The Aging Décolletage

Understanding the Science of Skin Aging

Plastic surgery patients that present to our office wanting to improve the aging décolletage have the general complaints of age spots, sunspots, hyperpigmentation, fixed vertical lines, and the general appearance of leathery skin with unappealing texture. These findings, are of course, common in all aging skin, and as we know, the culprit is largely due to UV radiation in the form of sun exposure.

To quickly review the well understood processes of skin aging, lets consider the following: It is well known that 90% of skin aging is due to the sun, and up to 90% of skin aging occurs before the age of 18! These are staggering statistics, which warrant consideration.

The biochemical process of skin aging can be simplified to a chronic inflammatory condition which can largely be localized to 3 biochemical pathways:

1) The development of free radicals which lead to an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines

2) The upregulation of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases)

3) The accumulation of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE).

To simplify, in skin aging we begin to notice diminishing production of elastin and collagen as early as the mid-20s, which coincides with a lack of collagen and elastin organization resulting in a progressive loss of skin elasticity and eventual thinning of the skin. Over time, we begin to see a lack of circulation in dermis as well, which compromises the delivery of key nutrients to the skin. Additionally skin cell

turnover slows with aging, and with that we begin to see textural changes in our skin which presents as unevenness. The effects of UV radiation on the skin causes melanocytes to increase the production of melanin, which results in increased sunspots. Lastly, with a slowed cell turnover, we see associated changes in skin hydration, as lipids created from the cell turnover, which would normally provide moisture-plentiful environment, become scarce, leading to dry, dehydrated skin with diminished tone and elasticity.

Now that we understand what skin aging is, how it develops, and what its components are, the success treatment of the aging decolletagé will follow a protocol of inflammation management, whereby we address skin aging by influencing the inflammation regulatory process, and in doing so, we can effectively reduce the number of pro-inflammatory mediators which are the culprits behind accelerated skin aging.