Why do some people look old and some look young? The reason has finally been found

In our lives, some people seem to have "eaten preservatives" and remain young forever. But for some people, you can see at a glance the damage left by the "killer knife" of time.

Although aging is irresistible, most people still hope to slow it down. Today, let's analyze which parts of the body reveal our age and make us look old.

Wrinkles and fine lines

When it comes to looking old, the first thing to mention is wrinkles. Wrinkles are a characteristic of aging, and almost everyone does not want them to appear on their face.

Wrinkles and fine lines mainly appear on exposed areas such as the face, neck, hands and forearms . Common wrinkles on the face include nasolabial folds, crow's feet and forehead wrinkles.

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So how do these wrinkles and fine lines appear? In fact, the main reasons are:

1. Aging . As we age, the collagen and elastic fibers in our skin gradually decrease, causing the skin to become loose, and wrinkles and fine lines will appear.

2. Long-term accumulated sun exposure is also a very important reason . It can cause various types of photoaging of the skin, wrinkles and fine lines being one of them.

3. Environmental pollutants and long-term smoking can cause wrinkles . They contain ingredients that may damage skin collagen and elastic fibers, such as nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other harmful chemicals.

4. Facial movements such as squinting, smiling, and frowning can also cause wrinkles . This is because every time you use your facial muscles, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin. As the skin ages and loses its elasticity, it is no longer able to bounce back into place. Crow's feet are a common expression line.

Everyone's skin and wrinkle conditions are different. The best way to prevent and reduce wrinkles is to maintain good living habits, such as avoiding exposure to the sun or prolonged sun exposure, using sunscreen products properly, paying attention to skin moisturizing, eating a balanced and healthy diet, and quitting smoking.

Uneven skin tone

As we age and are affected by long-term sun exposure, the distribution of pigment in the skin may become uneven, resulting in skin spots, dull skin tone, or uneven skin tone. These problems can make people look older than their actual age.

Take pigmentation as an example. The most common one is sun spots, which are medically called solar sunspots. They are the skin's reaction to long-term sun exposure. They appear as light brown or dark brown spots of several millimeters in size. They usually appear on the face, such as the cheekbones and surrounding areas. Some can also grow on the neck, back of the hands, forearms and other parts of the body.

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On the one hand, the more accumulated sun exposure, the higher the risk of sun spots. On the other hand, people with fair skin and who tan more easily also have a higher risk of sun spots.

Therefore, if you want to avoid uneven skin tone, you must first take appropriate sun protection measures, such as:

1. Avoid direct sunlight during the strongest hours of the sun (usually between 10am and 4pm).

2. When outside, use protective items such as wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses and umbrellas to block the sun.

3. If it is convenient, you can choose to wear long sleeves and long pants to reduce the area of ​​skin exposed to the sun.

4. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen to exposed areas that are not covered.

Sagging and loose skin

In addition to the above, loose skin can also make people look older. As we age, the connective tissue in the skin decreases and the skin gradually loses its elasticity, which causes the skin on the face and body to begin to sag.

In addition, there may be a loss of facial fat and bone, which can lead to a flattening of the facial contour, hollowing, and prominent cheekbones . This is called "facial volume loss."

To prevent (or slow down) sagging skin, you can do some moderate exercise on a regular basis . This will help strengthen muscle support, increase skin firmness, and improve overall body stability.

Secondly, rapid weight gain or loss may also cause the skin to stretch or lose elasticity, so maintaining a stable weight can reduce the risk of sagging skin .

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Eye changes

Eye bags, various dark circles and eye wrinkles are also common changes that make people look older. Considering the special and thin skin around the eyes, it is more susceptible to factors such as age, stress and lack of sleep.

Although they cannot be completely eliminated, there are some ways to prevent or reduce them to a certain extent, such as:

1. Get enough sleep to help reduce puffiness and dark circles around your eyes.

2. Try to choose fresh foods, vegetables and fruits, maintain a balanced diet and do not consume too much salt.

3. Avoid using irritating skin care products, cosmetics or cleaning products as they may cause eye skin sensitivity or allergies, which may aggravate the eye condition.

It should also be noted that eye changes such as eye bags and dark circles may be affected by genetics, age, lifestyle habits and other individual factors. If the problem is serious or persistent, it is recommended to consult a doctor for more targeted analysis and treatment suggestions.

Hair changes

As we humans age, our hair becomes thinner and thinner. This is the law of nature, just like how humans age.

Generally speaking, the hair is most dense between the ages of 30 and 35. Before that, it is relatively stable, but after this age, the hair will gradually become thinner, the growth rate will gradually slow down, and the hair density will gradually decrease.

Not only that, many people also have more and more white hair as they age, and some have white hair in their 20s. Some people have oily scalps, and their hair sticks to their scalps, which makes them look greasy and not very young.

To prevent or improve hair problems, you should first pay attention to the cleanliness of your scalp and avoid making your hair too oily . You can also change to a refreshing, fluffy hairstyle. If necessary, you can use a shampoo that has volume, oil control, or anti-dandruff effects.

Of course, if there is suspected hair loss, it is recommended to undergo targeted treatment after doctor's evaluation, such as applying ointments, taking medicines or hair transplantation.

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In short, judging whether a person looks old is usually done by observing their appearance, skin condition, and facial features. These signs of aging are not determined by just one factor, but are the result of the combined influence of multiple factors. Although we cannot completely avoid aging, there is still a lot we can do - delaying aging is not helpless.

Planning and production

This article is a work supported by Science Popularization China Starry Sky Project

Produced by: Science Popularization Department of China Association for Science and Technology

Producer: China Science and Technology Press Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongke Xinghe Culture Media Co., Ltd.

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, attending physician of dermatology, doctor of medicine, popular science author

Review丨Dr. Chen Haixu, Regenerative Medicine, Associate Researcher, Second Medical Center, PLA General Hospital

Editor: Yinuo