How Skin and Hair of Women Change with Age

Health of skin and hair reflect the age of a woman. Appearance of wrinkles on the skin and graying of hair are vital signs of aging. There are certain factors that trigger and accelerate these signs.

Let us try to understand how the skin and the hair change as we add numbers to our age.

The Skin

The uppermost layer of the skin, epidermis, houses the fibrous protein called keratin. The protein maintains the firmness of the skin. Underneath the epidermis is dermis. It bears elastic and collagen. These give elasticity and “fuller” appearance to the skin.

Skin of women is thinner than men hence is at a greater risk of aging. Their skin carries less oil and has less collagen than the skin of men.

UV rays are the number one cause of skin aging today. They damage the blood vessels in the dermis layer and tear the tissues causing wrinkles. At the age of 11, the skin is well hydrated and activity of sebaceous gland is low. Skin repair capacity is supreme.

By 25, the activity of sebaceous glands is high and this puts at a greater risk of developing acne.

Just as you proceed from the age of 25 towards 45, you will notice a significant decline in the levels of hydration of the skin. Sagging of the skin is visible near the eyes and the lips area.

By 55, age spot appear and the skin has a very low elasticity, appears rough and has large pores.

For a skin above 65, the skin appears more transparent due to extremely low content of collagen.

The Hair

Each hair is made up of 3 layers namely cuticle, cortex and medulla. The cuticle protects the cortex and medulla and is a colorless layer. It is the cortex that bears the melanin content and is responsible for the color of the hair. Medulla reflects the light. Hence the shine and appearance of the hair depend on the medulla.

Graying of the hair is a vital sign of aging but as years pass, the hair also become thin and may appear in only in patches; as in female-baldness.

Both skin and hair follow a normal pattern of growth, shedding and non-growth. Interruption in this pattern affects the health of skin and hair.