Age Related Skin Changes

We can probably all remember a time when growing up was an exciting experience. I remember the excitement of finally becoming a teenager. Then it was the long-anticipated sixteenth birthday when I finally was old enough to get my driver's license. Not too much longer, and I was finally an adult and was free to do as I wanted. After the age of twenty-one, the excitement seemed to slow down a bit, and getting older felt like less of an accomplishment and more like the harassment of a ticking time clock. Now, growing older meant I needed to make sure I was meeting societal expectations of finding a career, getting married, having children. Suddenly, I am married with three children, and I have grey hairs sprouting from my head, wrinkles around my mouth, and "batwings" hanging off my arms. Looking in the mirror, sometimes I do not recognize the face I see before me. It seems like these changes happened overnight. Even though aging happens to the luckiest of us, the changes we see in our bodies can be challenging to accept. While our entire body changes as we age, we do not see the regular age-related changes to our insides when we look in the mirror. Age-related changes in the skin include losing 20% of the skin's thickness, decreased blood vessels in the skin, loss of skin elasticity, decrease in oil production, and loss of fat tissue under the skin (Jett, 2020). These regular age-related changes result in changes to the color of the skin, fragile skin that is easier to tear, slower healing wounds, dry skin, wrinkles, and more difficulty with keeping warm. The skin function is not usually the first age-related change that we notice. It is typically the change in appearance we see first. The search for skincare products that slow, stop or reverse signs of aging now begins.

The skincare company, Imadeen, has a Derma One product that claims to repair and protect the skin minimizing signs of aging (Derma One, n.d.). The product website provides links to two different retailers for product purchase, including Walgreens and Amazon. The instructions on the product website state to take two tablets daily with younger-looking skin resulting after about twelve weeks (Derma One, n.d.). This claim almost seems too good to be true. So, is it? There were only positive testimonials on the product website because they are looking to sell products. It is essential to look for other sources with a scientific backing of the claims.

According to a sixteen-week study completed on one hundred fifty-two women, there was a significant change in women's facial appearance taking the Derma One medication compared to those taking a placebo or a pill containing no medication (Stephens et al., 2016). Even though this seems like a promising study for those seeking an easy treatment for our aging skin, we need to consider the ingredients in this product and if it interferes with any dietary preferences, allergies, or other current medications. The product label states that the claims have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (Derma One, n.d.). Not having FDA approval is not uncommon for dietary supplements, sometimes confusing what is safe to take. Many people often do not mention dietary supplements when reviewing medications with their doctors, which could potentially lead to drug interactions. The product website also states fish as an ingredient, and anyone with a fish allergy or dietary preferences that exclude fish should avoid taking this product. Any nutritional supplements added to your daily routine should be discussed with your primary care doctor. According to Butcher (2018), it should not be assumed that changes to the skin are only due to the normal aging process (p.395). Your doctor can look at the skin changes and know if you need other forms of treatment. In conclusion, it is imperative to look at sources other than a product's website to determine if the product works or if it is safe to take. It is always important to seek medical advice before changing your medication routine to prevent drug to drug interactions with medications you are already taking and make sure there is not something more going on with your health that may be more than just age-related changes.

 

References:

Butcher, L. (2018). Eczematous conditions in the older person. British Journal of Community Nursing, 23(8), 395–398. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2018.23.8.395

Derma One. Imedeen. (n.d.). https://www.imedeen.us/products/derma-one/.

Jett, K. F. (2020). Ebersole & Hess' toward healthy aging: human needs & nursing response (Tenth). Elsevier.

Stephens, T. J., Sigler, M. L., Hino, P. D., Moigne, A. L., & Dispnsa, L. (2016). A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial Evaluating an Oral Anti-aging Skin Care Supplement for Treating Photodamaged Skin. Journal of Clinical & Aesthetic Dermatology, 9(4), 25–32.