Sun damage is avoidable skin-aging factor

I’m pretty sure that eating chocolate keeps wrinkles away because I have never seen a 10-year-old Hershey bar with crow’s feet. — Amy Neftzger

I have come to terms with the fact that I’m getting older. I don’t concern myself as much with what other people think about what I look like, how I dress and other things that once seemed so important. But there are nefarious forces at work in the world that do everything in their power to make me feel old and out of style.

For example, every morning as I watch TV while getting ready for work, it is hinted, via commercials, that I need to lose weight, get in shape and have firmer skin. Well, OK. Thanks, I guess. Right now I’m fascinated by commercials for products that help get rid of crepey skin. I’ve even received emails touting some of the products, and of course there are ads down the side of my Facebook page.

Many of you know to what I refer when I say crepey skin. You happen to look down at your arm and notice how the skin has started to resemble a crepe paper streamer, and you are not having a party. I started wondering what causes the condition and if there are real ways to combat it that don’t involve ordering overpriced potions online.

I reached out to Dr. Mark Jansen, an associate professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Jansen says that, as with most organs in the body, changes in the skin over time are due to normal aging, influenced by the “number of candles on our birthday cake and our genetics.” In addition to the aging process, exposure to environmental stress contributes to the crepe-paper appearance aging skin can take on.

As we age the skin becomes thinner. The “good” fat layer under the skin shrinks, leading to sagging and more major wrinkles. The crepe-paper appearance comes about from a loss of elastic fibers, supportive collagen and moisture in the skin.

The main culprit, he says, is sunlight. Harmful ultraviolet rays are comprised of UVA, which ages the skin, and UVB, which is the main cause of sunburn. Windows and windshield glass can filter out UVB, but UVA can still get through.

While we can’t change our genetics, we can maintain more youthful skin appearance by making healthful food choices, avoiding smoking — which robs the skin of critical oxygen — and minimizing exposure to the sun. Daily sunscreen helps, too. Many makeups and lotions contain it. Reapply every two hours if you are in more intense sunlight.

Since loss of moisture is a culprit, use soap with minimal dyes and scents, and one that is pH balanced. That just means that it has the same amount of acids and alkalis, which balance each other out.

As for the products advertised on TV, Jansen says many contain caffeine. There could be some minor and temporary improvements in the skin, but probably not long term.

Another aging problem, which I don’t have yet, is age spots. They are commonly due to the accumulated effects of sunlight over time, and can be seen in skin of any heritage. What happens is that clusters of melanocytes, the cells that give the skin its color, come together to form the spots?

The best prevention is to minimize sun exposure. This is true for all skin shades, but especially important for those with lighter complexions. Once formed, spots can be treated to improve appearance with freezing procedures, intense pulsed light and certain lasers.

There are bleaching agents on the market that affect an enzyme in the skin necessary to form melanin pigment. The most classic bleaching agent is hydroquinone, and some over-the-counter products contain it. Products with glycolic acid or azelaic acid can be helpful too.

But, Jansen says, the drawback is called the “halo” effect. This occurs when the product bleaches not only the darker part but also the “normal” skin, leaving a lightened ring around the age spot.