Picture from LIFE Magazine

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Chronological aging is also known as natural aging.  In terms of skin health, chronological aging results in the visible changes that appear in the skin over time, usually starting around the age of 25.  Aging-related skin changes are the development of dryness, fine lines and wrinkles, ‘spots’ and mottling. Chronological aging happens as the natural regenerative processes begin to slow - there is a slower turnover of the surface skin cells. 

At around 40 years of age, the skin begins to thin, making it more fragile, vulnerable to damage and more sensitive to environmental factors. The skin loses a lot of  strength and elasticity because of damage to the collagen and elastin (these are the connective tissues that give skin its firmness and elasticity). Skin also becomes dryer with age as natural moisture-retaining attributes of younger skin (oil producing sebaceous glands are less active) decrease.  Skin looks less plump and smooth, and the healthy colour of youth is lost as there are fewer blood vessels in the skin’s surface.  As an additional feature of aging, the accumulated pull of gravity is constantly at work, causing the skin to sag.

Photo-aging is the effect of chronic and excessive sun exposure on the skin, the result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It may be from intentional exposure, such as tanning, but it is also from daily exposure to the sun from normal activities.  Photo-aging commonly occurs on the face, neck, arms and the back of hands, the body parts which are exposed daily to the sun in common outdoor activities. 

Photo-aging from sun exposure is the cause of significant changes to skin tissues and cells  - changes that are different from those found in chronological aging.  The idea that the sun accelerates the natural aging process of the skin is only partially true – photo-aged skin has unique characteristics, different from chronologically-aged skin.  Photo-aged skin has that ‘old leather’ look to it.  You know what we mean – coarse, rough, yellowy-brown skin that is deeply wrinkled. If you are not sure, look at the skin of people who are out doors for a living - fishermen, road construction workers, farmers etc.

Incidentally, aside from photo-aging from sun exposure, cigarette smoking is the only other environmental factor that has been related to skin changes associated with aging. Like photo-aging, cigarette smoking creates biochemical changes in skin tissues.

And for you die-hard proponents of tanning – there is NO credible scientific evidence to disprove the relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer and the undesirable results of photo-aging. Again, sun exposure results in photo-aging, and may result in skin cancer.

The effects of photo-aging accumulate over years of chronic sun exposure. Initially, photo-aging may be invisible to the naked eye, even while they are accumulating. Photos taken with ultraviolet light dramatically reveal the accumulative effects of chronic sun exposure. 

While you can’t stop the effects of chronological aging, there are strategies to slow the aging process and you certainly can do something to inhibit the skin damage caused by excessive and chronic sun exposure. To reduce skin damage from sun exposure, always use a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher, a hat with a brim, and protective covering of arms and legs. Don’t deliberately sunbathe, and limit sun exposure during the 10 AM to 4 PM hours of greatest sun intensity. Avoid deliberate tanning in tanning salons or under sun lamps. If your skin is already sun damaged you can still benefit from these measures.

To find out about products that target sun protection and skin rejuvenation, Login and visit our LOOK Better section - for products to help slow down the aging process, also visit our FEEL Better pages!