All About Skin Aging Q&A - Professor Moon Ik-jun, Seoul Asan Medical Center

https://youtu.be/YYsDWl5VbMQ?si=MC5qam9jXFm6uAfb

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Professor Moon Ik-jun | Department of Dermatology, Seoul Asan Medical Center

 

0:00​ Skin aging, start preparing now!

1:00 What is skin aging?

1:57 What causes skin aging?

2:54 Is there a way to apply sunscreen properly?

3:39 What are SPF and PA in sunscreen?

4:32​ Are there any other ways besides sunscreen?

7:07 Do you have any skin care recommendations?

8:29​ Is oral collagen effective?

10:03​ Aging management in areas other than the face is also important, right?

11:02​ Are eating habits also related to skin aging?

12:07 What treatment options are available at dermatology clinics?

13:12​ When is it best to start preventing skin aging?

14:52 What kind of cosmetics are good?

16:06 How do I start preventing skin aging?

 

 

[ What is skin aging? ]

It is difficult to define skin aging in a single word, and it is known as a collection of various symptoms. Symptoms of aging include wrinkles due to loss of skin elasticity, thinning of the skin, and skin pigmentation abnormalities, such as hyperpigmentation, which is commonly known as darkening of the skin. However, in some patients, localized decrease in pigmentation of the skin makes the skin appear gray, which is also a symptom of skin aging. Sebum secretion decreases and sweating tends to decrease. Collagen, the main component of the skin, is reduced, and elastic fibers in the skin also show a characteristic of gradually decreasing with age.

 

[What causes skin aging?]

Skin aging naturally varies from person to person. While many genetic factors are beyond our control, environmental factors can also play a role. It's categorized into intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Intrinsic aging refers to aging that inevitably occurs over time, while extrinsic aging is caused by environmental factors. The primary cause of extrinsic aging, which can be corrected and prevented, is UV rays. Additionally, lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep, obesity, smoking, and drinking are known to contribute to extrinsic aging.

 

[ Is there a way to apply sunscreen properly? ]

It's recommended to apply sunscreen daily. It's essential for outdoor activities, and you might be wondering how much to apply. While face sizes vary, a general rule of thumb is to apply about the size of a 500 won coin and spread it evenly over your face. You'll need to apply more than you think to get the full benefit. When outdoors, it's recommended to reapply sunscreen every two to three hours.

 

[What are SPF and PA in sunscreen?]

The ultraviolet rays transmitted from the sun to our skin are UVA and UVB. In fact, they are classified by wavelength, and the ability to block UVA is indicated by the PA index, and the ability to block UVB is indicated by the SPF index. When choosing a sunscreen, it is recommended to choose a product with an SPF value of 30 or higher for UVB protection, and a PA value of ++ or higher for UVA protection.

It is very helpful in providing effective UV protection.

 

[ Are there any other methods besides UV protection? ]

First and foremost, I want to emphasize proper skin hydration. Dry skin ages faster, and even dry skin can make you look older. Therefore, it's crucial to moisturize thoroughly. While the proper method of moisturizing varies from person to person, it's important to remember to apply something after washing. For the face, a cream-based moisturizer with a slightly oily consistency is generally recommended. While creams are fine for the body, a lotion-based moisturizer with a higher moisture content and less oil is recommended. Koreans have a cultural habit of rubbing off dirt, and rubbing it off can dry out the skin significantly. The stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, appears to be a layer of dirt, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It acts as a physical and chemical barrier to protect our skin, so maintaining it well is crucial. In addition to moisturizing, quitting smoking and drinking is also an important lifestyle habit. There is a lot of evidence that suggests that drinking a lot of alcohol and smoking can cause skin aging faster, and lack of sleep can also cause skin aging faster, so it is recommended to get enough sleep.

And water intake is also highly recommended for skin hydration. Regarding water intake, it is generally helpful for healthy adults to drink about 2L of water in addition to the water consumed through food and beverages such as coffee. However, it is true that skin aging occurs quickly if water intake is insufficient, but it is difficult to prevent aging by drinking a lot of water. Therefore, it would be better to approach it with the mindset of drinking enough water rather than thinking of drinking a lot, and if you have heart or kidney disease, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor and decide on your own water intake.

 

[ Do you have any recommended skin care methods? ]

First of all, buy a cleansing product that suits your skin type, such as a foam cleanser for your face or a body wash that suits your skin, and a hypoallergenic moisturizer that suits your skin type. Either consult a specialist about the best moisturizer for your skin type or try out a variety of products yourself and choose the best one. After that, rather than investing all that money in functional cosmetics, I think it would be more helpful to buy a humidifier to moisturize your skin or go to the gym and do strength training and aerobic exercise. Since overweight and obesity are among the various lifestyle habits and factors that cause skin aging, proper eating habits and appropriate exercise are very important to prevent these.

 

[Is dietary collagen effective?]

I'm well aware that a variety of collagen supplements are selling like hotcakes on the market, and many patients in my clinic tell me they're taking them. But to give you a theoretical background, when you ingest collagen, it's not absorbed directly into the skin. For collagen to be digested, it's broken down into protein precursors like amino acids, which are then absorbed. These then circulate in the bloodstream. Only a small portion reaches the skin, where it reaches the cells that produce collagen. These cells then reassemble the amino acids into collagen, which then becomes skin collagen. It's difficult to know how much of our collagen actually reaches the skin when we consume 100% of it. This is because collagen is not only made of skin, but also of our organs and muscles. Because collagen is used in these areas, it's difficult to expect that if we consume it, it will reach the skin immediately.

 

[ Aging management in areas other than the face is also important, right? ]

Of course. I think many people think, 'All you need to do is take good care of your facial skin.' So, our neck and hands are generally exposed areas, but because they can age quickly due to UV rays, it's good to always moisturize and apply sunscreen to the neck as well. There are many people like movie actors and celebrities who diligently take care of their faces and necks, but in many cases, you can't hide your age if you look at the wrinkles on the back of their hands. So, before you regret it later, it's good to always apply hand cream to the backs of your hands, and if you're going to be doing outdoor activities, it's especially good to use sunscreen or gloves on the backs of your hands.

 

[ Are eating habits related to skin aging? ]

Of course. Everything we eat eventually becomes our skin, literally our blood and flesh, and the degree of skin aging varies depending on what we eat. It is generally known that a large part of aging is caused by oxidative stress, so eating plenty of antioxidant foods that can reduce these free radicals is helpful. So, to briefly summarize what antioxidants are and what foods you can eat to enjoy the antioxidant effect, you can sufficiently maintain healthy skin through your diet by eating WHO superfoods, broccoli, nuts, green and yellow vegetables, and sufficient sources of protein.

 

[What treatment methods are available at dermatology clinics?]

If your skin has already aged and you want to improve it to a more beautiful and healthy skin, please visit a dermatologist for a consultation. We have a variety of treatments available to you. To name just a few, if your skin has lost elasticity, we offer high-frequency lifting treatment. If you have wrinkles, we offer botulinum toxin injections, which paralyze the muscles that cause wrinkles. Filler injections are also helpful for improving deep wrinkles. If moisturizers alone are not enough to moisturize your skin, we can provide regular skin care, so if you have any problems or concerns, please visit a dermatologist for a checkup and consultation.