Preventing Photoaging

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By peace | January 25, 2008

The skin is the largest organ of the body, weighing about four kilograms and covering about two square metres. The skin consists of several layers, each of which has a specific function. Specialised cells, called melanocytes, in the base of the epidermis, produce melanin, a UV-absorbing pigment that gives us a tan. The skin helps maintain body temperature, prevents dehydration and protects us well(if not completely) from harmful environmental agents, particularly infectious organisms(bacteria and viruses, or germs), dirt, dust and sunlight.

The skin is also extremely important in terms of our appearance and in enabling us to receive sensory input from around us. Finally, it helps to dispose of any organisms that do penetrate and probably also helps to destroy early skin cancers.

In theory, photoaging can be prevented. If you could protect your face from the sun all the time, it should remain relatively young-looking and wrinkle-free into old age. It is therefore vital to begin any protection programme very early in life: it has been estimated that up to 50% of our total UV radiation exposure is acquired by the time we reach 18 and 75% by 30. We can therefore very much improve the outlook for our children’s skin by acting now. As far as adults are concerned, although the time-clock for photoaging has already been ticking for some time, we can very definitely minimise further changes by being careful in the sun from now on.

Next, it seems likely that skin photoaging steadily develops even with recurrent minor UV exposure. Thus, increasing evidence suggests that even walking to and from the office or shops, or hanging out the washing, may expose our skin to enough sunlight to cause some photoaging; the skin does not need to burn, or even turn pink, for slow permanent damage to take place. This therefore means that preventing photoaging probably requires even more effort with regard to sun protection than does preventing sunburn.

In summary, therefore, any steps that you take now to cut down the time you spend outside unprotected will reduce the speed and extend of your eventual photoaging, whenever you may start. Although the skin on your face may not look as young as that on your buttocks, it can still look much better than if you do nothing at all to protect it. In addition, the younger you are when you start your protection programme, the better your outlook. Lastly, since you also need to reduce the time your skin is exposed even to ordinary daylight each day, rather than simply making sure you do not get sunburned, you might consider using certain types of make-up and moisturisers that incorporate sunscreen ingredients, particularly if you normally use such products or are happy to start!

If your skin is already affected by photoaging, you may be able to improve its appearance to some extent by using simple moisturising creams regularly to help relieve the associated dryness and smooth out any wrinkles, but you must remember to use them everyday. In addition, there is some evidence that daily use of creams containing vitamin A derivatives (called retinoids), and in particular Retinova cream containing tretinoin, available on prescription, may slowly reduce irregular pigmentation and smooth out fine wrinkles to a small extent.

Cosmetic or plastic surgery by an appropriate surgeon can also help in a more invasive, expensive and perhaps occasionally risky fashion, in many cases dramatically smoothing out wrinkled, sagging areas of skin. Relatively mild, often effective treatments for brown blotchiness and thread veins include cryotherapy and cold point cautery respectively, usually from a dermatologist. If these are not helpful, other more aggressive treatments for the same problem are chemical peels and laser therapy, the latter also being particularly effective for wrinkles. However, this treatment leaves the treated areas extremely red and raw for days to weeks, and you will also need to take into account the cost and the slight risk of permanent scarring before deciding to go ahead.