Cutaneous aging is a complex biological phenemenon, which consist of two distinct components--the instrinic genetically determined degenerative process and extrinic ageing due to exposure to the environment. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet irradiation, primary exogeneous factor, resulting in the clinical and morphological changes known as photoageing. Alterations of the components of epidermis and connective tissue of the skin, associated with chronological and photoageing, are reviewed in the present article.