search icon

search
search icon
Skin Aging
It’s in your own hands

The skin is our largest organ. Like all organs, it is subject to a natural aging process. Its ability to regenerate decreases, and changes occur that become noticeable in its function — and in the case of the skin, also clearly visible. Thus, from around the age of 25, the first smile lines begin to appear.

The good news is: less than one third of the causes are genetically determined. Even though the aging process is a complex mix of different mechanisms, we can still play a major role in ensuring that we feel young and healthy as we grow older—with our skin as a visit card for everyone to see. The key is understanding the causes of skin aging, which are divided into internal (intrinsic) and external (extrinsic, influenced by our environment) factors.

Internal (Intrinsic) Causes

Apart from genetic predisposition (responsible for 20–30% of skin aging), the internal causes are complex biological processes that change with age. The regenerative capacity of our cells decreases, and our epidermis becomes more susceptible to external damage, for example from sun exposure. As the amount of collagen and elastin (the building blocks of connective tissue) in the dermis declines, elasticity is reduced and less moisture is retained. Changes in hormonal balance—particularly a decrease in estrogen production—cause the skin to age significantly faster. The most important internal causes are therefore:

  • Reduced regenerative capacity of skin cells
  • Decreasing levels of collagen and elastin
  • Poorer blood circulation
  • Hormonal changes
External (Extrinsic) Causes

Skin aging is largely influenced by environmental factors, the external causes. In particular, exposure to sunlight plays a decisive role (responsible for up to 80% of skin aging), even though the interaction of these factors is very complex. The most important extrinsic factors are:

  • Sun exposure (especially UVA radiation and HEV light)
  • Diet
  • Smoking
  • Environmental toxins (especially air pollution)
What you can do!
Effective sun protection is essential

UV rays and HEV light can damage our skin not only in summer and sunshine. Especially on the hands and face, we are exposed to these invisible rays all year round—even on cloudy days or in winter. To effectively counteract skin aging, tailored sun protection is therefore essential—365 days a year.
 

Protection against IR radiation

In deeper layers of the skin, thermal radiation can contribute to the formation of free radicals and thus to skin aging. Did you know that Daylong™ products, thanks to the filters they contain, have been proven to protect effectively not only against UVA and UVB rays, but also against HEV and IR radiation?

img
Protection against UVA and IR rays – often overlooked

The sun protection factor (SPF) indicated on sunscreen products measures protection against UVB radiation. The same applies to cosmetic day-care products with an SPF. However, skin aging (photoaging) is primarily caused by UVA rays—and, as more recent findings show, also by IR rays. These penetrate deeper into the skin and can cause lasting damage in the dermis (the connective tissue layer of the skin).

img
Antioxidants – protection against free radicals

Free radicals play a major role in the process of skin aging. Antioxidants are so-called radical scavengers that neutralize free radicals and protect against cell damage. In healthy skin, they are naturally present in the form of various substances such as vitamins E and C. However, regular exposure to UV and IR radiation increases the number of free radicals in the skin, and the skin’s natural defenses may become insufficient. Therefore, especially for daily facial care to prevent skin aging, it is recommended to use sun protection products that contain ingredients with antioxidant properties.

img
Look for the UVA label when purchasing

Protection against UVA radiation is only provided by sunscreens that carry the UVA label. According to the recommendation of the European Commission, a product labeled with the UVA symbol must offer a UVA protection factor of at least one-third of the SPF. 

img
Dermatologically tested tolerance for daily protection against skin aging

Especially for daily use to prevent skin aging, you should always choose dermatologically tested products. Such products demonstrate good skin compatibility even for (overly) sensitive skin, do not clog pores (non-comedogenic), do not sting the eyes, are free from oils and emulsifiers, and are sweat-resistant.

What else you can do
EN infographic 20 bend

Do you already know Daylong™ Instant Protect & Ultra Care Face Hydrating Anti-Aging Fluid SPF 30?

The product helps prevent photoaging and pigmentation. After just two weeks, the skin feels smoother (clinical evaluation, 39 participants)

Hautalterung
Related topics
img
Skin Cancer
img
Sun
img
Our Skin