As we grow older, we begin to notice changes in our skin - a softening of contours, a few lines where there weren’t any before, or perhaps a glow that’s not quite as bright. But ageing skin isn’t just about what you see in the mirror. To truly understand skin ageing, we need to go deeper, into the layers that form the very structure of your skin.
The Architecture of Skin: Where Ageing Begins
Your skin isn’t just one uniform layer. It's a highly specialised structure composed of:
- The epidermis: the surface or outermost layer, responsible for skin barrier protection and cell renewal.
- The dermis: the middle layer rich in collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (HA) to provide strength, elasticity and hydration.
- The hypodermis (subcutaneous layer): the foundation layer, containing fat and connective tissue, for volume and contour.
As we age, each of these layers undergo changes such as:
- Epidermis: Slower cell turnover and less lipid production cause dryness and uneven tone.
- Dermis: Collagen and elastin fibres degrade and fragment, weakening the skin’s structure and reducing elasticity.
- Hypodermis (subcutaneous layer): Fat pads diminish and shift, leading to volume loss and sagging.
These internal changes are accelerated by two forces: intrinsic ageing and extrinsic ageing.
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Ageing: What’s in Your Control?
Intrinsic ageing is genetically driven and inevitable. From your mid-20s, your skin produces about 1% less collagen each year, and HA levels start to decline too. This process affects the dermis most significantly, leading to:
- Reduced skin thickness
- Fewer fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen and elastin)
- Slower wound healing and cell regeneration
Extrinsic ageing is caused by environmental and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure, pollution, poor nutrition, smoking, and stress. UV damage, in particular, creates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that damage proteins, lipids, and DNA, accelerating wrinkle formation, pigmentation, and sagging.
Together, these processes result in the visible signs of ageing, but they also highlight where science can step in to support your skin.
The Role of Hyaluronic Acid (HA): Your Skin’s Moisture Magnet
HA is one of the most vital molecules in your dermis - a natural sugar that holds up to 1000 times its weight in water. It provides hydration, plumpness, and volume, and supports fibroblast activity (the cells responsible for making collagen and elastin).
But with age and UV exposure, HA levels decline, leading to:
- Dryness and rough texture
- Loss of volume and radiance
- Weakened skin barrier
Injectable HA-based aesthetic treatments (often used in dermal fillers and skin boosters) can help restore hydration directly within the dermis, reviving glow and bounce where it's needed most.
What About Collagen and Elastin?
If HA brings hydration, then collagen and elastin provide structure.
These two proteins are the scaffolding of youthful skin - giving it firmness, elasticity, and the ability to “bounce back.”
But as we age, collagen fibres become fragmented and sparse, and elastin production slows significantly.
That’s where Collagen Biostimulators step in. These aesthetic injectables help to:
- Stimulate your skin to rebuild its own collagen and elastin from within, for deep structural support
- Improve skin firmness and elasticity
- Restore natural volume
- Reduce wrinkles and laxity
And because they stimulate your own collagen and elastin production, the results are both gradual and long-lasting, up to 2 years in some cases.
This makes them ideal for progressive rejuvenation - and why they're often recommended for patients experiencing signs of facial ageing, rapid weight loss, or structural skin changes over time. It’s important to remember that ageing is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean your skin can’t thrive as it evolves. Whether you’re noticing the first signs of fine lines or deeper structural changes, the good news is that science-backed aesthetic treatments can support your skin at every stage.
Start the conversation with your Doctor about your skin goals, and how aesthetic treatment options can support your skin’s health and structure from within.
Your Skin. Your Story.