Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiological Variations During Aging

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Textbook of Aging Skin

  • 266 Accesses

Abstract

In any individual, physical growth and senescence are characterized by cumulative progression of interlocking biological events. There is evidence that aging progresses differently among individuals of similar age. In addition, each and every organ of the human body develops and progressively fails at its own rate, which is referred to as its biological age. Clinically relevant skin aging mechanisms include chronological influence, environmental aging and photoaging, phototype and ethnicity-related aging (genetic type), endocrine aging, catabolic aging, and gravitational aging. All individuals perceive a global appearance of skin aging. By contrast, prevention and correction of skin aging typically benefit from targeting some of the specific underlying biologic processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,699.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Piérard-Franchimont C, et al. Dermatoporosis, a vintage for atrophoderma and transparent skin. Rev Med Liege. 2014;69:210–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Braverman ER. Ageprint for anti-ageing medicine. J Eur Anti-ageing Med. 2005;1:7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Piérard GE. Ageing across the life span: time to think again. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004;3:50–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Slominski AT, et al. Local melatoninergic system as the protector of skin integrity. Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15:17705–32.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Campisi J. From cells to organisms: can we learn about aging from cells in culture? Exp Gerontol. 2001;36:607–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim Sh SH, et al. Telomeres, aging and cancer: in search of a happy ending. Oncogene. 2002;21:503–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Orren DK. Werner syndrome: molecular insights into the relationships between defective DNA metabolism, genomic instability, cancer and aging. Front Biosci. 2006;11:2657–71.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Rattan SI. Theories of biological aging: genes, proteins, and free radicals. Free Radic Res. 2006;40:1230–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Martindale JL, Holbrook NJ. Cellular response to oxidative stress: signaling for suicide and survival. J Cell Physiol. 2002;192:1–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Toussaint O, et al. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) of human diploid fibroblasts and melanocytes. Exp Gerontol. 2000;35:927–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hadshiew IM, et al. Skin aging and photoaging: the role of DNA damage and repair. Am J Contact Dermat. 2000;11:19–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lesnefsky EJ, Hoppel CL. Oxidative phosphorylation and aging. Ageing Res Rev. 2006;5:402–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Linford NJ, et al. Oxidative damage and aging: spotlight on mitochondria. Cancer Res. 2006;66:2497–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Paquet P, Piérard GE. Toxic epidermal necrolysis: revisiting the tentative link between early apoptosis and late necrosis (review). Int J Mol Med. 2007;19:3–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Orrenius S, et al. Mitochondrial oxidative stress: implications for cell death. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007;47:143–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Warner HR. Is cell death and replacement a factor in aging? Mech Ageing Dev. 2007;128:13–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Itahana K, et al. Regulation of cellular senescence by p53. Eur J Biochem. 2001;268:2784–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Campisi J. Between Scylla and Charybdis: p53 links tumor suppression and aging. Mech Aging Dev. 2002;123:567–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Campisi J, et al. Cellular senescence, cancer and aging: the telomere connection. Exp Gerontol. 2001;36:1619–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Saurat JH. Skin, sun, and vitamin A: from aging to cancer. J Dermatol. 2001;28:595–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Krtolica A, et al. Senescent fibroblasts promote epithelial cell growth and tumorigenesis: a link between cancer and aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98:12072–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Petit L, et al. Regional variability in mottled subclinical melanoderma in the elderly. Exp Gerontol. 2003;38:327–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Quatresooz P, et al. Crossroads between actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma, and novel pharmacological issues. Eur J Dermatol. 2008;18:6–10.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Farage MA, et al. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors in skin ageing: a review. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2008;30:87–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Sanches Silveira JE, Myaki Pedroso DM. UV light and skin aging. Rev Environ Health. 2014;29:243–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Schroeder P, et al. The role of near infrared radiation in photoaging of the skin. Exp Gerontol. 2008;43:629–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Piérard GE. The quandary of climacteric skin ageing. Dermatology. 1996;193:273–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Matsumura Y, Ananthaswamy HN. Short-term and long-term cellular and molecular events following UV irradiation of skin: implications for molecular medicine. Expert Rev Mol Med. 2002;4:1–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sander CS, et al. Photoaging is associated with protein oxidation in human skin in vivo. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;118:618–25.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. de Grey AD, et al. Time to talk SENS: critiquing the immutability of human aging. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002;959:452–62. discussion 463–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Giacomoni PU, Rein G. Factors of skin ageing share common mechanisms. Biogerontology. 2001;2:219–29.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Pierard GE. Ageing in the sun parlour. Int J Cosmet Sci. 1998;20:251–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Piérard SL, et al. Greenhouse gas-related climate changes and some expected skin alterations. Austin J Dermatol. 