Major Causes of Aging

March 25, 2021

Written by Maira Ahsan

March 25, 2021

Written by Maira Ahsan

Here are some 5 major Causes of Aging:

Different types of factors promote the process of aging. We should know them to avoid accelerating the process and learn how to manage the daily routines to slow down aging.

Breakdown of Collagen

Collagen’s breakdown represents 75% of the skin’s dry weight. For skin infancy, it is important to slow down the breakdown and degradation of collagen fibers.

Photo Defense/ protection

The major cause of the symptoms of premature skin ageing, skin damage, and skin cancer is the repeated exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. The sun rays are very harmful to human’s skin as the sun is carcinogenic. Repeated exposure to the sun over years may cause photoaging.

Skin becomes more sensitive as the damage accumulates due to the breakdown of collagen and impairs the synthesis of new collagen. The sun attacks the elastin of human skin and skin becomes loose, wrinkled, and leathery. With repeated exposure to sunlight, this process will also multiply and increase the size of wrinkles.

Oxidation

Oxidation is the process that uses highly reactive free radicals to damage the skin, which is the important cellular structure in the human body. Human bodies developed with internal antioxidants and they are not sufficient to protect our skins from irreversible breakdown.

Inflammation

Inflammation acts as the shield of protection against invading microbes. Inflammation is the process that limits the damage to skin cells and initiates tissue healing processes. However, Chronic inflammation may be a cause of early-onset akin aging. The symptoms of inflammation include skin redness, sensitivity, and irritation. Our bodies naturally build with internal antioxidants, but they are not sufficient to defend our skins from irreversible breakdown.

Glycation

Glycation process aids in losing the functional ability of skin proteins like elastin and collagen. The glycation process happens to the skin collagen and elastin fibers when an excess amount of glucose molecules link to the skin. Glycated fibers make the skin rigid and less elastic by reducing skin’s protein ability which may lead to laxity, cracking, and thinning skin type of damages.

Symptoms of Aging

The common signs and symptoms of ageing are as follows:

Increased vulnerability to infection
Greater possibility of heat stroke or hypothermia
Minor decrease in height as the bones of our spines get thinner and lose some height
Easily breakage of bones
Joint stiffness to severe arthritis
Bent posture
Reduced movement
Decrease in the whole energy
Constipation
Urinary dissoluteness
Reducing memory, and thinking
Reduced reflexes and coordination with body balance
Decrease in visual acuity
Weakened peripheral vision
Hearing loss
Wrinkling and flagging skin
Graying of hair
Weight loss

Levels of Aging

The process of aging occurs at multiple levels:

Cellular aging

Cell’s ages are counted by the number of times they have replicated. Skin cells are damaged by free radicals and other factors. When these damaged cells replicate it may cause cellular aging.

Hormonal aging

Hormones contribute its huge part to aging by fluctuating hormone levels throughout life. Hormonal changes bring acne during puberty and may lead to dry skin and menopause as we get older.

Accumulated damage

Accumulation of external factors such as exposure to toxins, the sun, pollution, harmful foods, and smoke aids in tissue damage and skin losses its ability to maintain and repair cells and tissues of the body skin and organs.

Metabolic aging

The process of metabolizing energy results in damaging the body’s skin and promotes the process of aging due to irregular and unhealthy eating habits.