Aging is Not an Option with Microdermabrasion

Aging is inevitable, but the signs of aging can be held at bay with a Mukilteo Microdermabrasion. It is a fact of life that we all age, and with age comes wrinkles, sun spots and lines – what used to be freckles and laugh lines are no longer cute! Stand proud and shout it loud:

Aging is not an option!!!!!

Or at least showing the aging is not an option, with Mukilteo Microdermabrasion on your side (or should that be, your face, neck, hands and decolletage).

Why Does Skin Wrinkle as We Age?

Believe it or not, as our skin ages, it undergoes the same chemical reaction that occurs when browning food – our body ‘cooks’ as we age! Complexes, called Age-related Glycation End-products (AGEs), permanently alter skin proteins; reducing elasticity and increasing brittleness of the proteins. AGEs are plastic-like molecules as formed by the cross-linking of glucose (primary fuel for body) with free-radicals. This process is what also happens to cause cooked foods to brown.

Since the dermis (layer just below the epidermis) is composed of structural proteins, including collagen fibers (80%) and elastin. The proteins provide elasticity and strength for the skin. With time, collagen quantities decrease, and the biological polymer (woven “mesh” of proteins in epidermis) becomes:

• Looser
• Thicker
• More Clumped
• Cross-linked to other Fibers in the skin

This biological change in the skin’s proteins causes sagging and wrinkling. One way to reduce production of the AGEs that ultimately lead to skin aging is to reduce the amount of glucose in your diet. As indicated, excess glucose will ultimately lead to ‘cooking’ your skin.

What are Age Spots?

The discoloration of skin, commonly referred to as “age spots”, are not dependent on age; “Too Much Sun Exposure” spots is a more accurate description. Regardless your age, an overexposure to UV rays will eventually result in sun-,age-,liver-spots. Both types of brown spots,  freckles (ephiledes) , solar lentigos (age spots) are caused by damage to the melanocytes. These cells occur in the epidermis at a rate of about every 10-20 epidermis cells. Other cells in the epidermis include dead skin cells and keratin, providing protection for the skin.

Melanocytes produce melanin pigment as a reaction to UV exposure. This brown pigment is transferred to the skin cells, as sun protection. Skin’s color is affected by the amount of melanin in the epidermis:

higher quantities of melanin = darker skin

Conversely:

lower quantities of melanin = lighter skin

As such, a lighter skinned person is more prone to spots (as freckles or brown spots) than a darker skinned person. Please note: should you notice a lesion that changes color, shape or texture, have the area examined by a dermatologist to assure the spot is not cancerous. The best prevention of brown spots on your skin is to use sunscreen that protects against UVA & UVB exposure.

Microdermabrasion to Reduce Signs of Aging

By removing the uppermost layers of your skin’s surface, microdermabrasion not only removes any areas of discoloration, it promotes regeneration of new tissue. The instrument used for the process gently sandblasts (actually ‘aluminum-blasts’ or ‘diamond-blasts’) as it vacuums both the abraded cells and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. Microdermabrasion also increases the absorption of any creams or lotions, making them more effective.