The largest growth area in cosmetic facial treatment is related to aging. People are living longer and healthier and want their appearance to reflect their vital state of mind and health. The aging process begins when we enter the world and the effects of aging are evident in our bodies throughout our lives. Looking forever young has never been as important as it is today and with role models from film, stage, and music displaying everlasting young features, it is not surprising that women of all ages are becoming increasingly aware of societies perception of the perfect woman.
It is impossible to stop the natural aging process however it is possible to delay it. There are many options available to achieve this, including cosmetic surgery and medical treatments; nonetheless, the most popular and most cost efficient solution, other than eating well and exercising regularly, is the use of anti-aging products. These products can be for both internal and external cosmeceutical treatments.
Theories of Aging
The process of growing older includes changes in both biology and psychology. Biology refers to the way the body functions. Psychology describes how the mind functions. How people age has to do with genetics, environment, and lifestyle over a lifetime. The process of aging is complex and may derive from a variety of different mechanisms and exist for a variety of different reasons. Aging is a universal biological phenomenon, at least amongst eukaryotic organisms. Yet, the average lifespan within and between species can vary greatly. This suggests that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to aging. Theories that explain aging can generally be divided between the programmed and error theories of aging.
Programmed theories imply that aging is regulated by biological clocks operating throughout the lifespan. This regulation would depend on changes in gene expression that affect the systems responsible for maintenance, repair, and defense responses. Error theories blame environmental insults to living organisms that induce cumulative damage at various levels as the cause of aging (e.g., DNA damage, oxygen radicals, cross-linking).
Evolutionary Theories
The Evolutionary Theory of aging is that it is due to a particular DNA programming that has the sole purpose to “clean” Earth from old genes and assure offspring better living conditions through benign mutations. We are born with a unique genetic code, a predetermined tendency to certain types of physical and mental functioning, and that genetic inheritance has a great deal to say about how quickly we age and how long we live.
The Free Radical Theory
This exciting development in anti-aging research was first introduced by R. Gerschman in 1954, but was developed by Dr. Denham Harman of the University of Nebraska, College of Medicine. “Free radical” is a term used to describe any molecule that differs from conventional molecules in that it possesses a free electron, a property that makes it react with other molecules in highly volatile and destructive ways. In a conventional molecule the electrical charge is balanced. Electrons come in pairs so that their electrical energies cancel each other out. The free radical has an extra negative charge. This unbalanced electrical energy tends to make the free radical attach itself to other molecules as it tries to steal a matching electron to attain electrical equilibrium. Some scientists speak of these free radicals as “promiscuous,” breaking up the happy marriages of paired electrons in neighboring molecules in order to steal an electron “partner” for themselves. In doing so, they create free radicals and extensive bodily damage. Free radicals attack collagen and elastin, the substances that keep our skin moist, smooth, flexible, and elastic. These vital tissues fray and break under the assaults of free radicals, a process particularly noticeable in the face, where folds of skin and deep-cut wrinkles are testaments to the long-term effect of free radical damage.
The Wear and Tear Theory of Aging
The wear and tear theory of aging suggests that years of damage to cells, tissues, and organs eventually wears them out, killing them and then the body. The damage begins at the level of molecules within our cells. The DNA that makes up our genes sustains repeated damage from toxins, radiation, and ultraviolet light. Our bodies have the capacity to repair DNA damage, but not all of those repairs are accurate or complete. Thus, the damage progressively accumulates.
The Cross-Linking Theory of Aging
The cross-linking theory of aging is based on the observation that with age, our proteins, DNA, and other structural molecules develop inappropriate attachments or cross-links to one another. These unnecessary links or bonds decrease the mobility or elasticity of proteins and other molecules. Proteins that are damaged or no longer needed are normally broken down by enzymes called proteases, and the presence of cross-linkages inhibits the activity of proteases. These damaged and unneeded proteins, therefore, stick around and can cause problems. Cross-linking of the skin protein collagen has been shown to be at least partly responsible for wrinkling and other age-related changes in skin.
