Final answer:
Aging skin differs from younger skin in that repair takes longer, it becomes thinner, and dryer due to reduced sebaceous gland secretions. Increased blood supply and increased sebaceous gland secretions do not characterize aging skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Attributes of Aging Skin Compared to Younger Skin
As people age, various changes occur in the body that affects the integumentary system. Notably, the skin undergoes significant alterations. To address the student's question, the true statements about aging skin compared to younger skin are:
- Repair takes longer: The ability for skin to regenerate and heal is reduced, leading to slower wound healing.
- It is thinner: Aging is associated with decreased mitosis in the stratum basale, resulting in a thinner epidermis and also a reduction in the hypodermis's structure due to less fat, leading to thinner, sagging skin.
- It is dry: This dryness is due to a decrease in sebaceous gland secretions, not an increase, resulting in reduced moisture retention and consequently more dry and fragile skin.
Contrary to one of the options provided, blood supply is not increased but rather reduced, which contributes to a paler skin tone and decreased blood circulation. Furthermore, increased sebaceous gland secretions do not occur; it is the opposite. The sebaceous glands have lowered activity which results in reduced sebum production.