Skin aging

There are two main processes that induce skin aging: intrinsic and extrinsic. A stochastic process that implies random cell damage as a result of mutations during metabolic processes due to the production of free radicals is also implicated. Extrinsic aging is caused by environmental factors such as sun exposure, air pollution, smoking, alcohol abuse, and poor nutrition. Intrinsic aging reflects the genetic background and depends on time. Various expressions of intrinsic aging include smooth, thinning skin with exaggerated expression lines. Extrinsically aged skin is characterized by photo damage as wrinkles, pigmented lesions, patchy hypopigmentations, and actinic keratoses. Timely protection including physical and chemical sunscreens, as well as avoiding exposure to intense UV irradiation, is most important. A network of antioxidants such as vitamins E and C, coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, glutathione, and others can reduce signs of aging. Further anti-aging products are three generations of retinoids, among which the first generation is broadly accepted. A diet with lot of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants is recommended as well as exercise two or three times a week.
-- Puizina-Ivić N, 2008europepmc.org.
Skin aging is a complex biological process influenced by a combination of endogenous or intrinsic and exogenous or extrinsic factors. Because of the fact that skin health and beauty is considered one of the principal factors representing overall “well-being” and the perception of “health” in humans, several anti-aging strategies have been developed during the last years.
-- 2012, Ruta Ganceviciene et al.Christos C. Zouboulis, et al. nih.gov
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==== Anti-aging products ====
Although the sun is beneﬁcial and essential for life, exposing ourselves too much to sunlight might lead to detrimental health effects such as skin cancer. Studies and research have been conducted to introduce sunscreen in the form of pills for oral administration instead of reapplying the topical sunscreen repeatedly. Research and development are constantly underway to ensure that the sunscreen products are more effective and lessen the risk of adverse effects. Nanotechnology platforms have proved to be a major part of the cosmeceutical market owing to its better anti-aging and sunscreen potential which also renders a better skin deposition property and stability to the formulations. There has been ongoing research for the use of photosynthetic microorganisms in sunscreens especially cyanobacteria which has great potential in protecting our skin from damaging UV radiation and intense sunlight. Such biological compounds have many potential advantages over current synthetically derived sunscreens. The synthetic compounds are being gradually replaced with natural compounds as the new source of protective agents owing to their better efficacy and safety. 
-- Anti-aging and Sunscreens: Paradigm Shift in Cosmetics. 2019. Shreya Shanbhag, Akshatha Nayak, Reema Narayan, and Usha Yogendra Nayak
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Melatonin has been shown to have a favorable influence on the aging process, because it has an inverse effect with regard to body weight; food restriction raises the levels of melatonin and decreases its age-related decrease.
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* Dermatoendocrinology
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