Other Sources Of Skin Damage - Skin And The Aging Process: Skin Health

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Other sources of skin damage

In addition to the sun and the normal effects of aging, your skin can take a beating from many other sources.

Cigarettes. Cigarette smoking has long been recognized as a cause of wrinkles. Researchers haven't determined exactly how this happens, but they know that cigarette smoking damages the connective tissue, which is the basis for the skin's smooth appearance. Smoking-related wrinkles may not appear for a decade or more after the first puff, but damage occurs with every cigarette smoked. The combination of smoking and sun exposure is particularly toxic. Considering how harmful smoking is, not just to your skin but to every other part of your body, the healthiest choice is to avoid cigarettes. If you're trying to quit, support groups, nicotine gum and patches, and the drugs bupropion (Zyban) and varenicline (Chantix) can be useful smoking-cessation tools.

Irritants. Skin becomes thinner and doesn't heal as easily as you age, so take care in handling and working with irritants. Substances that are very acidic or alkaline can damage the skin's top layer and leave it susceptible to infection. You may encounter them in on-the-job exposures in industrial settings where solvents or cutting agents are used. Dusts, such as those from tobacco and wood, and gases, such as mace or tear gas, can damage skin, too. But if you wonder about the kind of irritation caused by vigorous scrubbing of your skin, you can rest easy. Scrubbing generally doesn't damage skin or cause wrinkles. If your skin is irritated by harsh chemicals, apply topical or oral corticosteroids followed by a nonirritating moisturizing cream to help the skin heal. Antibiotics may be needed if infection sets in.

Facial expressions. Laughter may be the best medicine, but it can add to creases and lines that develop through the years from repeated facial expressions. Every time you smile, squint, or frown, facial muscles contract and cause accordion-like lines and creases to form in your skin. Young skin bounces back. But as aging skin loses its elasticity and firmness, those lines and creases tend to become etched in the skin. Even sleeping with your face scrunched in a pillow at night may cause some lines to gradually appear.

Last updated:	July 20, 2007