2014;1:3.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Bender K, et al. UV-induced signal transduction. J Photochem Photobiol B. 1997;37:1–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Yaar M, Gilchrest BA. Aging versus photoaging: postulated mechanisms and effectors. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1998;3:47–51.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ma W, et al. Chronological ageing and photoageing of the fibroblasts and the dermal connective tissue. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2001;26:592–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Talwar HS, et al. Reduced type I and type III procollagens in photodamaged adult human skin. J Invest Dermatol. 1995;105:285–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Varani J, et al. Inhibition of type I procollagen production in photodamage: correlation between presence of high molecular weight collagen fragments and reduced procollagen synthesis. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;119:122–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Varani J, et al. Inhibition of type I procollagen synthesis by damaged collagen in photoaged skin and by collagenase-degraded collagen in vitro. Am J Pathol. 2001;158:931–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Bernstein EF, et al. Differential expression of the versican and decorin genes in photoaged and sun-protected skin. Comparison by immunohistochemical and northern analyses. Lab Invest. 1995;72:662–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Watson RE, et al. Distribution and expression of type VI collagen in photoaged skin. Br J Dermatol. 2001;144:751–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Watson RE, Griffiths CE. Pathogenic aspects of cutaneous photoaging. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005;4:230–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Sellheyer K. Pathogenesis of solar elastosis: synthesis or degradation? J Cutan Pathol. 2003;30:123–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Piérard-Franchimont C, et al. Androgenic alopecia and stress-induced premature senescence by cumulative ultraviolet light exposure. Exog Dermatol. 2002;1:203–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Watson RE, et al. Fibrillin-rich microfibrils are reduced in photoaged skin. Distribution at the dermal-epidermal junction. J Invest Dermatol. 1999;112:782–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Piérard GE, et al. Biomechanical assessment of photodamage. Derivation of a cutaneous extrinsic ageing score. Skin Res Technol. 1995;1:17–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Wesley NO, Maibach HI. Racial (ethnic) differences in skin properties: the objective data. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4:843–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Rawlings AV. Ethnic skin types: are there differences in skin structure and function? Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006;28:79–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Seiberg M, et al. The protease-activated receptor 2 regulates pigmentation via keratinocyte-melanocyte interactions. Exp Cell Res. 2000;254:25–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Kanda N, Watanabe S. Regulatory roles of sex hormones in cutaneous biology and immunology. J Dermatol Sci. 2005;38:1–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Slominski A. Neuroendocrine system of the skin. Dermatology. 2005;211:199–208.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  52. Szepetiuk G, et al. Biometrology of physical properties of skin in thyroid dysfunction. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008;22:1173–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Schoepe S, et al. Glucocorticoid therapy-induced skin atrophy. Exp Dermatol. 2006;15:406–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Giovannucci E, et al. Prospective study of predictors of vitamin D status and cancer incidence and mortality in men. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006;98:451–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Piérard-Franchimont C, et al. Smoothing the mosaic subclinical melanoderma by calcipotriol. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007;21:657–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Edmondson SR, et al. Epidermal homeostasis: the role of the growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor systems. Endocr Rev. 2003;24:737–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Hyde C, et al. Insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and IGF-binding proteins bound to vitronectin enhance keratinocyte protein synthesis and migration. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;122:1198–206.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Rudman D, et al. Effects of human growth hormone in men over 60 years old. N Engl J Med. 1990;323:1–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Piérard-Franchimont C, et al. Mechanical properties of skin in recombinant human growth factor abusers among adult bodybuilders. Dermatology. 1996;192:389–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Piérard GE, et al. Effect of hormone replacement therapy for menopause on the mechanical properties of skin. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1995;43:662–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Paquet F, et al. Sensitive skin at menopause; dew point and electrometric properties of the stratum corneum. Maturitas. 1998;28:221–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Raine-Fenning NJ, et al. Skin aging and menopause: implications for treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4:371–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Quatresooz P, Piérard GE. Downgrading skin climacteric aging by hormone replacement therapy. Expert Rev Dermatol. 2007;2:373–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Sator PG, et al. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the influence of a hormone replacement therapy on skin aging in postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2007;10:320–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Verdier-Sevrain S. Effect of estrogens on skin aging and the potential role of selective estrogen receptor modulators. Climacteric. 2007;10:289–97.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Piérard GE, et al. Comparative effect of hormone replacement therapy on bone mass density and skin tensile properties. Maturitas. 2001;40:221–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Castelo-Branco C, et al. Facial wrinkling in postmenopausal women. Effects of smoking status and hormone replacement therapy. Maturitas. 