Abstract:
The skin serves as the body’s primary defence against our external environment and throughout the life course, is vulnerable to an accumulation of damage which, in the long term, impacts the ability of skin to serve this primary purpose. Maintaining healthy skin and preventing skin disease are crucial for all, but as the proportion of the population who are old (> 65 years) and very old (> 85 years) grows – particularly in industrialised countries - the dermatological needs of the elderly will become increasingly important. Skin ageing is a complex process influenced by both internal and external factors that gradually erode the skin’s structural integrity and physiological function. Whilst intrinsic ageing is an inevitable part of life, shaped by genetics and the passage of time, external factors - many within our control - also play a significant role. From sun exposure and pollution to lifestyle habits such as smoking, dietary choices and sleep patterns, these external influences contribute additional biological stimuli which impact the rate of cutaneous ageing.