1. Decrease in Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs)
- These include things like hyaluronic acid, urea, amino acids, and lactic acid that naturally keep your skin hydrated.
- With age, your body produces less of these, leading to dryness and a tight-feeling skin texture.
2. Lipid Barrier Breakdown
- The outermost layer of skin (the stratum corneum) contains lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) that lock in moisture.
- As we age, this barrier weakens, causing water to evaporate more easily — a process called transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
3. Reduced Sebum Production
- Sebum is the oil your skin naturally produces to keep it moisturized.
- Production declines with age, especially after menopause, leading to drier skin.
4. Sun Damage
- UV rays damage the skin barrier, deplete hyaluronic acid, and cause inflammation — all of which dehydrate skin over time.
5. Environmental & Lifestyle Factors
- Cold weather, wind, pollution, smoking, and even indoor heating/AC can suck moisture out of the skin.
- Not drinking enough water or over-cleansing your skin can also worsen dehydration.
🧱 Causes of Loss of Skin Strength (Firmness & Elasticity)
1. Collagen Breakdown
- Collagen provides structure and strength to the skin.
- After about age 25, we lose ~1% of collagen each year.
- UV exposure, sugar, stress, and smoking accelerate this breakdown.
2. Elastin Degradation
- Elastin allows skin to snap back after being stretched.
- Unlike collagen, elastin is produced mostly during childhood — and once it’s damaged (especially by sun), it’s hard to replace.
3. Decline in Skin Cell Turnover
- Older skin cells stay on the surface longer, making skin look dull, rough, and less resilient.
- Slower regeneration = weaker, thinner skin.
4. Hormonal Changes
- Estrogen plays a big role in keeping skin firm and hydrated.
- When it drops (like during menopause), skin loses elasticity, thins out, and becomes more fragile.
5. Oxidative Stress
- Free radicals from UV light, pollution, or poor diet attack skin cells and break down proteins and lipids, weakening skin over time.
