Collagen is the main structural protein found in the skin. As we age, the dermis (the middle layer of skin) thins due to collagen loss. Starting at the age of 20 collagen production drops around 1% in the dermis per year, and by the mid-30s the decrease is visible via a duller complexion, thinner skin and wrinkles. Collagen depletion speeds up in women during menopause. There is no way to estimate exactly how much collagen is lost at a given age because many factors play into its depletion. Someone with a diet high in sugar that smokes and spends lots of time in the sun will have less healthy collagen than someone who uses proper skincare, eats a well-balanced diet and maintains a healthy lifestyle. Elastin, which helps your skin “bounce back” also thins with age. Without it’s ability to maintain structure, thinning skin forms and retains wrinkles and imprinted lines more easily.
As we age, the organized groups of fat in the face (known as fat pads) begin to shrink and fall. This causes the fat pads to shift around, and make bony features, lines, and wrinkles more visible. This is most commonly observed under the eyes as “bags” begin to form with age.
As our fat pads begin to fall, our skull is also changing shape. The craniofacial skeleton changes because of bone expansion and bone resorption. The resorption of bone causes it to thin, removing structural support for the overlying tissues. This loss of support is characterized by sagging and droopy skin. This is commonly observed around the eyes, as the bone shape transforms from oval to square, or in the jawline as it elongates and loses its prominence.
Changes to the skin, fat, muscle, and bone are all part of the natural facial aging process. When one of these layers begin to change, a domino effect starts changing the other layers.
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