Anti-Aging

Feeling like it’s time to correct years of sun damage, or do you just want to prevent wrinkles before they start? No matter what your goal is, here’s how to make your skin look fabulous

With all the recent advancements in skin creams, lately it seems as if the skincare industry has gone the way of rocket science (in fact, one creator of the pricey ‘cult’ cream Crème de la Mer used to work for NASA). Where once women made do with a dab of Pond’s Cold Cream, they now want anti-ageing products and lifestyle advice to help defy lines and wrinkles from a very young age. According to Nuala Briggs, skincare expert and founder of Harley Street’s Skin Therapy Clinic in London this is the right course of action – ‘you’re never too young to start taking care of your skin and protecting against sun damage with SPF creams’, she says. How, we wish we had listened to our mums and worn sunblock during all those summers as a kid.

Touch the mid-30s and everyone wishes that time stood still. Their biggest mistake? Taking their skin for granted when it was at its best. According to beauty expert Colleen Kirk, who has worked on famous faces like Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Willams and Cher among others, abusing the skin at a younger age is the biggest beauty sin one can ever commit. She says, “When we are in our late teens and 20s we think we are invincible. We take our natural beauty for granted and wake up a little too late. Thankfully, with modern day beauty treatments, there is help even at late stages. But skin care should ideally start as early as your teens.” Here are some tips on age defying treatments.

Technology in skincare

One of the biggest advancements in skincare is the use of technology to make products that are powerfully intensive and help prevent further damage to the DNA so that your skin retains its youthful glow. These days new products are available in the market that are used on a seasonal basis. Says Coleen, “These are time defying intensive serums. They are meant to be used for 14 nights every season and they repair the skin, cutting down years.”

Stop wrinkles

The skin starts ageing right from the age of five. A good skin care regime right from your teens can make sure that you delay the onset of signs of aging and promote healthy skin. As skin ages, it loses its ability to restructure itself. An early skin care regime of proper cleansing and moisturising will be helpful in your early 20s. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is the most important aspect of caring for your skin. It not only protects you from cancer but is also required for a youthful appearance. After all, skin is the body’s largest organ and needs to be taken care of just like your heart. Never step out of the house without a sunscreen.

Tips:

I’ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with naturally beautiful skin. I never give it the attention it deserves. In fact I eat all kinds of junk food, drink aerated beverages and also enjoy heavy food.

Marooned on an island: The only beauty products I would want are a good moisturiser, a perfume and kajal. I don’t step out of the house without kajal.

Never forget to: Remove my make-up. I take as much time in removing it as I do in applying it. That’s the one important thing I always bear in mind.

Hair care: A warm oil massage once a week is necessary. I also pamper my hair with moisturising hair packs.

Home remedies: There’s nothing in particular that I follow, but I believe in the magic of fruits. I rub papaya and banana pulp on my skin regularly.

Favourite colours: Though I love vibrant colours, when it comes to make-up, I use neutral, earthy tones. I love light browns and beige. The best part is they go with all kinds of outfits and look good any time of the day.

Activate the Anti-Aging Process

The aging process begins when we enter the world and the effects of aging are evident in our bodies through out our lives.  Beginning in our 20's, the signs of aging start to become noticeable. Genetically programmed chronologic aging causes changes in collagen and elastin, the connective tissues that supply firmness and elasticity to the skin.  The genetic program of individuals is different, so the loss of skin firmness and elasticity occurs at different rates and different times in one individual as compared to another.  As skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier and underlying fat padding begins to disappear.  With the loss of underlying support by fat padding and connective tissues, the skin begins to sag; it appears less supple and wrinkles form.

Although wrinkles, lines and age spots are formed by the natural effects of getting older, one way to prevent them from appearing early on in life is to avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreens with SPFs 15 or higher.  And, although most of us have some form of sun-damaged skin, there are ways to regain healthy, smooth skin. After many years of research, scientists, dermatologists and plastic surgeons have discovered that a variety of natural ingredients and vitamin extracts significantly help slow down and even reverse the signs of aging skin.  These ingredients are now found in many physician developed and physician recommended anti-aging skin care products, which are specified below.

Vitamin A (Retinol) - Topical Vitamin A has been suggested to help build collagen fibers within the skin in addition to its more superficial exfoliating property. This is the basis for its use in minimizing the appearance of fine wrinkle lines.  Vitamin A or Retinol is the main ingredient found in TYK Young Again, M.D. Forte, DDF and  SkinScience products.

