There is no doubt that the roll of the genetic dice controls many of the factors that influence aging, but up to 40 percent of aging is controlled by non-genetic factors, meaning your fate is up to you. Smoking, being overweight, not using sunscreen and having had skin cancer are associated with aging of the skin on the face, according to a study based on twins published in the Archives of Dermatology.
The study examined the lifestyle patterns of 65 pairs of twins to find out which lifestyle factors made them look older. A total of 130 twins, both fraternal and identical, completed surveys containing questions about skin type, history of skin cancer, smoking and drinking habits and weight. Clinicians assigned each participant a photodamage score, graded by characteristics such as wrinkling and change in pigmentation.
Researchers found that skin damage was similar among sets of twins whether they were identical or fraternal. But factors other than genes, such as smoking and weighing more, appeared closely linked with increased skin damage. Oddly enough, drinking was linked with lower photodamage scores.
The connection between overweight and wrinkles is a bit more complicated. Being overweight can add years to a younger person's face, but extra weight can also hide damage and make skin look less wrinkly because the extra fat plumps the skin. The researchers found that overweight twins started to look younger than their slim twin after the age of 54.
Damage to the skin, which includes wrinkles, broken veins and age spots, all make people look older.
"The relationships found between smoking, weight, sunscreen use, skin cancer and photodamage in these twin pairs may help to motivate the reduction of risky behaviors," the authors said in a statement.
© 2009 Newsmax. All rights reserved.
