PREPARED BY: PREPARED BY:

BUHAWE ,JANETH R.N;M.N

AgingAging

Aging or ageing is a process that accumulates changes in organisms or objects over time. Human aging process involves multidimensional changes on physical, psychological, cultural and social levels. This comprehensive guide provides information on various health and lifestyle subjects associated with aging, longevity and old age.

What Happens To Us As We Age?

Trillions of cells in our body are constantly changing, some get destroyed or die and at the same time new cells are formed every minute, this accounts to our body's growth. Birthdays are an important event in everyone's life that measures our age

What Happens to Our Brain as We Age?

Some brain regions shrink, while others remain stable as we age. Aging of the brain also impairs the ability of the brain to encode or decode new memories and facts, while processing speed and reflexes decline.

What Happens to Our Skin and Hair as We Age?

This part of aging is visible and very prominent. Our skin begins to develop wrinkles and dark spots (normally tagged as age spots also). The ability of skin to produce oils reduces resulting in dry and lusterless skin. Hair becomes thinner than normal and the changes in hair color from gray initially to turning white eventually marks aging.

What Happens to Our Bones as We Age?

The friction between the joints increases (that is the lubrication is reduced) causing pain while moving. The bones also become porous and there is a gradual yet constant loss of density and strength. Bones are reservoirs of minerals like calcium and phosphorus, but during the process of aging there is a typical depletion of these minerals making bones fragile and weak.

What Happens to Our Hearing and Vision as We Age?

The retinas become thinner than usual in aging eyes, the sharpness that should be achieved in viewing objects at a distance is impaired, objects placed at a distance appear blurred. The irises get stiffened, hence, the pupils become less responsive and more sensitive to glare. Eye problems like cataracts and glaucoma are common as you age. Aging also leads to hearing loss. The eardrums thicken, making hearing more difficult than usual

What Happens to Our Heart as We Age?

As we age the blood vessels lose their elasticity and the fatty deposition on the artery walls makes the arteries smaller or rather narrow the space for the blood flowing through it. All these factors make the heart work harder than usual to pump the blood to other parts of the body. The result is hypertension, cardiac arrest, arteriosclerosis and other serious disorders.

Although aging comes in with it's own discomforts like aches, pains, sags and forgetfulness; regular exercise, practicing relaxation techniques, keeping stress under control and taking good care of your body and brain can ensure more active and pain free old age.

Wrinkles Around the MouthWrinkles Around the Mouth

Wrinkles around the mouth is one of the classic signs of aging, and unfortunately, are inevitable. However, there are a few techniques, which do not cure the problem, but do help in improving it...

Wrinkles around the mouth, or as popularly known as smile lines, indicate the skin has started losing its elasticity. With age, the skin tends to grow thinner and less elastic. It even becomes drier than before. The natural oil that is produced during youth, is produced less as the person ages. This makes the skin go drier with time

factors which add to the effects factors which add to the effects of aging of aging

The most common of them is exposure to ultraviolet light. UV light destroys the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin, without which the skin starts sagging and wrinkling before time. Wrinkles around the mouth from smoking is also common. Smoking worsens the process of wrinkling by affecting the blood supply to the skin, which in turn, manifests in the form of wrinkles, not only in the facial area, but also in other parts of the body, including the inner arms. One more cause of wrinkles, which may be strange to know, is associated with smiling, squinting and other facial movements and expressions. Every time you make an expression, it adds to the process of the skin losing its elasticity. However, know that frowning has more impact in causing wrinkles than smiling.

What to Do About Wrinkles around the Mouth?What to Do About Wrinkles around the Mouth?

One simple remedy for reducing wrinkles around mouth is to massage coconut oil to the affected area, daily before going to bed.

Prepare a face mask that would require yogurt (2 tsp), lemon juice (½ tsp) and honey (½ tsp). To increase the efficacy of this mixture, you can also add a few vitamin E capsules to it. Use a cotton ball to apply this mixture to the wrinkled area of the skin. Wait for about 15 minutes before rinsing off. This is an inexpensive home remedy for wrinkles.

