ABSTRACT
According to the theory of evolution, aging is a sideeffect of imperfections in the mechanisms of repair and maintenance, the process of maintenance being represented principally by preservation of telomeres and by resistance to oxidative damage (free radicals). The qualities and functions of the skin and the appendages diminish with age, and the responsibility for these alterations is attributed to the influence of numerous factors: excess exposure to solar radiation, smoking, diet, and hormonal deprivation.
