Extrinsic aging, as the name suggests, depends on the environment and other external factors that humans can control. Pollution, smoking, and exposure to ultraviolet rays are several of the environmental factors that can lead to rapid aging. The lifestyle of each person affects aging – their diet, quality of sleep, level of stress, and fitness.
On the other hand, intrinsic aging causes a natural decline in the human body. The symptoms include the reduction in hormone levels naturally, and the body’s increased susceptibility to free radicals.
Our genes can largely influence intrinsic aging. They can lead to the degradation of several vital parts of the body, such as skin and muscles, which impacts how much we age.
In some cases, extrinsic and intrinsic aging can merge. For example, ultraviolet ray exposure, which is an external factor, can affect and make our genes’ unable to function effectively.