With age, the skin’s cell renewal rate decreases and skin flakes are no longer effectively exfoliated. As a result, the skin appears dull, dry and covered with scales.
In addition, as part of the normal aging process, the skin loses elasticity and small wrinkles form that deepen over time. This process is accelerated by lifestyle habits such as frequent exposure to the sun, smoking, alcohol, stress or poor diet.
The topmost adhesive layer, the epidermis, is composed of several cell layers. From the lowest layer, new skin cells are constantly forming. They migrate to the skin surface and are shed in the form of horny scales.
With age and due to environmental influences (e.g. UV radiation), these processes become congested and the skin changes.
In addition to the epidermis, the underlying dermis thins. The subcutaneous tissue also becomes increasingly flaccid. This, together with the decrease in skin tension, leads to wrinkling and sagging of the skin. Depending on skin type and lifestyle habits, the horny layer can become thicker with age.
At the same time, there are changes in the genetic material in the skin cells. A disturbed and altered cornification of the skin (“solar keratosis”) is the result.