The aging of the skin extends, contracts and pressure buckles – thus formed wrinkles, according to new experimental data from scientists at Binghamton University at New York State University.
Looking at the samples of human skin, a research team, including Binghamton University, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering Germany, found that older skin is more prone to wrinkles. Why? Wrinkles are formed when your skin extends in one direction and contracts in the other direction, causing its buckle – and this becomes more intense as you grow older.
Consider your favorite hoodie, for example. After years of deterioration, it extends to different places. Your skin does something similar.
This is no longer just a theory. Now we have harsh experimental elements that show the natural mechanism behind aging. ”
Guy Germanos, Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University
Scientists have long believed that skin wrinkles as you grow up due to many factors (eg genetic, pathological situations and solar photovoltaic, previous research that uses computational models have shown changes in mechanical properties and structure of the skin layer (skin layer).
This research is one of the goals of Germany’s life, a “Holy Grail” in skin mechanics, he said. The cosmetics industry releases so many different anti -aging products, it can cause a headache to know what is good and what is snake oil.
“When I got into this field, that was one of my goals – can I understand the aging?” said German. “Because if I look at television, radio, online, in stores, they tell me 1,000 different things about how to improve my skin’s health and I want to know what’s right and what it’s not.
German and former student of Binghamton Abraham Ittycheri and undergraduate student Alejandro Wilshire used a low -power tensometer to stretch tiny skin strips from people aged 16 to 91 years, simulating skin forces of course. They found that when the skin is stretched in one direction, it is in line in the other direction. But this contraction becomes older with age, resulting in wrinkles formation.
“If you stretch the stupid stucco for example, it extends horizontally, but also shrinks in the other direction – it becomes thinner. This is what the skin does,” the German said. “As you get older, this contraction becomes larger and if your skin is very tired, it hugs, so the wrinkles are formed.”
Your skin has a set of mechanical properties when you are young, but as you get older, things are starting to change and get a little “Wonky”, the German said.
“Things are a little downgraded, and it turns out that the skin extends more laterally, which causes real wrinkles formed,” the German said. “And the reason why there is in the first place that your skin is not in anxiety without stress is really stretched a bit, so there are innate forces within your own skin and these are the driving force towards wrinkles.”
With summer approaching, Germany noted that premature aging from the expense of chronic periods in the sun can have the same effect on your skin as chronological aging.
“If you spend your life work outside. You are more likely to have older and crumpled skin than those who are office employees, for example,” he said. “Chronological aging and photography give you similar results, so go and have a summer, but don’t forget the Suntan lotion – your future self will appreciate it.”
The document, “The clarification of the mechanistic process of age that caused the chuckle of human skin”, was published in the journal of mechanical behavior of biomedical materials.
Source:
Magazine report:
Ittycheri, A., et al. (2025). The clarification of the mechanistic process of age caused by human skin crumpled. Newspaper of mechanical behavior of biomedical materials. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.107080.
