Anti-aging skin care is important for keeping your skin soft and minimizing wrinkles and other signs of aging.
Why Does Skin Age?
There are many environmental and physical factors that cause skin to age. Factors that lead to skin aging include:
- Sun damage – over time, UV radiation from the sun can cause serious skin damage
- Indoor tanning – tanning beds and lamps are just as damaging as natural sunlight
- Repetitive facial expressions – frowning, squinting or even smiling can cause lines and wrinkles
- Smoking – smoking leads to wrinkles and other skin problems
- Poor diet – diets that lack adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables or that are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates can lead to premature aging
- Excess alcohol – dehydration of the skin can occur as a result of drinking too much alcohol. Dehydration leads to skin damage
- Lack of exercise – daily activity and exercise improves circulation and positively impacts the immune system, which can keep skin looking younger
- Harsh cleansing – skin irritation due to aggressive scrubbing speeds aging
- Perspiration – sweat can clog pores and irritate skin.
- Lack of moisturizer – a good quality moisturizer actually traps moisture in skin cells
- Irritating skincare products – harsh chemicals that sting skin can cause aging
Anti-Aging Skin Care
Protecting your skin from the sun and other lifestyle changes can slow the effects of aging and, in some cases, even reverse some of the damage already sustained by the skin.
Your dermatologist can help you develop an anti-aging skin care plan to improve skin health and protect your skin against further damage. Don’t feel you need to spend lavishly. Good, effective products are available in all price ranges.
Simple steps to start with include:
- Daily sunscreen – look for a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen (to block both UVA and UVB rays) with an SPF or 30 or higher.
- Moisturizer – choose a moisturizing product that fits your personal skin type. This could include one designed for sensitive, dry or oily skin. Also look for moisturizers that are non-comedogenic (doesn’t cause acne).
It takes time for skin cells to regenerate and for skin appearance to improve. Allow a few weeks to see results. If skin improvement is less than desired, talk with your dermatologist about additional products and treatments that may be beneficial.
