A common symptom of aging is the loss of volume in the face, leading to more prominent wrinkles, lines and folds in the skin, and deepening eye sockets. The primary causes are the natural age-related loss of collagen, fat, and water beneath the skin, in addition to the stretching both of the skin, and of the ligaments beneath the skin. However, loss of facial volume can also be due to several other causes, most of which can be avoided or minimized.
– Too Much Sun Exposure
Although exposure to UV radiation present in sunshine has no direct link to loss of facial volume, it does contribute to the loss of collagen which in turn reduces skin elasticity and overall vitality. Sun exposure prematurely accelerates the aging process – we are all more susceptible to loss of facial volume as we age, but that’s no reason to hurry this process along.
– Too Much Dieting and/or Exercise
Many people go through many cycles of weight gain and loss as they try to achieve long-term weight reduction. There are several reasons why this can be undesirable, not the least being that the constant changes in body volume can result in facial ligaments becoming stretched, reducing one’s face’s natural elasticity. Excessive exercise can also have similar results if exercise burns so many calories that fat layers beneath the skin are reduced.
– Loss of Bone Mass
The loss of estrogen during the menopause has many undesirable effects on the body, including reductions in calcium levels in the bones. Loss of estrogen can directly lead to loss of facial volume, and indirectly (through calcium loss) to reductions in bone mass. Similar problems are also possible when experiencing non-menopausal hormonal problems. Taking calcium supplements may help combat bone loss and will provide women in particular with benefits – helping to slow down bone loss and osteoporosis.
– Smoking
Smokers, and in particular heavy smokers, have plenty of other negative health effects to worry about, but you can count loss of facial volume as one of them. Smoking contributes to premature aging of the skin (particularly in women), causing wrinkles. However, smoking can also result in reduced levels of estrogen, reduced blood flow, and damage to elastin fibers, leading to the same negative effects on facial volume as detailed above.
– Poor Diet and/or Dehydration
It’s important to ensure that you consume a balanced diet, including plant protein (from soybeans, nuts, and seeds), omega 3 fatty acids (from flax seed and fish), calcium (available from dairy as well as many other sources), and vitamins C and D. Adequate hydration also helps to maintain collagen levels.
Many people concentrate on the condition of their skin while neglecting to pay enough attention to the bones that provide support to their facial features. A healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, and supplements can alleviate many of the causes of facial volume loss, particularly if started early.
Your Laser Skin Care offers non-invasive procedures to help alleviate this condition, including the use of several different injectables that can be used to restore lost facial volume. Restylane, Juvederm, Juvederm Voluma, and Sculptra Aesthetic products can be used to address a wide range of facial problems and can help you combat any loss of volume to rejuvenate your face.
