Skin ageing

1. What is skin ageing ?

The number of people over the age of 65 is constantly increasing in Western countries. Skin ageing is a complex natural process and results from a range of different factors. A distinction is made between biological, genetic factors and environmental factors, usually linked to our lifestyle. The progressive deterioration of our skin barrier leads to visible signs, such as wrinkles and loss of volume.

2. Factors influencing skin ageing

Genetically programmed, intrinsic skin ageing is a slow and ineluctable process generating cellular modifications whose consequences are functional. For women, the decrease in oestrogen during menopause significantly affects cell regeneration. This hormonal deficiency is also closely associated with a progressive loss of collagen and hyaluronic acid which leads to dehydration. The consequences are clearly visible in the dermis: it is estimated that it can lose up to 20% of its thickness.

Extrinsic skin ageing is due to all the environmental factors to which our body is exposed. Unsurprisingly, UV radiation and smoking are the main causes of extrinsic ageing. The signs of ageing are essentially observed on photo-exposed areas and especially the face. When collagen and elastin fibres are damaged, the skin becomes more fragile and deepens. The face sags and bone contours become more pronounced. The consequences of alcohol consumption, pollution, the quality of our sleep and our diet are equally unquestionable.

Therefore, mechanisms of extrinsic skin ageing maintain and even strengthen consequences of intrinsic skin ageing. An accumulation of aggressions depletes our antioxidant capacities and triggers premature ageing. 

3. How can this be corrected?

Although wrinkles can never be completely erased, dermocosmetic skincare products provide a reliable solution and allow some mechanisms of skin ageing to be curbed. By integrating an exclusive technology, resulting from the advanced research of Laboratoires Vivacy, the Vivasôme® complex fosters the absorption of anti-ageing active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin C.