INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM AGING

EFFECTS ON SKIN

• Rougher, wrinkled, more transparent, and bruises easily
• Facial features appear almost skeleton-like as the fat thins
• Dryer skin, especially in the winter
• Skin becomes looser and sags
• Lower amount of elasticity

AT A CLOSER LOOK

• Stem cell production declines with age
• Epidermal cells slow down their processes
• Cells become larger and irregular, resulting in easy injuries and slower healing.
• Higher chance of infection when healing slows
• Vascularity decreases and drugs/medications take longer to absorb.

EFFECTS ON SWEAT GLANDS

• Less glandular activity
• Fewer sweat glands all together

AT A CLOSER LOOK

• The skin becomes dry, brittle, rough, and itchy.
• Slows activity as a result of easy heat loss (from cell irregularity)

EFFECTS ON MELANIN LEVELS

• Levels of melanin are recorded lower than average.

AT A CLOSER LOOK

• Loss of protection from UV rays
• Hair will turn white or grey
• Skin may appear paler or "flushed"
• Higher risk of sunburn or skin cancer

EFFECTS ON MISC.

• Lack of collagen
• Cancers are more common (colon, skin, stomach, etc)

OTHER FACTS

• Extreme sun exposure can cause your skin to appear older
• By avoiding hot temperatures and chemicals, aging may not be as defined.