Skin Aging

Summary

Your skin changes as you age. You might notice wrinkles, age spots and dryness. Your skin also becomes thinner and loses fat, making it less plump and smooth. It might take longer to heal, too.

Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging. You can protect yourself by staying out of the sun when it is strongest, using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding sunlamps and tanning beds. Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. The wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked.

Many products claim to revitalize aging skin or reduce wrinkles, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved only a few for sun-damaged or aging skin. Various treatments soothe dry skin and reduce the appearance of age spots.

NIH: National Institute on Aging

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Aging changes in skin Medical Encyclopedia
• Eyelid lift Medical Encyclopedia
• Facelift Medical Encyclopedia
• Liver spots Medical Encyclopedia
• Wrinkles Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Dermatology American Academy of Dermatology
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Find a Dermatologic Surgeon American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging

Specifics

• Bags under Eyes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Sagging Skin American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

Treatments and Therapies

• Blepharoplasty American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Blepharoplasty – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
• Botulinum Toxin (Botox) for Facial Wrinkles American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Botulinum Toxin Therapy: Overview American Academy of Dermatology
• Chemical Peels: Overview American Academy of Dermatology
• Dermal Filler Do’s and Don’ts for Wrinkles, Lips, and More Food and Drug Administration
• Dermal Fillers (Soft Tissue Fillers) Food and Drug Administration
• Facelift – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
• Forehead lift – series — Indications Medical Encyclopedia
• Laser Skin Renewal VisualDX
• Neuromodulators for Aging Skin American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Treatments to Reduce Wrinkles Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Wrinkle Treatments and Other Anti-aging Products Food and Drug Administration

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Aging National Institutes of Health

Related Issues

• Eldercare at Home: Skin Problems AGS Health in Aging Foundation

Encyclopedia

• Forehead lift Medical Encyclopedia

Living With

• How to Select Anti-Aging Skin Care Products American Academy of Dermatology
• Skin Care Basics and Tips Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Journal Articles

• Skin Aging

Start Here

• Skin Care and Aging National Institute on Aging