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To understand skin aging is to understand the fundamental processes of how dermal tissue is built and lost. Here, I’ve pared it down to simple concepts to equip you with the basics of how the skin works in Emmanuel Skinscience Medical Spa
Once you understand what's happening with your skin, you'll likely stick to regimens that work, such as those offered by Skinthetics West Bloomfield, rather than wasting resources on recommendations that do little to improve skin quality. Treatments like dermal filler West Bloomfield can be part of these effective regimens. I hope this serves as a springboard to healthier skin for your future. Let’s dive in…
It’s said that 20% of our skin's aging is determined by genetic (intrinsic) factors, and up to 80% by environmental (extrinsic) factors. This translates to great news. It means our daily habits, skincare routines (or lack thereof), and aesthetic choices can greatly affect the rate at which we age. With this knowledge, we can make daily regemin choices and aesthetic decisions to slow down our skin’s aging process. Additionally, exploring professional treatments like dermal filler West Bloomfield can further enhance our efforts to maintain youthful skin, proving that our approach to skincare and aesthetic interventions can significantly impact our skin’s health and appearance over time.
So what’s our skin made of, and what is its function? Our dermal tissue is a complex structural matrix, comprised of 3 main building blocks: collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Collagen provides the main structure; elastin, wound around it, gives stretch and flexibility; and hyaluronic acid, weaved through this collagen-elastin combo, provides hydration, drawing moisture to itself. This elastic, hydrated collagen structure, which can be enhanced by treatments like dermal filler in West Bloomfield at Emmanuel Skinscience Medical Spa, is the main component that makes up the ECM or extracellular matrix of our skin, i.e., our dermal tissue.
The ECM is in a constant state of both structural breakdown and renewal, a process well understood by experts at Skinthetics West Bloomfield. It also has an internal housekeeping system to ensure that our dermis remains functional and healthy. This housekeeping system is comprised of enzymes called MMPs (metalloproteinase), which break down collagen, and TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase) that regulate these enzymes from 'overeating' collagen structures. Treatments like dermal filler in West Bloomfield are designed to complement this natural renewal process, offering a method to maintain the dermis's integrity.
The breakdown of aged collagen in the extracellular matrix makes room for new collagen to rebuild in its place. The balance between this housekeeping duo of MMPs and TIMPs plays a crucial role in the rate at which we age.
Collagen structures in our skin’s dermal tissue or our ECM (extracellular matrix) become rigid with age, making biochemical communications between cells sluggish or even non-existent. A low functioning or aged ECM results in slower healing, the faster spread of disease and becomes a prime location for cancer cells to sit undetected and metastasize. At Skinthetics West Bloomfield, understanding these challenges informs our approach to treatments like dermal filler in West Bloomfield, designed to rejuvenate and maintain the skin’s resilience and functionality.
The primary function of our skin is to protect our bodies from disease and infection. Rejuvenated skin and a healthy ECM is quick to protect, quick to communicate and quick to heal.
Once we reach adulthood, our dermis begins the steady process of netting a loss of 1-2% of our collagen-based ECM structure (dermal tissue) each year. This loss is in fact, the essence of skin aging.
The difference between 1- 2% is double. Aging becomes increasingly significant with time.
Can we slow down this process--get from a 2% down to a 1% or less? And is it possible to reactivate or stimulate new collagen to counter or even net positive in collagen retention? The answer is: Yes. At Emmanuel Skinscience Medical Spa, treatments like dermal filler West Bloomfield are part of our advanced strategies to not only slow down this process but also to potentially reverse the signs of aging by stimulating collagen production.
The following are the 3 most common contributors to increased MMP enzyme activity, resulting in accelerated skin deterioration:
1. UV Radiation: Exposure to UV radiation from the sun is a major external factor that disrupts the TIMPs- MMP balance. UV radiation stimulates the production of MMPs, accelerating collagen degradation and skin aging.
Physically blocking UV radiation daily with mineral SPF 30+ cuts off the stimulation and over-production of MMPs
2. Oxidative Stress (Free Radicals & Inflammation): Pollution, smoking, and other oxidative stressors activate MMP production, leading to increased collagen degradation and accelerated skin aging.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and slow down the skin’s aging process.
