The process of aging is characterized by the epidermal cells becoming thinner and less sticky. Therefore, the thinner cells make the skin look thinner and the reduction in stickiness causes dryness of the skin. The mechanism that results in dryness is due to the decreased stickiness, which makes the barrier function work less effectively, that, in turn results in moisture being released instead of being kept within in the skin. In a span of ten years the number of epidermal cells decreases by ten (10) percent and in the due course of aging the cells divide more slowly thereby impairing the ability for the skin to repair itself quickly.

There are significant transformations that appear on the dermal layer due to aging. The dermal layer not only thins out gradually but also the production of collagen is less and the elastin fibers that provide elasticity wear out. These changes results in the skin to sag and wrinkle. There are few changes that results in dryness of the skin like the reduction in number of sweat glands and the increase in size of the sebaceous glands which also produces less sebum. The rete-ridges of the dermal - epidermal junction flatten out which makes the skin more fragile and easier to shear. As a result of this phenomenon, it results in decrease in the amount of nutrients available to the epidermis by decreasing the surface area in contact with the dermis and also interferes with the skin´s normal repair process.