Vitamin C - Vitamin C or ascorbic acid acts as an antioxidant and is considered vital in wound healing because it aids in stabilizing collagen. When applied topically, vitamin C can reduce fine lines and wrinkles and may lessen the severity of sunburns.  This healing ingredient is found in SkinCeuticals, Cellex C and Obagi Cffectives skin care products.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E is another antioxidant that shows to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin. When applied topically, vitamin E has been shown to improve moisturization, softness and smoothness and also provides modest photo protection.  Vitamin E is found in Cellex C, Exuviance and MD Forte products.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) - AHAs are designed to smooth fine lines and surface wrinkles, to improve skin texture and tone, to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. AHAs are the main ingredients found in MD Forte, TYK Young Again, Super Skin and SkinScience products.

Glycolic Acid - Glycolic acid is the most active and beneficial of the Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids (AHAs) in skin care.  Once inside the cells, the acid triggers new formations of collagen to plump cells and the ground substances in the skin to reduce wrinkles on the skin's surface. Glycolic acid is proven to be very effective in the treatment of acne as well as in cosmetic uses.  Glycolic acid is found in products by Gly Derm, MD Forte, Z. Bigatti and Super Skin.

Idebenone -Idebenone is the synthetic variant of the natural compund ubiquinone. Both powerful antioxidants, idebenone and ubiquinone shield skin from environmental damge, improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce dryness and smoothe skin texture.

N-6 furfuryladenine (kinetin) -  The nature-identical plant growth factor, furfuryladenine, retards the aging of plant cells as well as in vitro human skin fibroblasts. This natural, anti-aging ingredient has been proven to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and is exclusively found in Kinerase creams and lotions. This is a proven alternative for people with sensitive skin or people who are sensitive to products containing Retinol and Vitamin C.

Copper Peptides - Copper Peptides are the latest scientific breakthrough in skin rejuvenation. Copper has been found to naturally firm the skin, enhance elasticity, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Copper is the main ingredient in products by Neova and Osmotics.

Pal-KTTKS - Pal-KTTKS is an effective ingredient for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It's found to promote a smoother, younger complexion quickly, without with out expensive and painful chemical peels, surgery or injections. This patented peptide solution is found in StriVectin-SD.

Green Tea Extract - Green tea's anti-inflammatory and anti-growth qualities are found in many skin care products designed to reduce the appearance of puffiness, wrinkles, fine lines and large pores.  Green Tea is found in the Dr. Brandt skin care line, Z. Bigatti and Gly Derm products.

TNS - The biotechnology of the skin's natural healing process has arrived with the first tissue repairing complex containing growth factors found in normal, healthy skin.  Unlike anything else currently on the market, TNS is the next level of skin rejuvenation that delivers dramatic results, for smoother, softer, younger looking skin.  TNS is found in SkinMedica's TNS Recovery Complex.

Many customers ask which anti-aging product is best and we always respond by saying that there is no "best" product.  Since every individual's skin is different, the results of using anti-aging products will be different as well.  We recommend that you consult with a skin care professional prior to use of any new skin care product to determine your skin type, skin condition and possible sensitivities to active ingredients.  Your skin care professional may recommend specific products, or you can try a few on your own based on your consultation.  If you are not happy with the first product you try, try another one.  It's important that you choose a product and skin care regimen that makes you feel 100% comfortable with the look and feel of your skin.  

Customers also inquire about when they should expect to see results from using anti-aging products.  Again, we respond by saying that results will be different for each individual, generally due to the condition of one's skin prior to use.  However, across the board, we say not to expect a miracle, as there is no anti-aging product on the market that provides overnight results.  Whether you are trying to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness or age spots, the process is gradual and takes anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks depending on the severity of your problem areas. After allowing the products time to take effect as well as following product directions, you can be sure to notice significant improvement in the appearance of your skin.

To see the quickest results, you will have to undergo professional cosmetics procedures.  While procedures such as laser treatments, injections and dermabrasion produce the fastest, most noticeable improvements, they are all are somewhat painful or uncomfortable and very costly.  In addition, pre and post treatment plans are required to achieve maximum results, which consist of using skin care products, that are also proven to be safe, effective, painless and less expensive alternatives to professional cosmetic procedures.

Please note that with the use of any new skin care product, it is highly possible that your skin will react to the ingredients.  You may experience irritation, redness, dryness or a mild breakout, which should only last for the first 3-5 days of use.  If you experience any of these reactions for a longer period of time, please discontinue use and consult a skin care professional.  It is also recommended that prior to using any new skin care product to consult with a skin care professional.