Next to weight loss, anti-aging is one of the next most popular search topics on the internet. The quest to maintain youthful looks has been a timeless one and hopes to stave off the first telltale signs of aging are topmost on anyone’s list.

Delaying the onset of aging has become a huge multi-billion industry today. Much of the business thrives in a serious lack of information among consumers. Everyone is just so willing to put in cash for anything that offers a promise, so it is quite important to understand why and how the skin ages before going any further with hundreds of products or services that offer short-term and oftentimes, disappointing results.

Skin aging transpires in two better known categories – the intrinsic and the extrinsic. Intrinsic or internal skin aging comes about as a result of distinct factors within the body such as genetics and metabolic conditions.

Extrinsic or external aging on the other hand, is the result of outer influences that contribute to skin aging such as atmospheric exposure, stress and lifestyle conditions.

Intrinsic skin aging usually starts up in your mid-20s and genetic factors have the control over when these signs will begin to show. It is a known fact though that the skin’s elasticity begins to dwindle as we all grow older because skin cells are no longer capable of renewing as fast as they used to.

We don’t have much control over intrinsic skin aging, but we have some hold over the extrinsic factors. Lifestyle and habits have a significant impact on skin aging, and exercising diligence in both significantly reduces the premature onset of skin aging symptoms. Simple measures such as staying less under the sun prevents photo aging, which is the greatest cause of reduced collagen production that is vital to the skin’s elasticity. So is taking a conscious effort to reduce stress and quit smoking if you do. Nicotine is a major contributor to metabolic upsets that break down skin cells.

It helps a lot to know the truth behind skin aging. It teaches us to accept what we don’t have control over and gives us valuable insights to what can be done.