Ageing is often measured in terms of wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots, but but did you know that the dynamic nature of your facial expressions could have an even more profound impact on how your skin ages? Turns out, the way your face moves, shifts, and stretches as you express yourself is just as important to the aging process as the static features you typically focus on.
Study suggests that it’s not just what you see at rest but how your skin responds to movement that can change the impression others have of our age.
Facial expressions and their impact:
A warm smile, a raised eyebrow, or an intense frown, these expressions tell how you feel. But what happens when your facial expressions become habitual? Over time, repeated movements and emotions can contribute to the changes in your skin, from the deep lines at the corners of your eyes to the creases in your cheeks. These dynamic changes can play a crucial role in how others perceive your age and energy.
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According to research in Frontier research center, Pola chemical industries, inc. Kanagawa, Japan, published in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) facial ageing has typically been studied in terms of static features, things like wrinkles, sagging skin, and discolouration.
However, the research reveals that your skin behaves quite differently when it’s moving. The research indicates that while traditional studies focus on age-related changes in skin tone and structure, dynamic facial movements, such as those you make when you smile or speak, also affect the skin's elasticity, texture, and appearance.
The research dives into how deep facial muscles, such as those in the cheeks, affect the movement of skin layers, contributing to wrinkle formation and ageing. For example, when the cheek skin is pulled downward during facial expressions, the skin’s response time (referred to as "delay") and its stretchiness are both impacted by age. Younger skin responds quickly and stretches more, whereas older skin may have a delayed reaction, affecting how expressions appear.
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Cheeks are key: Changes in facial expressions, particularly in people over 50, increase the perceived age due to movements in the cheeks.
Skin elasticity: The skin’s ability to stretch and contract diminishes with age, contributing to visible changes in facial features, especially in the cheek area.
Ageing at the microscopic level: The mechanical properties of the skin, including the extracellular matrix, undergo qualitative and quantitative changes with age, affecting the way facial expressions alter the skin’s surface.
Motion capture technology: Advanced methods, like motion capture, now allow researchers to measure subtle changes in skin movement that impact the ageing process, especially during facial expressions.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.
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