Applying lemon juice around the mouth also helps in reducing fine lines.

Everyday before going to bed, massage the wrinkled areas with any face cream, in an upward direction. This method even helps in reducing wrinkles around the eyes.

Even rubbing pure castor oil around the corners of the mouth helps in improving the appearance of wrinkles.

Measures to Reduce WrinklesMeasures to Reduce Wrinkles

prolonged exposure to the sun is one of the most common reasons to develop premature wrinkles around the mouth and other parts of the face

Day in and day out, the skin gets exposed to air pollution, the effects of dry climate, dust, dirt, etc. Using proper cover against all these elements also aids to your effort in preventing the onset of wrinkles

Pay attention to your diet. No matter what you treat your skin with externally, if your diet is not a healthy one, all your efforts will go in vain. Chose a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly those which are rich in antioxidants. Omega 3 fish oil is also a great dietary option which goes in favor of a healthy and glowing skin.

Don't let your skin go dry. The drier the skin becomes, the more wrinkled it will be. One of the simplest ways to not let your skin go dry is to drink plenty of water (at least 8-9 glasses of water). Apart from this, you can use products which help in keeping your skin moist,

Use Lip Balms or GelsDryness results in shriveling up of cells around the lips, causing them to wrinkle. Keeping the lips moist and hydrated is important to prevent them from drying and wrinkling. Thus, one should get a lip balm or lip gel and apply it daily, even before going to bed. This keeps your lips moisturized and hydrated.

Avoid Upper Lip WaxingSince upper lip threading or waxing pulls the skin of the upper lip a lot, frequent threading will conduce to lip wrinkles. To avoid this, it is better to have a permanent hair removal treatment done (laser treatment), so that one's upper lip skin will not have to be stretched and pulled every now and then. This will reduce the onset of lip wrinkles. Read more on how to get rid of wrinkles naturally.

Regular ExfoliationWe all know how dead cells need to be cleared off the skin periodically. Same goes for the lips as well. The lips have to be cleared of their dead cells every two weeks. Exfoliation will reveal the soft, beautiful skin beneath and will keep them moist and hydrated. To exfoliate your lips take some olive oil in a bowl and add some sugar to it. Add enough to form a paste and gently rub this paste onto the lips with a washcloth in circular motions. Then slowly wash off the paste with tepid water and apply lip balm.

Growing Old Can Be Beautiful Growing Old Can Be Beautiful

some people can enjoy their late years. One of the conditions is that they don’t struggle with regrets. Most regrets come not from the wrong things we did, as we would normally expect, but from things they had the

opportunities to do but they did not. Most elder people rejoice with the fact that they have lots of

children and grand-children and this brings a lot of satisfaction in their life. Some studies show that a thing which leads to fulfillment for a great part of the elders is spirituality, or the connection with God.

Aging ProcessAging Process

Every morning you rise up from bed and the first thing you do is, observe yourself before the mirror. Today, the morning was fine, but your reflection expressed something different. Few wrinkles and few strands of gray hair make you wonder, 'am I aging?' and you try to stretch your jaw to ensure if the laughter lines have actually gained prominence. The aging signs, thus, cannot be missed out and you wish, 'if only I could ignore'. It's difficult to imagine ourselves growing old although the aging process is inevitable and some or the other day every human being undergoes this natural phenomenon.

Aging Process - CausesAging Process - Causes

1. Cellular Changes:

Cellular multiplication slows down with age. The rate of formation of T-lymphocytes of the immune system decreases with age. This makes the body susceptible to diseases. Thus, immune breakdown triggers the human aging process, as the body is now vulnerable to a large number of diseases.

2. Genetic Factors:

The genes associated with the mechanism of programmed cell death or apoptosis also affects aging in individuals

3. Environmental Factors:

Environmental stress associated with exposure to excessive heat and light trigger the activity of aging genes. Constant exposure to toxins and poisons accentuate the aging process. Poor oxygen conditions and malnutrition are also responsible for early aging.

