by Donna McMickens
In today’s youth-obsessed culture, more and more people are trying to turn back the clock to have a more youthful-looking complexion. Collagen is the main structural protein of our skin and body. Collagen provides strength and elasticity to our skin. It helps to provide the ability to stretch and recoil. As collagen fibers get damaged our skin will start to sag and appear loose and dull. While all skin will eventually age, there are some steps and treatments you can take to slow down the aging process.
The natural process of aging normally causes wrinkles. However, other factors can contribute to their formation. We naturally lose some of the fatty layer beneath our skin as we age, and the skin will tend to sag more. Wrinkling and aged-looking skin is mostly caused by the sun’s UVA and UVB exposure. Other factors are rapid weight loss, smoking, too much alcohol, stress, lack of sleep and poor diet.
Most of us know that the sun causes more damage to our skin than anything else we are exposed to. However, the only thing that damages our skin almost as much as the sun is … smoking. Smoking causes free radical stress in the skin. Most smokers complain more about the wrinkles around their mouth. This is caused by smoke actually being absorbed into the skin and causing damage which in turn causes the “smokers-lip” or vertical wrinkles around the mouth.
To reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fade dark spots, rejuvenate and smooth the skin’s texture, look for products that contain retinoids. Retinoids are made from Vitamin A and help to increase collagen production and skin cell renewal. Remember to apply these products to the neck, hands, chest and back along with sunscreen. Use moisturizers and gels to replenish and hydrate skin.
While some procedures, such as face-lifts, can be costly, others can be less painful for both you and your bank account. Patients are geared more to doing less down-time, and more cost-effective treatments like Botox, which relaxes the frowns around the eyes and forehead, thus, removing lines that make us appear tired or angry. Chemical peels help brighten dark patches, tighten and smooth rough, dry or oily skin. Fillers such as Radiesse, Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane can help smooth away the wrinkles around the mouth and nose for up to a year. New advanced laser treatments help to remove spider veins, hair, acne scars, large pores and redness. Lasers can also resurface skin and rejuvenate elasticity and collagen lost from premature aging with little or no down-time. Most of these treatments can be done during a lunch hour making it easy to return to work.
To keep your skin healthy and vibrant, you should apply an SPF of at least 15 – 30 everyday. Sunscreens will protect your skin from sun damage, prevent wrinkles, pigmentation problems and pre-cancerous lesions.
Donna McMickens, L.P.N. Aesthetics Director @ 561-0916 or 487-2020 or e-mail: dmcmickens@laeyeandlaser.com
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