anti aging skin care should start well before 40!
Scott Schofield
Commonsense skin care makes good sense at any age, and starts with taking positive action to avoid all externally-created skin damage, in particular from sun and wind. As you move into your forties, skin problems can increase dramatically (and this is particularly so for women).
As you pass 40 your skin face meets more challenges but has fewer resources
After 40 our levels of various hormones and growth factors decrease rapidly. Damage to cells will have accumulated over the decades, especially in your skin. The renewal rate of your skin cells will reduce dramatically too.
Women in particular experience dramatic hormonal transformations as they approach and then go through the menopause. Reductions and changes in her hormones will reduce the production of collagen, elastin and several other important skin components. In turn this will lead to reductions in the production of sebum and this will this lead to skin thinning and dryness.
For men over 40, similar declining levels of testosterone initiate similar (although less obvious) consequences.
Age-related skin inflammation problems can also appear. This inflammation can increase the production of damaging free radicals, and this in turn can lead to cell damage, skin degradation and various other skin problems.
These steadily accumulating changes can lead to visible consequences for your skin:
* Drying and thickening of the outer layer (the epidermis) leaving the skin looking dull, and dessicated
* Thinning of the dermis (the skin's mid layer), which in term leads to reducing firmness and softness. This speeds up the development of lines and wrinkles
* Development of wrinkles and creases, especially where facial expressions lead to folding of the skin. The aging dermis can no longer recover from this continuous folding of the skin
* Patchy colour, skin blotches, blemishes, and broken capillaries
* Lessening of subcutaneous fat and a weakening in facial muscles, lead to a haggard or gaunt expression
But it doesn't really have to be like that! Aging cannot be avoided, but beating the effects of aging is certainly possible. Many of the long term effects of aging can - in many cases - be reversed, and others can be effectively put "on hold".
Here is a brief list of the major problems with aging skin, and how they can be avoided
Ensure hydration Dryness is very common after 40. Proper hydration is needed for every other step of a skin care program to work properly. Wash with a moisturizing soap and clean fresh water, avoid alcohol wipes, and of course, avoid sun and wind much as possible. Drink plenty of water.
To reduce and avoid wrinkles and fine lines use retinoids (e.g. Retin A) and vitamin C. Also believed to be effective are lipoic acid and copper peptides. Remember however, that each suggestion may be right for one person but not for another.
Progesterone and Estrogens Recent studies suggest that the replenishing of estrogens and progesterone by external application improves skin hydration, reduces dep wrinkles, and has several other beneficial effects for women who are at or past their menopause. Remember however, this kind of treatment should be embarked upon only with the approval of your doctor.
Exfoliation After forty, your epidermis (outer skin) will probably become drier and thicker because its cells are not being replaced as quickly as they were. Your skin could then look dull, dry, and patchy. Occasional exfoliation can then help restore a youthful look and feel by removing dead keratin. But it is very important not to exfoliate too much. Always start with a mild exfoliating agent (like table sugar scrub). If this is insufficient, try a mild chemical exfoliant.
Skin Colour and texture Age spots and blotchiness will become increasingly common as you pass the 40 mark. These are mostly caused by the increased production of melanin in the skin. The problem can sometimes be alleviated by topical lightening agents, which slow the production of melanin.
Motion wrinkles Wrinkles develop in areas of the face where regular movement results in folding of the skin. They become much more common after 40 and are extremely resistant to traditional treatments such as anti-wrinkle creams, laser resurfacing and/or chemical peels.
Botox anti aging skin treatments Motion wrinkles do however respond surprisingly well to botox injections (botulinum toxin). This seems to be because Botox effectively reduces the movement that causes the problem.
Botox reduces horizontal forehead lines, crow's feet, vertical scowl lines between the eyebrows, and those horrible vertical wrinkles in your upper lip. Botox seems to be less efficient in treating smile lines and it's totally useless for wrinkles which are NOT caused by facial movements.
Getting some Professional Help If, despite your best efforts, your skin resists all your self-administered skin treatments, you may consider skin treatment by a professional. It is however, most important to choose the right treatment and to select the right practitioner.
Available treatments include lasers, dermal fillers, chemical peels, Botox injections etc. Some of the available treatments are very invasive, and all are expensive.
The Best Anti Aging Cream arrives However, there is now a genuine user-applied non-invasive alternative to Botox. You can find out all about this new anti aging wrinkle cream, and why it works so well, at my HGHscene web site (see last paragraph). You'll also find also some amazing "before and after" photos of skin which has been treated.
This new anti aging skin care product offers:
* Wrinkle density reduction of 33%
* A 23% reduction in the volume of wrinkles
* A 20% reduction in the depth of wrinkles
Get some Sunglasses One last suggestion! It may seem like a joke, but one of the best (and cheapest) wrinkle prevention remedies is a pair of high quality sunglasses.. If you are regularly out and about in bright sunlight, you'll squint (we all do, even if we don't realise it).
The problem with this type of squinting is that it can last for minutes or hours, and over weeks or months this will lead to permanent wrinkling particularly around the eyes, but also further afield.
This is particularly marked after 40, but is something that can start much earlier for many. Their skin may seem to recover when they are younger, but longer term damage is still being done.
Moral: when the wrinkles appear it may be too late. Start an anti aging skin care regime while your skin is still fresh and blooming, and keep it that way!
AcuTherapist Scott Schofield writes on alternative health matters. He has two web sites where you can http://www.hghscene.com/ buy anti aging products online or find out more about the
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