Women Vs Men: The Aging Showdown

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A new German study measuring the damage to skin from aging and sun exposure using an innovative laser technique found that women’s skin ages more rapidly than men’s.

Researchers at Germany’s Friedrich Schiller University and the Fraunhofer Institute of Biomedical Technology used infrared laser light to examine the skin’s deeper layers, particularly its collagen network. Current techniques require the removal of skin tissue for examination under a microscope.

Collagen is a protein naturally produced by the body and responsible for the strength and smoothness of the skin. When collagen levels begin to diminish, which happens naturally as an individual ages, wrinkles begin to appear.

The authors of the study, which is published in the journal Optics Letters, found that women lose collagen more rapidly than men, causing their skin to age faster.

“The dependence appeared to be sex-dependent, with women’s skin losing collagen at faster rates than men’s,” said the authors.

Use of laser technology to image an individual’s collagen network may soon help researchers to learn more about certain skin diseases and also the effectiveness of anti-aging products.

Considering wrinkle treatments? Please contact us today to learn more about your options or to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon near you.


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