2011/9/12

There are three main causes of ugly fine facial lines. The causes are loss of collagen and elastin, lower levels of hyaluronic acid and oxidation through the action of free radicals. We look at what causes those things to happen below.

Loss of Collagen and Elastin

The body naturally produces new collagen and elastin fibers on a regular basis in order to keep your skin firm, thick, smooth and uniform in color. As we age, the production of collagen and elastin can slow down. The slowdown may be caused by:

?Poor nutrient intake-amino acids and vitamin C are needed to create new fibers
?Poor health-the body may be too busy repairing damage elsewhere to product new collagen and elastin
?Natural changes that accompany aging

Collagen and elastin naturally degrade over time, which is why the body must replace them on a regular basis. The degradation may increase as we get older due to chronic inflammation.

Things that cause chronic inflammation include:

?Poor diet-high in sugar and other simple carbs
?Rosacea, eczema or other inflammatory skin conditions
?Dryness issues-dry skin easily becomes irritated and inflamed

Lower Levels of Hyaluronic Acid

High levels of hyaluronic acid are one reason that young people do not have ugly fine facial lines. The compound works to maintain the skin's moisture content. It is necessary for the production of new skin cells and is partially responsible for the skin's firmness. If the skin is firm, any fine line would be stretched out.

The cause of low levels of hyaluronic acid is increased activity of a family of enzymes called hyaluronidaise. The enzymes break down the compound too quickly. So, the levels start to become lower and lower.

Oxidation

Free radical activity causes oxidation and is one of the main causes of ugly fine facial lines. Free radicals are naturally present in the skin, but they become more active during:
?Sun exposure
?Smoke exposure
?Toxic exposures

The sun needs no explanation, except to say that it is the UV rays of sunlight that cause increased activity of free radicals. Smoke exposure typically occurs only in people who use tobacco products, although smog and exhaust fumes could also cause free radical activity.

There are a variety of mild toxins in the environment. Instead of poisoning you quickly, they can cause increased free radical activity that leads to ugly fine facial lines or more serious health problems.

There are at least a hundred toxins in skincare products produced in the US, because there is no law against including them. Many of them have been banned in other countries. The ten most toxic ingredients in popular skincare products are:

?Formaldehyde
?Quarternium-15
?DMDM Hydantoin
?Imidazolidinyl urea
?Diazolidinyl urea
?Bronopol
?4-MBC
?Octyl methoxycinnamate
?Retinyl Palmitate
?Oxybenzone

Using skincare products on a regular basis that contains those ingredients will definitely cause increased free radical activity, which will lead to ugly fine facial lines.