As we age, our skin also ages. You can’t stop time, but there are other things we can do to lessen its effect on our skin. The question is, what can we do to prevent our skin from aging too quickly? The first step is to first assess your main concerns. It can be hyperpigmented dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, or redness and thinning of the skin. Maybe you’re just interested in finding the right daily skin care regimen. In this article, we’ll be introducing the different types of anti aging treatments that you can consider. Whatever your priorities, the right way to start treatment is to always identify your main problem, and then consult a professional and make a plan.
What Causes Our Skin to Age Prematurely?
One thing we cannot change is the process of the way we age naturally. It plays a key role. Over time, visible lines develop on our faces. Skin aging is caused by a combination of natural aging and sun exposure. A little sunshine can go a long way in boosting vitamin D levels and preventing seasonal affective disorder. However, too much absorption is very bad for our skin. Our faces naturally lose some of their youthful fullness. We noticed that our skin became thinner and drier. Our genes control when these kinds of changes happen. The medical term for this aging is “intrinsic aging”. Our skin has two main layers. The epidermis forms our skin’s outer barrier, protecting us from environmental damage, such as bacteria and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At the same time, the dermis is rich in collagen and other proteins, which are solely held responsible for the durability and elasticity of our skin.
What Are the Types of Anti-Aging Treatments?
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Botulinum Toxin Therapy, commonly called Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin, helps reduce frown lines (growth lines) between the eyebrows and at the corners of our eyes. This treatment works by preventing muscles in these certain areas from tightening. The recovery time for this type of cosmetic surgery depends on how your body adapts, but it can take up to seven days to see the final results. Results usually last about 3 to 4 months.
Chemical Peel
During a chemical peel, your doctor uses acid to remove the outermost layer of your skin. It removes age spots and wrinkles for a brighter complexion. Your skin will take some time to heal after peeling and will turn red within a week or two. Depending on the type of chemical peel you receive, professionals might require you to go through more than one treatment to get the results you want.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is used to treat wrinkles, age spots, and sunburn, using a special kind of rotating brush to remove the outer layer of skin in smaller areas of the face. New, smoother skin will grow in its place. The new skin will be reddish for a few weeks, and there could be possible crusting or swelling for a few weeks after treatment. It may take weeks or months to see full results. You might need to take some time away from work or other commitments. You may only need one treatment, but people with deep scars or visible signs of skin aging may need more than one type of dermabrasion.
Microdermabrasion
This treatment removes the topmost layer of skin, just like dermabrasion. However, instead of using a rotating brush, microdermabrasion uses a special machine that sprays tiny particles onto the skin. It is less abrasive than microdermabrasion and has a shorter healing time. It can also be used on different skin types, but you may need multiple sessions to achieve the desired results. Many people use microdermabrasion as part of their skin care routine to fight skin aging.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
For this treatment, the doctor uses a special kind of laser to treat narrow columns of skin. The special laser damages the deeper layers of the skin and stimulates the growth of new skin cells. Damaged areas peel off to reveal smoother, younger-looking skin. Fractional laser resurfacing can help treat wrinkles and fine lines. While your skin may not take time to heal after fractional laser resurfacing, you may experience some redness, pain, peeling, or crusting. You may need multiple treatments over several weeks to get the results you want.
How Can We Prevent Signs of Aging?
We can influence another kind of aging that affects our skin. Our environment and lifestyle decisions can cause our skin to have premature aging. The medical term for this aging is “extrinsic aging”. By taking some precautions, we can slow down the effects of this aging on our skin. Simple steps include protecting yourself from the sun, using self-tanning instead of smearing, gently cleansing your face, applying moisturizer, and washing your face after sweating.
Smoking can greatly accelerate the rate of skin aging. It causes wrinkles and a dull, sallow complexion. Alcohol can irritate the skin. It dehydrates the skin and damages it in time. It makes us look older. Some research findings suggest that moderate exercise can improve blood circulation and improve our immune system. This can make our skin look younger.
Having a proper diet and exercise are also important, so try to eat skin-friendly foods and stay active to boost your immune system. But the most essential and easiest way to prevent premature aging is to apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen to all sun-exposed areas of your body in the morning, then reapply every 90 minutes throughout the day. Moisturizers trap moisture in our skin, thereby hydrating it and giving it a more youthful glow and appearance.
Some research findings suggest that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent the damage that causes premature skin aging. The findings also suggest that a diet high in sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate aging. Scrub your skin clean can irritate your skin. Irritating the skin can accelerate skin aging. Gentle washing helps remove pollution, makeup, and other substances without irritating the skin. When your skin feels a burning or stinging sensation, it means your skin is highly irritated. Having irritated skin can make you look older.
