Scientists have known for some time that the leathery effect old skin often is linked to a loss of elasticity in the skin tissue. However, a team led by Igor Sokolov at New York's Clarkson University has found that the problem could be down to individual epithelial cells becoming more rigid as they age.
Previously researchers had thought that the reason why the epithelial layer loses its elasticity was due to the changes in the dermis, the deepest layer of the skin, rather than the cells themselves.
However, a report contained in the New Scientists cites that it could be changes in the epithelial layer above the dermis that causes the visual affect of ageing.
"What we have discovered is that the epithelial cells themselves become more rigid with age," said Craig Woodworth, a member of the research team.
The study reveals that after many generations of cell division the epithelial cells become up to ten times stiffer, leading to an increasing occurrence of wrinkling.
The scientists say that this is due to the cells' internal scaffolding of protein fibres becoming increasingly dense.
The Clarkson team now believes that some existing drugs might inhibit the development of the protein fibres, which in turn might slow down the ageing process.
Currently the team is testing skin creams containing low doses of the drugs under investigation on mice. Results are expected to be known within in the next few months.