4. Health Conditions: There are certain genetic disorders that completely change the phenotype of an individual. Hutchinson-Gilford Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Werner’s Syndrome make human beings look much older than their age. Osteoporosis and arthritis are the main factors governing aging process in women. The toxins produced in Parkinson's disease degenerate the neurons that hinders the memory of brain. In Alzheimer’s disease, a substance known as amyloid is produced that destroys the brain cells. All these interferes with the normal aging process.

5. Unhealthy Lifestyle: Aging process in men is mainly brought about by over consumption of alcohol and heavy smoking. Lack of exercise, inadequate rest or sleep, mental stress show symptoms of early aging. Other factors like regular consumption of excessive spicy food and caffeine renders an old look. Sloth and sluggish lifestyle makes one feel old.

embracing old age with a positive attitude shall always make you feel young and for this reason, Mark Twain has wisely spoken, "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter".

Sagging JowlsSagging Jowls

Sagging Jowls CausesSagging Jowls Causes

AgingIt is mostly the advancing age that is responsible for the sagging jowls. Muscles generally start losing their elasticity in the mid 30's but if regular exercises are done you can postpone the appearance of sag. Sagging jowls may be seen more prominently in the early 50's.

GeneticsIf you start getting sagging jowls at an early age; possibly, the cause is genetic. If your elder family members have developed sagging jowls when they were pretty young then it is a hereditary factor. Doing some exercises for sagging jowls might help prevent early aging.

Being OverweightIt is also your weight that matters a lot when it some to a saggy skin. More the weight, more are the chances of the skin tissues spreading out. So hit the gym and do some exercises before you start getting a sagging neck and jawline.

Exposure to the SunHeavy exposure to the sun can lead to skin damage. Also, the skin tissues might start drooping at a relatively early age. Use a sunblock and wear a scarf or hat whenever you are out in the late afternoons. Protect your skin from the sun's heat; this will help in reducing sagging jowls.

SmokingThere are chances of getting sagging jowls if you smoke a lot. Smoking can lessen the flow of blood towards the skin. When the flow of vitamin A and other essential nutrients to the facial skin reduces, the process of aging speeds up. Hence avoid smoking to protect your skin from an early sag.

Facial Exercises for Sagging Facial Exercises for Sagging JowlsJowls

Lift your chin and turn your head towards the right until you feel a stretch, now gradually turn your neck towards the left and stay in that position for about 3-4 minutes. Repeat this at least 5 times a day, starting with 2 in the beginning.

Turn your head towards the right, look up and move your lips up as if you are eating something. Relax and after a few minutes look down and repeat the same lip movement. Do this more than 15 times a day. It will help keep the skin tight.

Best Cream for Sagging Best Cream for Sagging JowlsJowls

There are a lot of creams that are believed to be good in curing sagging jowls. But no cream is the best cream for sagging jowls as none of the ointments can remove off all the excess sag from your face. But, you can try using a good sunblock or antioxidant creams. Use of peel offs or scrubs can also help postpone aging. Also, sleep for 7-8 hours everyday and drink a lot of water. If you want to lift sagging jowls in a single go, you could go for a sagging jowls surgery.

Hairstyles for Sagging JowlsHairstyles for Sagging Jowls

As said above, sagging jowls is something that cannot be chucked overnight. Even the exercises take time to work. But till then, no need to worry, as cleverly styling your hair can help you hide the sagging skin. Here are some sagging jowls hairstyles that can come to your help. Opt for a hairstyle that will keep one's attention towards your forehead instead of the jaw. This will make the sagging jowls less obvious. Going for fringes that can curl up on your forehead is also a good idea. A side-swept, blunt or straight fringe or any other hairstyle with bangs that suits you face structure can hide the sagging jowls to some extent. Also, fringes can conceal the rumpled look of your forehead. Choose a short haircuts wherein your hair hangs will fall near the chin area. If you have long hair, tie it up in such a way that it enhances hair volume near the forehead area, giving you a younger look, while also hiding the sagging skin.

