- The most common skin problems and their solutions
- Hormones
- External
Many external signs of aging
Aging Skin: The three most common problems and their solutions
They appear under the influence of internal changes. Common skin problems are often a reflection of hormonal levels.
About a hundred years ago, life expectancy has doubled
. It was a great achievement, especially given the fact that the life expectancy of the average person for almost the entire human and
. It remained relatively constant
. Such drastic changes have been made possible primarily thanks to better nutrition, advances in medicine and new technologies
. In 2007, the average life expectancy in Western countries amounted to 80
. 4 years for women and 75
. 3 years for men
. In other regions of the world, life expectancy may be less than, but almost everywhere it is higher in women than in men
. And that women make up most of the clientele of multi-billion dollar industry that is engaged in the production of anti-aging cosmetics
. People do not just want to live a long time - they tend to remain as long as possible healthy and beautiful
.
If the life expectancy of women over the past hundred years has risen sharply, while the onset of menopause has remained virtually unchanged - it comes at the age of about 50 years
. This means that more women live for years and decades while reducing the level of female sex hormones - in human history is a relatively new phenomenon
. It is not clear why women live especially long after reproductive age, but there is an interesting hypothesis, which may shed light on this question
. It is called the "grandmother hypothesis" and suggests that the presence of older women, who can help to raise children, increases the likelihood that the young generation reaches the maximum evolutionary potential
. That is, if a family has a grandmother who helps to educate, feed their children and ensure their safety, it increases the chance of a long and healthy life for these children in the future
. And interested in the welfare of children, the family, for its part, will take care of her grandmother
. This does not mean that people are taking care of grandmothers purely pragmatic reasons - they just follow the laws of nature, which does not exclude the genuine love and affection
.
Although the increase in life expectancy looks like a huge advantage for those who are lucky enough to live in the 21st century, it opens the door to a variety of age-related changes and diseases. Many of these changes are associated with the skin, so understanding how hormones - and their lack of - affect the skin, helps effectively take care of it and find the most appropriate anti-aging.
The role of hormones
One of the most important factors involved in the aging process - it's the endocrine system. Especially important for women, endocrine system produces hormones and regulates the level that decreases with age, sometimes - very quickly and dramatically. Hormones - are chemical "messengers" produced by internal organs such as the ovaries, pancreas and thyroid. Sex hormones and corticosteroids, thyroid hormone and growth hormone are included in various processes and functions of the body - such as the development of internal organs, reproductive and metabolic function, protection against infections. Hormones are also responsible, for example, the appearance of hunger and stress response
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.
In contrast, extrinsic aging, which occurs under the influence of external factors such as ultraviolet radiation, harmful habits and polluted air (their results can be a photo-aging and the appearance of deep wrinkles), the internal aging of the skin due to the natural course of the biological clock. Dry, pale skin and wrinkles - all inevitable signs of the normal aging process. The inner skin aging depends on many factors, such as gene mutation, inflammatory processes, reducing production and lipid lowering hormone. It is the hormonal changes that occur with age, has recently become the object of attention of experts. Exactly how hormones affect the skin? And specifically - how they are involved in the aging process of the skin?
Estrogen
If we talk about the "popularity" of hormones, the estrogen is undoubtedly the best known and most widely discussed of them. However, there are many misconceptions regarding this very important matter for us. First, not everyone knows that estrogen - not exclusively female hormone. It is true that it is produced in the ovaries, and especially a lot of the female body. However, estrogen is also present in men - in smaller amounts (testes produce it). Small amounts of estrogen in men and women produces the adrenal cortex.
Second, the word "estrogen" refers to a group of hormones which have a similar chemical structure, so that it is not one single substance. For estrogens include estradiol - this form of estrogen present in the female body in the largest quantities; estriol, which plays a very important role during pregnancy, and estrone, which is produced during menopause. It is curious that in women estrogens are produced by converting the male sex hormones, which are collectively known as "androgens" in various types of estrogen. Androgens, in turn, are derived from cholesterol - the initial steroid, which is the source of many steroids (and these include sex hormones).
The conversion of cholesterol to androgens into estrogens and androgens made by certain key enzymes. Without them, the realization of this process would be impossible. In the skin, which performs hundreds of different functions are necessary components for generation of cholesterol and extract the sex hormones.
Estrogens affect the density and moisture of the skin; they are not in the least dependent on the age at which a woman will appear wrinkles. They can improve the glycosaminoglycans, such as hyaluronic acid, is responsible for the fluid balance and structural integrity of tissues. Estrogens may also increase the production of collagen, allowing the skin to remain supple, smooth and well moisturized.
In periods of increased hormonal activity, such as during pregnancy or oral contraceptives, on the skin, which is most often exposed to the sun's rays (usually on the forehead, nose and cheeks), often appear dark spots. This phenomenon, known as melasma, is directly related to hormonal, and is a vivid example of how hormones can affect the skin condition. However, the skin - not only the external structure of the body that are affected by estrogen. This group of hormone accelerates the growth of hair and makes the hair more healthy and shiny. Many women admit that their hair has never looked as good as during pregnancy. Under the influence of estrogen duration of the anagen phase of hair growth increases, as well as improved nutrition of hair follicles. Reduced estrogen levels
Estrogen - the key to bone health
after childbirth or after menopause often leads to thinning and hair loss. Some women in this period, the hair falls out quickly and in very large quantities.
In general, estrogen helps the skin and hair to stay young and beautiful. Of course, a certain role in this play and progesterone
Progesterone - norm and pathology
But its effects on the skin and the hair is not well understood. We hope that the new studies shed light on the interaction of estrogen and progesterone, and it will help to better understand their "contribution" to the process of aging.
Testosterone
Testosterone - is the primary male sex hormone; it makes virtually everything that makes a man a man in the most fundamental sense of the word
. Hard hair, a fat and fat than women, leather, a relatively late appearance of signs of aging, libido, competitive behavior - all of these men are obliged to testosterone
. Elevated levels of androgens, including - testosterone, is the most common cause of alopecia (baldness) and in men and women
. With age, the ratio of estrogen and androgen is out of balance
. Since androgens, particularly testosterone, are involved in the development of sebum, women with elevated levels of these hormones may encounter problems such as an increase in oily skin and even acne in adults
. Of particular concern are causing these problems at times sharp fluctuations in hormonal levels - for example, during menstruation or menopause
. Androgens have a significant effect on the skin of both men and women, because of their level over the life cycle in both sexes
.