3. Slow Fibroblast Activity: As we age, there is a natural decline in fibroblast activity and more aged tissue for MMP enzymes to target.
Retinoids increase collagen production and cellular renewal. Contrary to belief, retinoids do not “thin the skin,” but rather prompt the build of dermal tissue.
Other factors such as a healthy diet, sleep, etc. contribute to the health and quality of skin. However, the above contributors are often overlooked and can be combated with the consistent use of proper skincare.
BBL (Broadband Light) by Sciton is probably the most underestimated aesthetic treatment for anti-aging. The reason for this, I believe, is because BBL is so effective in correcting unwanted pigmentation issues, that once those corrections have been made, it's common to halt treatment. One of the great benefits of BBL is that it changes the gene expression of cells to prompt skin to behave like young skin again.
At Emmanuel Skinscience Medical Spa, BBL treatments activate fibroblast cells to function as they did in your 20s. This means BBL treatments initiate new collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid production, slowing down or even reversing skin aging.
Regular BBL treatments spaced out evenly to keep the fibroblasts activated throughout the years show a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles and a decrease in dermal tissue loss. Skin also remains highly functional with a brightness that reflects light, looking both youthful and healthy. BBL can reverse skin aging from the inside out. It is a great fundamental treatment to continue with consistency each year to slow down, or even reverse skin aging.
One must make the distinction between true skin health and improved skin appearance. Although often related, the two aren’t always indicative of each other when it comes to aesthetic and surgical treatments.
Let's take Botox for example--and I'm using the term "Botox" as a general term for all the botulinum toxins. It is lovely for skin appearance as it smooths out fine lines and wrinkles and makes the skin appear younger.
But here's the thing about Botox: It doesn't slow down skin aging or improve ECM quality. However, Botox is preventative in stopping dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles made with movement) from becoming static wrinkles (wrinkles that appear on the face even when your face is at rest) as well as deep-set crevices due to repetitive movements over many years. a specialty at Skinthetics West Bloomfield.
Repetitive movements in areas such as the “11’s” (furrowing between the eyebrows) can certainly change the dermal structure in that area, causing deep set, static wrinkles, and crevices if left untreated.
So although Botox improves skin appearance, and does not repair skin quality, it is helpful as a preventative measure for the structural integrity of skin. Repetitive creasing and folding of the ECM in areas, over time, can compromise structure and the way new tissue forms around those expression points.
The days of filling your face as the go-to anti-aging solution are over. Filler can be beautiful if administered judiciously.
Society is finally seeing the long-term effects (thanks to celebrities) of what years of overusing filler can do to alter the natural look of the face.
Fillers made up of hyaluronic acid are, in essence, creating volume as a form of soft implant into the dermis. Your body may or may not metabolize the filler quickly; it could last many months or maybe many years before it is metabolized. In some cases, there have been indications that filler may never be fully metabolized.
Where one lacks structural integrity due to receding bone, dermal filler in West Bloomfield can help rebuild that structure. Well-administered filler for thin lips can be beautiful. But filler to fill in nasolabial folds and chisel out what you feel is the "ideal" structure of the face can risk looking unnatural and strange.
Administering filler is an art. But remember, art by humans is manufactured and can look artificial. Even some of the most talented injectors in the world have fallen victim to overfilling their face without even realizing it. Filler does not contribute to skin quality or anti-aging. It is exactly what it says it is: FILLER.
There is beautiful, surgical work with innovations beyond what we understood as a simple "facelift." Surgical lifting of skin and fascia to eliminate sag is certainly an alternative to restoring a youthful look to the face.
However, remember, these surgical procedures do not fix the collagen problem. They don't improve skin quality in the ECM.
Skincare and treatments that slow down MMP activity or activate new collagen production are what truly slow down the process of skin aging. Seek to improve the health of your skin by protecting it from accelerated deterioration. Anti-oxidants, SPF, and retinoids are your best and most effective items to aid in slowing down skin aging.
When it comes to aesthetic treatments, remember to differentiate between improving skin health and pure “aesthetic” benefits. The best-case scenario is to use both, hand-in-hand, to meet your personal aesthetic goals."