Fine Lines Under EyesFine Lines Under Eyes

Fine lines under eyes, for some, is good news as they love the happy, smiley look it gives them. But for a woman, it's even worse that a nightmare. When the first line starts appearing, women start losing their sleep over it. These fine lines under eyes are the first sign of aging

Causes of Fine Lines Under Causes of Fine Lines Under EyesEyes

As one ages, the elastin fibers and the collagen present in the skin around your eyes and mouth starts breaking down. Your skin also starts losing its moisture content, and it also loses the ability to renew itself as compared to earlier. Hence, you end up with dry skin, which is like a haven for wrinkles and fine lines

How to Reduce Fine Lines How to Reduce Fine Lines Under EyesUnder Eyes

Protect yourself from the sun. Whenever you go out in the sun, do not forget to wear a sun hat and your sun glasses. The sun causes you to squint and if you keep doing this repeatedly, then you are sure to get fine lines under eyes.

If you are a smoker, then stop smoking right now . Smoking is the second biggest cause for fine lines, next to exposure to the sun. While smoking, the smoke gets into your eyes and it causes you to squint, which causes fine lines and wrinkles. Once you stop smoking, not only will you be able to get rid of the fine lines under eyes, but your entire complexion while become clearer.

As the skin around our eyes are thinner and drier than the other parts of our face, and since it also tends to get drier with age, one need to keep moisturizing it with a high quality moisturizer and massage that area. You have to do this daily, if you want to get rid of the fine lines under eyes

Do not forget to remove your makeup at the end of the day. No matter how tired you are, remove all traces of your makeup from your face and then call it a day. Remove your eye makeup gently with a cleanser. Do not pull the skin around your eyes.

But what about those unfortunate ladies who already have fine lines under their eyes? Is this the end for them?

I don't think so ………………………..

BotoxBotox treatment treatment

which is a prescription medicine injected into your body to get rid of the fine lines. But instead of using a whole lot of chemicals, the best treatment for fine lines under eyes are the home remedies. Let us check them out.

Home Remedies for Fine Home Remedies for Fine Lines Under EyesLines Under Eyes

Make a paste of sugarcane juice (1 - 2 tablespoons) and turmeric powder (2 - 3 spoons), keep it aside for 5 minutes, and then apply it gently under the eye. Let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off with clean water. This is one of the best natural treatment for removing fine lines under eyes.

Rub coconut oil on the fine lines every night and you will see the difference within few days. The massaging will improve the blood circulation in that area and will also relax the skin around your eyes

Rub the central part a pineapple on the fine lines or just rub its juice all over the lines. It will help reduce the lines.

Fresh juice of an apple or a cucumber, rubbed over the fine lines will also help get rid of them.

Lemon juice works wonders for removing wrinkles. It also helps to make your skin clear.

Egg white or castor oil keeps the skin around your eyes soft, nourishes it and reduces the wrinkles around eyes.

Regular yoga also helps you to keep these fine lines at bay. It is one of the best natural fine lines under eyes treatment.

Besides this, drink enough water, avoid junk food, lead a stress free life and avoid any kind or laser treatments or chemical injections to get rid of the fine lines under eyes. These remedies and eye wrinkle treatments are also suitable for any kind of wrinkles that appear on your body.

So, now that you got to know how to remove fine lines under eyes, go try it, and make yourself look all that younger and beautiful. Leave the worry to the others, trying their best to guess your age.

Neck WrinklesNeck Wrinkles

The first wrinkle which you see on the neck are mostly horizontal lines. They are known as 'venus's rings'. They occur naturally due to aging. These horizontal lines keep on getting pronounced and more visible with your flexing of the neck. You may notice vertical lines on your neck. They also indicate wrinkling and sagging of the skin. The reason behind their appearance is not aging but sunlight exposure and sleeping patterns. Whatever be the cause, neck wrinkles spoil your physical appearance.

