At present we can find many anti aging skin care methods, techniques and treatments for retaining that youthful glow. As it is the most telltale sign of getting old, anti aging skin care products and services account for billions of dollars spent in the hopes of delaying the onset of skin aging.

Types Of Skin Aging

There are two types of skin aging. They are intrinsic (internal) skin aging, which is caused by factors within one's own body, such as genes and body condition; and another is extrinsic (external) skin aging, which is caused by factors outside one's body, such as sunlight and lifestyle.

Factors Responsible For Skin aging

Intrinsic Skin Aging

Skin aging is a natural procedure, which is determined by our genes. It depends, for some skin aging can set on earlier or later than most. On average, by mid-20's, the signs of skin aging begin to appear.

The skin's ability to snap back to shape starts to decrease, i.e. the skin losses it's elasticity. That is because skin cells do not regenerate as fast as they used to - resulting to tougher, older skin.

The typical signs of wrinkles and sagging skin do not appear although internal skin aging begins in one's 20s, for until about a couple of decades more. Thinning, loss of firmness, dryness, and reduction of sweat production that prevents proper cooling of the body are the other signs that indicate skin aging.

Extrinsic Skin Aging

Factors outside one's own genes accelerate skin aging. Lifestyles and habits carry more impact of why skin aging occurs more prematurely in one's lifetime.

Sun exposure

Skin exposure is one of the main causes of skin aging. In the present atmosphere, harmful rays from the sun pass through in ever-increasing amounts causing damage to the skin and obstructing its ability to repair itself.

A few minutes a day of exposure to ultraviolet rays results in changes to the skin. An even graver symptom would be the onset of skin cancer. Dermatologists call this effect photo.

The amount of pigment in the skin as well as the frequency and duration one spends under the sun's rays determines one's susceptibility to Photo aging. Thus, the effect of photo aging can be more pronounced to fair-skinned individuals and those who spend long periods under the sun stand, when compared to those who are darker-skinned and spend more time in the shade.

Facial Exercises

Facial exercises are another reason for skin aging. Facial exercises cause the muscles on the face to fold and crease the skin. As the elasticity of skin elasticity reduces, the skin starts to take on the creases more permanently causing deep wrinkles on the face.

Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking not only causes harm internally but also externally. This is one of the most pronounced with the condition of the skin aging. Nicotine intake causes changes in the body that speeds up the break down of skin cells.

A smoker looks comparably older than the non-smokers. Along with the break down of skin cells, smoking also leads to wrinkles and yellowish discoloration of the skin. However, we can find improvement in the skin condition shortly after quitting.

The signs of skin aging will inevitably show up on everyone at one point or the other. All sorts of anti aging skin care products and treatments can be availed of but it is only meant to delay the outward symptoms.