Scientists have found the secret of youthful skin

Our skin consists of layers. The upper layer is connected to the lower one not in a straight line, but with the help of special wavy ridges. These protrusions fit into each other and tightly hold the layers together. As long as these ridges are deep and frequent, the skin remains firm and elastic.

With age, these ridges smooth out and disappear. The contact area of the layers decreases, they begin to hold on to each other worse. Because of this, the skin becomes thin, weak and begins to sag.

Scientists have not been able to study this process for a long time, because they conducted experiments on mice and monkeys. But in these animals, the skin is arranged differently — it is smooth inside and does not have such fastening ridges. But pigs and grizzly bears have them.

Observing piglets, biologists have discovered an important detail: these fastening ridges are formed not in the womb, as previously thought, but after birth. It means that the body knows how to create them in the course of life.

Researchers have found a specific protein that instructs cells to build these structures. Over time, this signal weakens. Scientists believe that if this protein is artificially activated in the elderly, the skin can be made to regrow these ridges. This will not only hide wrinkles, but will restore the skin structure that it had in its youth.