2023-04-25 07:30:05
The skin constantly renews itself. Can we help him in this process? Of course, and we show you how.
Cell renewal is the concept we need to understand to improve the appearance of the skin. Let’s recognize that the skin is not only the largest organ in the body, but also a barrier mechanism. He is therefore constantly exposed to various stimuli that have a direct impact on him..
Skin aging is a normal and complex process. It is associated with physical, chemical and environmental changes. It will manifest itself in wrinkles, loss of elasticity and tone, or even a rough appearance.
Cellular turnover, as we age, is reduced. Therefore, adopting certain behaviors can help us reduce the drastic changes that occur in the skin.
What is cell renewal?
With agingthe number of cells with regenerative capacity decreases. They are pluripotent stem cells, capable of dividing into several cells or differentiating into a specific tissue.
The process affects the whole body, especially the skin.
Various factors influence aging, as specified in an article by Cell Transplantation :
- Age.
- Degree of sun exposure.
- If there has been contact with cigarette smoke.
- Environmental pollution.
- Type of power supply.
Read also: Stay young longer: how to delay aging
How does skin cell renewal take place?
Various cells participate in skin cell renewal.
The skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis, hypodermis. The first is the most external and the one that always comes into contact with the environment.
Through the epidermis there is a continuous loss of keratin. It is a protein that has various functions, including waterproofing and stimulating the development of new cells in the skin. This loss is caused by a flaking process, which we can sometimes see with the naked eye, but sometimes not. The result is a finer epidermis.
You may have heard the term “exfoliation”. It happens naturally. The keratin breaks off and drags away the dead skin cells which no longer perform any function. When we are young, there is cellular regeneration and new elements fill the empty places.. However, as we age, we have less and less ability to replace what is lost.
The skin regeneration cycle lasts approximately 28 days.
During the night, the regenerative activity doubles and at dawn it reaches its maximum point, as specified in a scientific article from 2015. This means that during sleep the production of collagen (which represents up to 75 % of skin dry weight) increases and cell damage is repaired. As a result, a basic recommendation for young skin is to get enough sleep.
Read also: 6 tips to prevent premature aging of the skin
Tips to maintain cell turnover and show youthful skin
Young skin is sought following to have healthy skin. We go beyond aesthetics. What we want is to delay skin aging to preserve the functions that ensure our well-being, such as protection once morest external agents.
To stimulate cell turnover, it is generally recommended to do the following:
- Use sunscreen: ultraviolet (UV) rays have the ability to damage our skin. Indeed, it is considered that a main factor in the extrinsic aging of the skin is exposure to these rays. A classic sign in the elderly is the appearance of “sunspots” or solar lentigos, as the scientist Tobin relates. For all these reasons, broad-spectrum sunscreens are a key element of protection that contributes to cell regeneration. The cosmetics industry is working to improve these products, trying to increase their blocking power by adding collagen and keratin to the formulas.
- Consume antioxidants: To counter the harmful effects of ageing, the whole organism relies on an antioxidant system. These are substances that block free radicals in cells, preventing them from damaging tissues. Since many antioxidants are vitamins, we can consume them to help the skin. For example, vitamin C and vitamin E.
- Prefer a diet with the following foods: certain foods, in addition to providing vitamins, have been shown to affect the health of the skin, as indicated in an article in the scientific journal Nutrients. It would be good for your skin cell renewal if you increase the consumption of food products containing taurine, α-tocopherol, niacinamide, riboflavin, zinc and manganese. In a simple way, this involves increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Include new ingredients in the skincare routine
On the other hand, cell renewal benefits when including certain products in cosmetics:
- Retinoids: are chemically similar elements to vitamin A. Numerous studies have documented the effectiveness of retinoic acid in repairing photodamaged skin from a clinical, histological, and molecular perspective, as detailed by Kong et al. (2016). Retinol produces significant reductions in fine wrinkles, mottled hyperpigmentation and roughness.
- Bakuchiol : it is a new ingredient that has become fashionable in cosmetic skin care products. Studies claim that its effectiveness is similar to that of over-the-counter vitamin A derivatives. Topical treatment with 0.5% bakuchiol is said to improve the aging process of the skin. This is a good recommendation, in case you don’t tolerate retinoids well.
- Alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA and BHA): these products can be applied once or twice a day to even out skin pigmentation and improve texture.
- Copper peptides: another ingredient that has become popular for face creams. According to research, it improves facial tone, clarity and overall appearance of the face and hair.
Other treatments
Some treatments are experimental, indicated for another situation and have effects on the skin or, directly, lead to an aesthetic approach to skin ageing. We name them here as options to promote cell turnover, but you should see a doctor to start them.
- Hormone therapy: hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause has been a topic of great interest when examining its effects on the skin. In theory, it would improve hydration and elasticity, since it promotes the production of collagen. In any case, they are not the main advantages.
- Stem cells : Stem cell transplantation is a promising therapy for combating skin aging. Specifically, adipose tissue transplantation experiments for facial rejuvenation are ongoing.
- Laser – Thermal energy can be used to selectively remove a pigmented target or to reduce wrinkles. After the treatment, the skin might be stimulated to produce more collagen and repair the area where the laser hit.
- Plastic surgery : This is the most invasive treatment approach for wrinkles. Cosmetic surgery removes parts of the skin or fills in the subcutaneous tissue to give a smoother feeling. These procedures are often combined with topical sessions of creams, lasers and chemical peels to perfect the results and promote “more natural” cell renewal.
The key to cell renewal is to prevent damage
The changes that occur with aging are manifold. However, there is a wide range of options available that we can use to achieve youthful skin for more years.
The main recommendations remain basic: protect yourself from exposure to UV rays, sleep well, eat well. Consult a dermatologist to find out which creams and cosmetics can complement your lifestyle so that younger looking skin is a reality.
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