Skin aging is unavoidable and happens from a combination of intrinsic (genetics) and extrinsic (environmental and lifestyle) factors. Regardless of the cause of your signs of aging, our board-certified plastic surgeon offers non-surgical treatments to reduce the appearance of sunspots, loose skin, and wrinkles.
Your Genes are Responsible for About 10% of Skin Aging
Research shows intrinsic factors, or your genes, are only responsible for an estimated 10% of skin aging. Scientists determined this by examining the complexions of 200 sets of identical twins, which showed that smoking, sun exposure, stress, and other extrinsic factors could speed up aging. DNA and gene expression do play a role in the aging process, but external choices, such as excessive sun exposure, are more harmful to your skin.
How Genetics Influences Aging
The point in life at which you develop loose skin and wrinkles can depend on your heritage. Your genes influence the type, intensity, and pace of skin aging-such as how old you look, pigmented spots, and wrinkles. According to a systematic review of skin aging genes, this process and timeline vary by race/ethnicity. Researchers found that Chinese females tend to develop wrinkles quickly between the ages of 40 and 50 and French females form wrinkles between 20 and 60 years old. Hispanic and Caucasian individuals tend to develop wrinkles earlier than other races, with an average age of 24 for Latin Americans.
How Sun Exposure Influences Aging
Everyone is affected by the sun and other UV light. People with lighter skin tones are more likely to have skin damage from UV rays and are more susceptible to skin cancer than people with darker skin colors, but people of all skin tones are impacted by excessive sun exposure. Some people tan after being in the sun or tanning beds because the UV rays increase the number and activity of melanocytes that form brown pigment (melanin). Melanin helps to block damaging UV rays, which is why darker skin tones are more resistant to sunburns, while fair skin tones burn easily. Your genes affect how much the sun damages your skin, increasing skin cancer risk, sunburn risk, and skin irregularities, such as moles and freckles.
Regardless of your skin tone, sun damage can cause the skin to age prematurely. Sunspots, early wrinkles, and other signs of photodamage start in your teens and early 20s. People who spend most of their time in the sun without proper sun protection and sunscreen tend to experience uneven skin texture, redness, premature wrinkling, pigmentation changes, and spider veins around their noses and chest.
Improve Your Facial Appearance with Non-Surgical Treatments
Dr. Nima offers non-surgical treatments to address skin damage caused by sun exposure and genetic factors. RF microneedling, Opus Plasma or CO2 resurfacing and other procedures can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin laxity, and other common concerns.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Nima to evaluate your complexion and create a treatment plan to address signs of aging. Contact our Pasadena, California, office at (626) 696-8181.
