Why Your Skin is Changing and Aging (and What to Do Instead)

The best way to reverse the skin aging process is to understand why your skin is changing and aging and what skincare ingredients will slow this process and actually reverse it.

When we are young, firm, bright, dewy skin is something we often take for granted. As time goes on, our skin starts to change at the cellular level. These changes are triggered by hormonal effects and other factors that slow the production of collagen.

What are the qualities of youthful skin?

You know young, fresh, healthy skin when you see it. The pores are small, and the skin is radiant. The skin is hydrated, balanced, and supple. Youthful, luminous skin reflects light, is free of lines and wrinkles, is firm and free of pigmentation, and has strong elasticity.

What causes the skin to change and age?

01. 
Loss of Elasticity

The aging process of the skin starts at the cellular level. Slowly, collagen production decreases. Fibroblasts, the cells embedded in the skin (the dermis), regulate and form collagen. Collagen is responsible for firm, elastic skin. Over time, the fibroblast decreases production. As a result, the skin starts to thin. You start to see a breakdown of the supple firmness of the skin, and skin laxity follows.

02.
Dullness

While the underlying skin starts to thin with age, the topmost layer of the skin (the epidermis) begins to increase in size. It increases because the very top layer accumulates more and more dead layers of skin. This thick layer of dead skin is responsible for dull or rough skin.

The skin looks crepey, and pigmentation problems follow.

03.
Pigmentation

Finally, the sun takes a severe toll on the skin. Over the years of our youth, our skin absorbs the sun’s free radicals and UV rays. The skin regulates our pigmentation by working hard to suppress and reduce the production of melanin (which eventually causes irregular pigmentation). At some point, however, the body essentially gives in and allows the melanin to flow. What results is hyperpigmentation–blotchy brown spots you see on your skin. 

What happens to your pores as you age?

Pores are the channels that connect the surface of your skin with sebaceous and sweat glands. Sebaceous glands produce oil (sebum). Your skin needs a certain level of oil on it. The surface of the skin can get blocked by dirt, debris, or dead cells. At the same time, the underlying layer of skin (dermis) is weakened by a lack of collagen production, and the pore channels are pinched or crinkled. What ends up happening is the pore gets blocked. The sebum is trying to get out of the channel, but it can’t. As a result, the channel dilates, and you see large pores that look like little black dots and pits in the skin.

This is why cleansing the skin is such an important step in skin management and achieving radiant, beautiful skin.

How the Water and Oil Balance of Your Skin Affects the Aging Process

As we age, years of sun exposure combined with failing skin strength contribute to dehydration. Your skin has a harder time regulating oils and keeping a proper equilibrium, and it sort of gives up on balancing oils and hydration. 

This is exacerbated by sun exposure and using harsh cleansers. The right ingredients for achieving healthy, balanced, hydrated skin should be applied on a daily basis. 

What Can You Do to Reverse the Aging Process and Restore Radiant, Youthful Skin?

Each factor of skin aging: loss of collagen, pigmentation, dilated pores, and improper water and oil balance, can be addressed simultaneously with the right treatments and skincare products. The good news is that skin management and achieving supple, beautiful skin is completely in our control.

It’s a committed, consistent application of a combination of sun protection, the use of proper, active ingredients on your skin, and the occasional use of treatments such as microneedling or lasers.

01.
Sun Protection

Not all sunscreens are made equally. Most sunscreens only protect against the UV rays that cause sunburn, allowing the UV rays that cause wrinkles and aging to come through. Use a broad-spectrum, mineral-based sunscreen that protects against both UVA (aging) and UVB (sunburn). 

02.
Skin Treatments

Based on your skin needs, have a treatment every few months. A laser facial, microneedling, chemical peel, or similar treatment helps achieve a significant boost in collagen production and/or removes the top layer of dead, dull skin to achieve better clarity and radiance.

03.
Daily Application of Proper Ingredients

To achieve vibrant, healthy, luminous skin, your skin needs a daily application of active, potent ingredients. Getting the results you want means you have to be committed and consistent to the continuous application of your skincare products. I created the Trifecta to make that as easy as possible for you.

I explain more about this in detail in the below video:

Why Your Skin is Changing and AGING (What to Do Instead!).