One of the easiest ways to take care of your skin is by understanding how the skin operates and how it changes over time. By now most of us are familiar with the terms “dermis” and “epidermis.” But what about the “dermal-epidermal junction?” Despite the funny name, this part of the skin holds all the secrets to aging gracefully.

As we age, our skin changes. It loses its elasticity and can become thin, weak and prone to wrinkles. How can this be prevented? To an extent it can be avoided, however no one is immune to the signs of aging. The main goal of anti-aging products is to decrease and eventually eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The main way to achieve this goal is by keeping deep-set wrinkles from forming in the first place. This means maintaining the Dermal-Epidermal Junction, or DEJ for short.

If you’ve never heard of the DEJ before, it’s time to educate yourself and add this term to your skincare and anti-aging arsenal of vocabulary words. The area between the dermis and epidermis is referred to as the “junction” and plays an important role in the structure of your skin. The DEJ interlocks to form fingerlike projections called rete ridges that appear as a narrow wall of wave-like cells that lie just below the surface of the skin. These ridges increase the surface area of the epidermis so it can receive the proper amounts of blood vessels and nutrients from the dermis. It is because of the DEJ that the dermis and epidermis are able to work together to provide healthy skin cells.

When the skin ages, the dermal layer begins to weaken. As a result, the DEJ starts to flatten out, which causes the skin to become more fragile and prone to the formation of wrinkles. When this happens, the epidermis is not able to receive the nutrients and blood vessels from the dermis, which leads to the skin’s inability to repair itself properly. The skin becomes thin and dry - the perfect breeding place for wrinkles. Without the right levels of nutrients, blood vessels, elasticity and collagen that is present in normal, younger skin, the easier it is for deep-set wrinkles to take over. Unlike fine lines, when wrinkles make a home for themselves within the DEJ, it is almost impossible to get rid of with regular skincare and anti-aging products alone.

Once the DEJ has fallen victim to deep wrinkles, it can be difficult to treat. However, with the advances in anti-aging technology, there are products that have been specially formulated to penetrate deep within the skin, reaching right down into the DEJ and removing the wrinkles from the source. Regular anti-wrinkle creams and serums can hardly treat wrinkles affecting the DEJ since these ingredients often aren’t potent enough to reach the DEJ. If you are prone to deep-set wrinkles, talk to your dermatologist or search online for specialty anti-aging products that are designed to target the DEJ area and eliminate the appearance of deep wrinkles.

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