Additional research needed to figure out why women age faster than men
Dry skin is certainly more of a problem as we age but research shows that it is more of an issue for women. Making millions of dollars a year, the cosmetic and anti aging industry keeps a steady flow of new and improved products on the market for women. And, with new research, there is reason to believe that women will continue this battle with aging for years to come as opposed to their male counterparts.
Previously, to determine the effects of aging on the skin, doctors would have to remove a sample of skin and examine it under a microscope. A new technique allows doctors to use pulses from an infrared laser to look deep under the skin’s surface and measure collagen and its effects on aging. A study published by the Optical Society of America states that the decreased production of collagen is dependent on the gender of the patient. With this new development in science, researchers have determined that women’s skin ages faster than men’s.
Throughout our lives, our bodies produce collagen, a collection of proteins responsible for skin’s strength and elasticity. As we age, our bodies slowly begin to produce less and less collagen, making skin less elastic, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and dry skin. A host of beauty products claim to promote the development and retention of collagen, but actual results prove hard to measure. This infrared laser pulse technology could help determine the effectiveness of such anti-aging products.