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Skin aging: postulated mechanisms and consequent changes in structure and function

M Yaar1, B A Gilchrest

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.

Clinics in Geriatric Medicine
|September 6, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Aging accelerates due to telomere shortening and DNA damage. This review covers age-related DNA repair decline, skin aging signs, and potential treatments for aged skin.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Aging is characterized by cellular damage, including telomere shortening and DNA alterations.
  • Impaired DNA damage repair mechanisms contribute significantly to the aging process.
  • Cutaneous aging manifests in observable structural and functional changes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current understanding of age-associated DNA damage repair.
  • To delineate the gross, histologic, and functional deficits in aged skin.
  • To examine therapeutic strategies for mitigating skin aging.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of aging research.
  • Analysis of studies on DNA repair mechanisms.
  • Compilation of data on cutaneous aging manifestations and treatments.

Main Results:

  • Age-related decline in DNA repair efficiency is a key factor in aging.
  • Aged skin exhibits significant structural and functional deterioration.
  • Various treatment options exist for addressing age-related skin changes.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding DNA repair in aging is crucial for developing interventions.
  • Targeting cellular repair pathways may offer novel anti-aging strategies.
  • Comprehensive approaches are needed to manage the multifaceted aspects of skin aging.

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