Causes of early aging in women and ways to prevent it

Early aging is a state of rapid biological decline or deterioration whose signs appear on vital organs and also on the external appearance of the body (skin and hair), and in many cases this happens before its expected time, making women appear older than their real chronological age.

In this article from the blog of Dr. Marwa Abdullah's Clinic in Riyadh, we present you with a comprehensive guide to learn about the causes of early aging signs, the most important internal and external factors that lead to their appearance, as well as the most important tips we recommend following.

But what do we mean by biological deterioration?

Biological deterioration is a decline in the ability of body cells to renew themselves or repair damage that occurs to them daily. This biological deterioration does not happen by chance, but there are three main complex processes that occur to cells inside tissues that cause this biological deterioration, which are:

Telomeres.
Oxidative stress.
Hormones.

Telomeres

Telomeres are the ends of the genetic code (DNA) that work to protect the cell, and with each cell division these telomeres shorten (like an hourglass).

In the case of early aging, telomeres shorten rapidly, which causes the cell to become incapable and die before the natural time.

Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress occurs due to harmful free radicals that are produced due to sun exposure and external pollution, which leads to oxidative damage that attacks collagen and destroys cell vitality and accelerates skin aging and also leads to the appearance of wrinkles, spots and skin sagging and loss of freshness.

Hormones

Hormones are chemical substances secreted by glands and poured directly into the blood carrying multiple messages to different parts of the body.

Women have three basic hormones, and if any disorder occurs in them, it will lead to deterioration of the infrastructure of the youth stage and the appearance of aging signs. These hormones are:

Estrogen hormone (femininity hormone)
Growth hormone (GH)
Cortisol hormone (stress hormone)

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What are the causes that lead to early aging in women?

There are external factors related to lifestyle and environment and internal factors.

First: External factors related to lifestyle and environment

External factors are considered the "biggest accelerator" of the biological deterioration process, and they are represented in:

Excessive exposure to sunlight or what is known as (photoaging):

Ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun penetrate deep layers of the skin to break elastin and collagen fibers, which leads to the appearance of brown spots and sagging skin prematurely.

Smoking:

Smoking narrows blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin, which leads to lack of oxygen and vital nutrients such as vitamin (A) inside cells, so fine lines appear on the skin early, especially around the mouth and the face becomes pale.

A diet rich in sugars (Glycation):

When blood sugar levels rise, sugar molecules search for body proteins to stick to them, and the most targeted proteins are collagen and elastin (responsible for skin elasticity and freshness).

And when sugar molecules stick to proteins, it produces harmful molecules known as (AGEs). These molecules convert collagen fibers from soft and flexible fibers to hard, dry, and brittle fibers that are easily broken.

The physiological result of this is the loss of the skin's ability to bounce back after movement, which leads to the appearance of deep wrinkles and skin sagging.

Lack of sleep (absence of repair phase):

The body secretes growth hormone (GH) during sleep, which is responsible for repairing damaged cells. Continuous staying awake and lack of sleep raise cortisol in the blood, preventing cells from performing their vital role in renewing and compensating for damaged cells, so dark circles appear on the skin.

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Second: Internal factors (genetic and psychological):

Genetic factor (heredity): Some women have a genetic predisposition to early aging because their "telomeres" shorten faster than others, which explains the appearance of gray hair or wrinkles at a very young age.
Chronic psychological stress: Sadness and constant anxiety leads to the production of huge amounts of free radicals that attack body cells and weaken skin immunity.

Warning signs to watch out for:

If you begin to notice these changes at a young age, it is an indicator of accelerated biological aging:

Continuous skin dryness and loss of elasticity.
Appearance of pigmentation and unexplained sun spots.
Pale face and appearance of fine lines around the eyes and mouth.
Weak hair vitality and noticeable hair loss.

In conclusion, aging in women and everyone is a natural process that cannot be stopped, but early aging is often the result of factors that can be controlled such as lifestyle, exposure to harmful environmental factors, hormonal imbalances, and poor skin care.

You can learn more about effective ways to treat early aging signs by contacting us at Dr. Marwa Abdullah's Clinic in Riyadh, and we will be very happy to reassure you and answer all your inquiries and questions.

Awareness of the causes of early aging and taking simple preventive steps, such as following a balanced diet, maintaining healthy sleep habits, reducing stress and anxiety, protecting skin from harmful sun rays, and staying away from smoking and harmful habits can effectively contribute to delaying the appearance of signs of aging and maintaining skin health and freshness for a longer period.

Always remember that women's beauty and skin freshness begin from the inside; the more you provide your body with a suitable healthy environment, the more vibrant, healthy, and youthful you will appear in a way that lasts long.