Neck Wrinkles: Neck Wrinkles: TreatmentTreatment

Botox is described as a prescription medicine which is injected into the muscles present in the target site. It is used to improve the appearance of moderate to severe fine lines on the skin

Injectable fillers are used to fill the wrinkles for some time. It increases the volume of the face, and hence makes the fine line disappear in a natural way.

laser treatments are available to tighten the sagging skin. The exposure of skin to laser stimulates the production of collagen, which in turn resurface the skin and erase fine lines and reduce wrinkles.

Chemical peel is a cosmetic procedure which uses application of acid to the skin so as to remove skin blemishes or wrinkles. It superficially burns the skin. However, burns are mild in most of the cases

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure which involves controlled wearing away of the upper layers of the skin with mechanical means like sandpaper.

Ablative laser is described as the removal of the uppermost layer (epidermis) with the help of laser to enhance the appearance of the skin.

The surgical operation which is carried to repair or reform body parts to make them look normal or better is called cosmetic surgery. It can remove deep wrinkles from the skin. Neck wrinkle surgery is often taken as the last resort.

Neck Wrinkles: ExercisesNeck Wrinkles: Exercises

Exercise 1: Sit down on the floor with your legs folded yet relaxed. Keep your back straight. Move your head to the back as far as you can and as much as is comfortable to you. Hold this posture for 5 seconds. You would feel your jawline stretched. Return to the starting position. Wait for 2 - 3 seconds. Perform the given exercise once again. A count of 10 is sufficient to begin with.

Aging Skin: Elasticity in Aging Skin: Elasticity in Aging SkinAging Skin

Avoid Sun Exposure. The sun's harmful UB and UBV rays drain all the water from the skin, increase the melanin levels and thereby give the skin a very leathery and stretched out look. Continuous exposure leads to loss of skin elasticity. Not only does one face danger when they are out in the sun, but the sun's rays can cause havoc, even when one is indoors. Therefore it is necessary to use sun protection in the form of sun screen for the skin (SPF 30 or more). Also make sure that you cover all parts of your body when in direct contact with the sun's rays and avoid stepping out during hours when the sun's rays can inflict the most damage (11 am - 4 pm).

Exercise RegularlyDoing some form of exercise is such an important factor to prevent the loss of skin elasticity, that there can be volumes written on it. But for now, a brief overview.

Exercising helps flush out all the toxins from your body, improve blood circulation (extremely important for skin care), supply more oxygen and nutrients to the body and regulate the hormones. Hormonal imbalance can wreak havoc in your body and the direct result will be seen on your skin. The skin will look paler and loose. Exercising will also improve muscle mass, which is an important factor in restoring and maintaining skin elasticity. One other major advantages is that it will lead to the metabolism of vitamin D and therefore lead to improved skin health.

Quit SmokingIf you don't then there's one thing there taken care of. But for those who do, try to give up smoking and it will show results. You might not feel any loss of skin elasticity while you are in your youth, but smoking will cause the aging and damaging of the skin to hit you faster. Smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, thereby preventing proper intake of oxygen and other nutrients essential for the body to maintain elasticity of skin

Intake of Healthy DietThere are certain foods for skin elasticity restoration and improvement that can be included in your diet. These contain essential minerals and vitamins like vitamin E and C. Here are some of them:

Strawberries Blackberries Corn Egg yolk Artichoke hearts Broccoli Flaxseed (Omega fatty 3 acids) Water Dark green leafy vegetables The general advantage of including these foods in your diet

is that they will provide you with the essential antioxidants to fight free radicals, along with amino acids, vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid, and will supplement you with a bounty of collagen (which is responsible for skin elasticity).

Human Life ExpectancyHuman Life Expectancy

Human Life Expectancy

Human life expectancy is defined as 'the average age that a group of new born people would reach, if they are subjected to the age specific death rates in a particular year'. Human life expectancy is also considered as the expected number of years of life remaining, at a given age. Mostly, human life expectancy at birth is taken into consideration. Aging is an unavoidable factor of human life. The life expectancy of a group of individuals may vary according to the criteria used to select the group. Human life expectancy is usually calculated separately for males and females. According to the CIA World Factbook, Macau has the world's highest life expectancy of 84.4 years. Here is a table showing average human life expectancy in the countries which top the list made by the United Nations (2005-2010) and also the countries which have lowest human life expectancy.

