spots and accentuate premature wrinkling.
How does UV light cause skin ageing?
UV radiation from the sun can have damaging effects on our skin health. There are two types of UV radiation that penetrate our atmosphere: UVA and UVB rays.
UVA rays are often referred to as "ageing rays" because they account for the majority of UV radiation reaching the Earth and are consistently strong throughout the year. These rays have chronic effects on the skin and can lead to the appearance of skin wrinkling, discolouration, and loss of elasticity.
UVB rays, on the other hand, are known as "burning rays" because they are stronger in the summer and at specific times of the day. Exposure to UVB rays can cause sunburns, which typically peak between 6 to 24 hours after exposure. UVB rays do not penetrate the skin as deeply as UVA rays, but they are still dangerous and can have a negative impact on skin health. The SPF (sun protection factor) rating of a sunscreen relates to its ability to protect against UVB rays.
UV-induced ageing occurs due to the creation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin. These substances cause oxidative stress and damage to the proteins and cells that make up the skin.
How does visible light cause skin ageing?
Visible light has the ability to penetrate to the dermis. The rays can cause dermatological conditions and contribute to skin ageing as a result of oxidative stress. Research has shown that the generation of free radicals from oxidative stress was higher after visible light exposure7. These free radicals had an inflammatory effect causing impaired cellular functioning and a deterioration in skin health. Long-term exposure to visible light can often result in pigmentation and skin damage6.
How does ozone pollution cause skin ageing?
Ozone, an air pollutant at ground level, is considered one of the most toxic environmental stressors to which the skin is exposed. The skin, as the body’s external barrier to pollutants, is one of the most susceptible areas when it comes to the oxidative damaging effect of ozone6. Ozone pollution only comes from ground level ozone and is created between sunlight and chemical reactions found in automobile emissions and chemicals found in household and commercial cleaning products.
Although ozone cannot penetrate the skin, the damage it induces is primarily a result of its ability to induce oxidative stress, whilst chronic exposure also leads to a depletion of skin-saving antioxidants. Through the induction of oxidative stress and the reduction of antioxidants, ozone pollution encourages a stress response in the skin, bringing disruption to the skin’s normal functioning8.
How does IR radiation cause ageing?
Although current knowledge of the effects of IR radiation on skin ageing is limited, it has been shown that exposure to IR radiation causes a significant decrease in the production of antioxidants in the skin and can cause a reduction in collagen synthesis, particularly in lightly pigmented skin. Similarly, frequent or long-term exposure to IR can cause significant skin ageing and thermal burns, making the skin appear red and puffy9.
Which products can help to protect against extrinsic ageing?
Using products with antioxidants is important for protecting against extrinsic aging and boosting the body's natural production of antioxidants. Antioxidants help combat the signs of age-related skin deterioration and enhance the skin's natural self-repair system.
Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant that can provide advanced protection against environmental damage and neutralize free radicals. It is especially beneficial in combating the harmful effects of ozone and suppressing the damaging effects of UV radiation.
Additionally, using products with UV protection and SPF can help protect the skin against the dangers of sun and UV exposure, which also contribute to extrinsic aging.
It is recommended to incorporate such antioxidant formulations and products with UV protection into your skincare routine to maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin.