Life expectancy in most countries has been regularly increasing over the past decades as a result of advances in medicine and economic development. But whereas the world population is ageing, the cult of youth and beauty is constantly glorified by the media.
Because our skin (and its appendages) is the only body organ directly visible to others, its deteriorated appearance caused by ageing is a source of concern in many people. Indeed many studies have demonstrated the relationship between individuals’ physical appearance and their psychological and social wellbeing. This link explains the growing success of anti-ageing cosmetic treatments. Under the pressure of both commercial competition between manufacturers and the necessity of complying with national and international regulations, the in vivo efficacy of these anti-ageing treatments must be scientifically demonstrated.
In order to demonstrate an anti-ageing claim, it is necessary to evidence that the tested product or treatment is significantly able to reverse the ageing process. Therefore understanding the anatomical, morphological, physiological and functional changes which occur during the skin ageing process is the prerequisite condition. Then, knowing the natural evolution of skin characteristics as a function of age, the quantitative assessment of the improvement in different variables characterising old skin can be used.
How skin ages
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