ABSTRACT
The pace of change in the demography of westernized populations has been rapid over the past century. In the corresponding affluent societies, an extraordinary shift has taken place in the age profile of the population, with older people representing a progressively growing segment. The aging “baby boomers” are now a major demographical force partly driven by the West’s cultural obsession with the prevention of aging and the desire to maintain a youthful appearance. Thus, the current demographical evolution has enormous social implications. Indeed, the aging process is increasingly one of the daring topics of both the media and medical community. Any new antiaging treatment modality is avidly watched by the population. Middle-aged and even younger subjects show a craze for cosmetic dermatology when their once youthful bodies exhibit the early signs of wear and tear. In this field, breakthroughs and novel treatments fulfil some of the promises. No longer is this search a uniquely female characteristic, men also disdain an elderly demeanor. In addition to new technological advances, the future prospect of the scientific approach of skin aging relies on a better understanding of the relationships between skin biology and physiology and the ultimate clinical appearance.