Rank CountryOverall Human Life Expectancy at Birth (years)

Human Life Expectancy at Birth (years): Male

Human Life Expectancy at Birth (years): Female

1 Japan 82.6 79.0 86.1

2 Hong Kong 82.2 79.4 85.1

3 Iceland 81.8 80.2 83.3

4 Switzerland 81.7 79.0 84.2

5 Australia 81.2 78.9 83.6

191 Lesotho 42.6 42.9 42.3

192 Sierra Lione 42.6 41.0 44.1

193 Zambia 42.4 42.1 42.5

194 Mozambique 42.1 41.7 42.4

195Swaziland (40% below world average)

39.6 39.8 39.4

Factors Influencing Human Life Expectancy

The human life expectancy is different in different parts of the world because of the differences in public health, medical care and diet. Wars, starvation and spread of the diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc. are responsible for much of the excess mortality in poorer nations. Climate, economic circumstances, gender also have an effect on human life span and the way data is collected may also influence the figures. Life expectancy is also affected by exposure to high levels of air and water pollution. It is a fact that well-educated professionals working in offices have a high life expectancy, while coal miners (and in prior generations, asbestos cutters) do not. Other factors affecting the life expectancy are genetic disorders, mental illnesses, physical illnesses, obesity, stress, access to health care, diet, exercise, tobacco smoking, drug use and excessive alcohol use.

Forehead WrinklesForehead Wrinkles

Forehead wrinkles are a part and parcel of the aging process. Those lines on the forehead are enough for a woman to furrow her eyebrows! Check out the 'lines' below to know more on how to deal with these lines on the forehead!

Forehead Wrinkles Forehead Wrinkles TreatmentTreatment

Botox and Comsetic SurgeryTo start off with, needless to say having a botox surgery is the most convenient thing to do. Botox aids in removing forehead wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles causing wrinkles. Moreover, you also have an option of going for a cosmetic surgery. That will include a forehead or a brow lift. These help stimulate and set the facial tissues and mend the tissues which are sagging.

Home RemediesHome Remedies

Olive Oil Applying olive oil to the skin just like you use your moisturizer will effectively tackle wrinkles. Read more on how to get rid of forehead wrinkles.

Vegetable OilTake some vegetable oil and rub it on your forehead wrinkles. Let it stay for around 15 minutes. Doing this daily will reap best results

Lemon and CreamApply a mixture of lemon and milk cream on your forehead after washing your face with lukewarm water. Until it is totally dry and absorbed well in the skin, let it be. Wash your forehead after about half an hour. This is one of the best forehead wrinkles home remedy. Read more on how to get rid of wrinkles naturally.

Home RemediesHome Remedies

Carrot JuiceHalf a glass of carrot juice every day keeps wrinkles away! Yes, drink half a glass of carrot juice for around 2 weeks everyday. See the difference!

LemonNo problem if you do not have milk cream to go with lemon. Just apply lemon juice on your forehead wrinkles or lemon peels. See how your wrinkles will disappear and skin becomes youthful.

Finally, forehead wrinkles is not a huge problem, it is after all a package deal which comes with aging. But it also is a reflection of wisdom you have got from learning the numerous lessons of life!

Eventually, do not frown if you get a wrinkle! Accept it gracefully and try the above things to get rid of them! Take Care!

Sagging NeckSagging Neck

Sagging Neck TreatmentSagging Neck Treatment

Neck lift surgery is performed by the cosmetologists, and it can no doubt improve the look of the neck. However, like other types of surgery, this one also poses certain risks, including the risk of swelling, surgical scar and nerve injury, if the nerves of the skin and muscle tissues get damaged, while pulling the skin by the surgeon.

Skin Care for Sagging SkinSkin Care for Sagging Skin

Use a skin care product that can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, and protect it from the harmful free radicals. Skin care products that contain vitamin A, E and coenzyme Q10 can prove excellent for making the skin firm and supple, while protecting it from free radical damage.

