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It's a common question from patients concerned about the unwanted
- and often premature - signs of aging skin. As you know, there
are multiple factors contributing to these signs. The following
is a quick review.
Skin's top layers act as a protective barrier for the body,
keeping harmful disease and pollutants out and essential body
fluids in. At the deepest layer, new cells are formed that begin
to migrate up toward the skin's surface. There, they are
eventually exfoliated.
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In young, healthy skin, this cellular turnover process takes about
40 days: 28 days to reach the surface and 12 days to slough off.
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In young, healthy skin, new skin cells are well organized,
uniform in size, shape, pigmentation and structure.
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Over time, skin accumulates damage from many sources - such as
sun exposure, hormonal changes, trauma, pollution and more. The
functions of young, healthy skin start to break down.
On the surface, aging skin becomes discolored, lax, wrinkled, dry
and rough. Cell turnover slows, reducing the availability of
essential nutrients. Moreover, instead of producing healthy new
cells, skin functions now produce cells that are abnormal.
Below the surface, collagen and elastin production slows.
Collagen becomes disorganized, less dense and coarser and loses
its uniform construction. This, combined with degeneration of
elastin in the dermis, causes skin to wrinkle and sag. Less blood
flow and moisture result in the dull, lifeless skin patients
complain about.
Fortunately, transforming aging skin function is possible. Obagi
System has been proven to improve skin functions and
transform skin so that it looks and acts younger and
healthier.
Click here to find the right Obagi System for your patients and
their skin condition.
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