1998;29:75–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Uhoda E, et al. Ultraviolet light-enhanced visualization of cutaneous signs of carotene and vitamin A dietary deficiency. Acta Clin Belg. 2004;59:97–101.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Deleixhe-Mauhin F, et al. Influence of chronic haemodialysis on the mechanical properties of skin. Clin Exp Dermatol. 1994;19:130–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Uhoda I, et al. Effect of haemodialysis on acoustic shear wave propagation in the skin. Dermatology. 2004;209:95–100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Wang N, et al. Mechanotransduction across the cell surface and through the cytoskeleton. Science. 1993;260:1124–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Silver FH, et al. Mechanobiology of force transduction in dermal tissue. Skin Res Technol. 2003;9:3–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Ingber DE. Tensegrity: the architectural basis of cellular mechanotransduction. Annu Rev Physiol. 1997;59:575–99.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Hermanns-Lê T, et al. Factor XIII a-positive dermal dendrocytes and shear wave propagation in human skin. Eur J Clin Invest. 2002;32:847–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Quatresooz P, et al. Mechanobiology and force transduction in scars developed in darker skin types. Skin Res Technol. 2006;12:279–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Nizet JL, et al. Influence of body posture and gravitational forces on shear wave propagation in the skin. Dermatology. 2001;202:177–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Piérard GE, et al. From skin microrelief to wrinkles. An area ripe for investigation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2003;2:21–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Quatresooz P, et al. The riddle of genuine skin microrelief and wrinkles. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006;28:389–95.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Bosset S, et al. Skin ageing: clinical and histopathologic study of permanent and reducible wrinkles. Eur J Dermatol. 2002;12:247–52.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Piérard GE, Lapière CM. The microanatomical basis of facial frown lines. Arch Dermatol. 1989;125:1090–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Day DJ, et al. The wrinkle severity rating scale: a validation study. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2004;5:49–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Hermanns-Lê T, et al. Age- and body mass index-related changes in cutaneous shear wave velocity. Exp Gerontol. 2001;36:363–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Hermanns-Lê T, et al. Skin tensile properties revisited during ageing. Where now, where next? J Cosmet Dermatol. 2004;3:35–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Kricker A, et al. Sun exposure and non-melanocytic skin cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 1994;5:367–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Brooke RC, et al. Discordance between facial wrinkling and the presence of basal cell carcinoma. Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:751–4.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Ernster VL, et al. Facial wrinkling in men and women, by smoking status. Am J Public Health. 1995;85:78–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  87. Koh JS, et al. Cigarette smoking associated with premature facial wrinkling: image analysis of facial skin replicas. Int J Dermatol. 2002;41:21–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Raitio A, et al. Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 and -8 in the skin, serum and saliva of smokers and non-smokers. Arch Dermatol Res. 2005;297:242–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Kawasaki K et al. Age-related morphometric changes of inner structures of the skin assessed by in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy. Int J Dermatol. 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Longo C, et al. Skin aging: in vivo microscopic assessment of epidermal and dermal changes by means of confocal microscopy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013;68:e73–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  91. Piérard GE. In vivo confocal microscopy: a new paradigm in dermatology. Dermatology. 1993;186:4–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Corcuff P, et al. In vivo confocal microscopy of human skin: a new design for cosmetology and dermatology. Scanning. 1996;18:351–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  93. Lee HJ, et al. Efficacy of microneedling plus human stem cell conditioned medium for skin rejuvenation: a randomized, controlled, blinded split-face study. Ann Dermatol. 2014;26:584–91.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  94. Tan KK, et al. Characterization of fetal keratinocytes, showing enhanced stem cell-like properties: a potential source of cells for skin reconstruction. Stem Cell Rep. 2014;3:324–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Skin Bioengineering and Imaging, Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Gérald E. Piérard

  2. Department of Dermatology, Regional Hospital of Huy, Huy, Belgium

    Claudine Piérard-Franchimont

  3. Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Philippe Delvenne

  4. Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Jean-Luc Nizet

Authors
  1. Gérald E. Piérard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Claudine Piérard-Franchimont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Philippe Delvenne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jean-Luc Nizet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gérald E. Piérard .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Winton Hill Business Center, The Procter & Gamble Company , Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Miranda A. Farage

  2. Margoshes-Miller Consulting, LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Kenneth W. Miller

  3. Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Piérard, G.E., Piérard-Franchimont, C., Delvenne, P., Nizet, JL. (2017). Physiological Variations During Aging. In: Farage, M., Miller, K., Maibach, H. (eds) Textbook of Aging Skin. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47398-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-47398-6_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-47397-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-47398-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation