The skin is the body’s largest organ, consisting of more than two square yards. Though the skin serves as the major outlet for many of the vital parts of the body—from sweat glands to nerve endings to blood vessels—it is the substance collagen that is responsible for the signs of aging that appear on the skin.
The epidermis is the top layer of your skin. It consists of cells that are eventually sloughed off from your skin. These cells contain keratin, a protein, and melanin, which colors your skin.
Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, which contains strong fibers of collagen along with elastic fibers called elastin. Together, they work to provide a strong, firm base.
As we age, however, the dermis starts to thin and the collagen and elastin become stiffer, which creates wrinkles as well as a paler skin tone. Years of gravity and possible obesity take their toll as well, resulting in a change in facial contours, a double chin, and sagging eyelids. Older skin also becomes drier, as the skin’s oil glands no longer produce as much oil.
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Tags: General health