On the other hand, products that contain copper peptides and bio active form of keratin, known as cynergy TK can help to accelerate the production of collagen. Skin care products with hydroxy acids can help to exfoliate the dead skin cells, and promote the generation of new cells. Another active ingredient in a large number of anti-wrinkle or anti-aging creams is 'phytessence wakame'. It is the substance that can stimulate the production of hyalunoric acid, which is also required to maintain the elasticity of the skin

Chest WrinklesChest Wrinkles

Chest Wrinkles PreventionChest Wrinkles Prevention

A diet rich in vitamin A, C, D and antioxidants is particularly helpful in fighting wrinkles. Staying away from alcohol and smoking helps you in many ways. Similarly, minimizing direct exposure to sun also lowers your chances of developing chest wrinkles. If you are used to sleeping on your side then using breast pillows can be a good option to prevent the risk of chest wrinkles in future. Applying anti wrinkle cream on chest, at night is also a good precautionary measure. Lastly, regular exercising can also benefit your body in numerous ways.

Aging Process of SkinAging Process of Skin

Skin Aging FactsSkin Aging Facts

There is slow replacement of cells in the epidermis. There is deceleration in the turnover of the surface layer of

the skin. The number of blood vessels in the skin decrease. This

causes the skin to lose its youthful glow and shine. Due to the above mentioned reason, the wound healing

ability of the skin slows down to a noticeable extent. Several hormonal changes related to aging occur in the

body that thins the skin. Thinning of the skin makes it more fragile and prone to

damage caused by scratches. The skin loses its resistance against allergens and irritable

environmental factors. There is a loss of skin's strength and elasticity. The reason

is the formation of cuts and cross links in the collagen and elastin coils.

Factors that Cause Early Factors that Cause Early Skin AgingSkin Aging

Ultraviolet rays Diet deficient in vitamins and minerals.

Read on anti aging vitamins for skin. Long term exposure to sunlight Stress Tanning caused by any agent or medium Over-use of cosmetics Smoking

Oldest American Man Dies Oldest American Man Dies at 112at 112

The oldest man in America passed away on Saturday at the age of 112 from congestive heart failure.

George Francis lived through three centuries and was witness to everything that occurred during that time. Francis lived through both world wars (World War 1 and World War 2), as well as the advent of the automobile, the telephone, the television, computers, and the election of the first black president in U.S. history.

Francis was born in New Orleans in 1896 and was brought up under the repression of the Jim Crow South. He was denied the right to fight in World War I because of his race. He would quit school in the sixth grade to start boxing and would eventually become a chauffeur, an auto mechanic and a barber. His wife died of cancer in 1964.

Francis is survived by his four children - three daughters and a son. He also has 18 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 16 great-great-grandchildren. Those kinds of numbers must make family gatherings especially interesting.

His son, Anthony Francis, said that his family always attributed his father's longevity to his physical and mental toughness. He also said that his father was especially excited about the election of Barack Obama and he explained in recent interviews that he was a strong believer in the peoples' duty to vote in America.

Now that George Francis has died, the oldest man in America is Walter Breuning of Montana. Breuning is 112 years and 98 days old. The world's oldest person is Maria de Jesus of Portugal - she is 115 years and 109 days old.

Funny Sayings about Old Age Funny Sayings about Old Age

"Age mellows some people; others it makes rotten." - Anonymous

"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age." - Lucille Ball

"As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two..." - Sir Norman Wisdom

"You know you're getting old when you can pinch an inch on your forehead." - John Mendoza

"As we grow older, our bodies get shorter and our anecdotes longer." - Robert Quillen

"People say that age is just a state of mind. I say it's more about the state of your body." - Geoffrey Parfitt

It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. ~ Anonymous

I just broke up with someone and the last thing she said to me was "You'll never find anyone like me again!" I'm thinking, "I should hope not! If I don't want you, why would I want someone like you.

I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying. ~ Oscar Wilde

Don't drink and drive - you might hit a bump and spill it. ~ Murphy's Law

Alcohol - the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems. ~ Homer Simpson