Bioengineers from Binghamton University (USA) claim to have uncovered the secret mechanics of .
As we age, skin stretches in one direction while contracting in another. This process, akin to how playdough behaves in a child’s hands, can be somewhat slowed down. However, stopping it altogether is unfortunately not possible.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
In explaining skin wrinkling, previous research authors typically referenced factors such as genetics, UV damage, and accompanying pathological conditions. Most theories regarding wrinkle formation were based on computer modeling, which helped scientists assess age-related changes in the dermal layer.
Now, however, the university team decided to investigate the mechanics of skin using real samples. Ultimately, the researchers produced the first comprehensive analysis of its kind, offering a surprisingly simple explanation for how wrinkle lines form. “Now we have compelling experimental evidence showing the physical mechanism of aging,” stated Guy Herman, the lead author of the study.
During the experiments, Herman and his colleagues examined the behavior of skin from six volunteers aged between 16 and 91. Using a tensometer, the scientists measured the deformations occurring in small strips of skin from participants under stretching that simulated everyday loads. The results showed that as skin stretches in one direction, it contracts in another. With age, these contractions become stronger, leading to the formation of wrinkles. Herman compared this dynamic to the behavior of regular playdough.
“Playdough stretches horizontally, but it also contracts in the opposite direction, becoming thinner. The same happens with skin. If the skin is compressed too much, it sags. That’s how wrinkles form,” explained the bioengineer, adding that the mechanical properties of skin degrade over the years.
It turns out that skin stretches more in the lateral direction, which leads to wrinkle formation, Herman noted. “The reason is primarily that the skin is slightly stretched from the start. Thus, internal forces act within it, becoming the driving force behind wrinkle appearance,” he said.
As a result, individuals who engage in physical labor (for example, construction workers) will have skin that appears older and more wrinkled than that of office workers, according to Popular Science.
An Irreversible Process
Guy Herman refers to his team’s discovery as the “Holy Grail” of skin mechanics. This finding is particularly significant given the multi-billion-dollar industry surrounding anti-aging procedures and products.
“When I started working in this field, one of my goals was to understand how aging occurs. After all, on television, on the radio, online, and in stores, I was constantly bombarded with a thousand different things about how to improve skin health, and I wanted to know what was right and what wasn’t. So, I decided to figure it out for myself,” Herman noted.
Of course, the primary factor influencing the initial appearance of is mechanical action. However, protective measures against serious issues like sun exposure and hormonal imbalances can still improve skin health. It’s important not to neglect these at any age, although, of course, they won’t stop aging.
The study’s findings were published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.
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