Monday, April 9, 2012

Quick Tips to a More Youthful You

Women today are savvier than ever when it comes to taking care of their skin. We are taught from a young age to do things like apply sunscreen when we’re out in the sun and a good moisturizer before we go to bed at night. In fact, a study by dermatologists Dr. Kathy Fields and Dr. Katie Rodan found that 84 percent of 25- to 29-year-olds are afraid of the effects of aging on their skin. So, what’s the result? Women in their 20s and 30s are more aware of the efficacy of ingredients, and are more apt to take preventative measures using cosmetic procedures. According to the annual survey of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the most common procedures among women between the ages of 35 and 60 were blepharoplasty, Botox, brow lifts, facelifts, filler injections and chemical peels.

So, we get it. You’re listening. That’s great! Read on for a few tips on how to combat some of the most common issues we see in our practice.


How to Revive Tired Peepers
The first signs of aging show up in and around our eyes.

Baby-step solution: Big UV-protective sunglasses (to prevent squinting and filter sunlight) and a moisturizing nighttime eye cream with antioxidants and retinol will do a lot to prevent and treat early crow's-feet.

Serious fix: If the rings under your eyes are pronounced to the point where you look tired all the time (thank genetics for that), a derm or plastic surgeon can inject a hyaluronic acid filler along the circles to create a smooth surface between your cheeks and eyes.

Be Spotless
Don’t be fooled. Those cute freckles your mom adores so much are actually sun damage. It’s a condition called hyperpigmentation, and it gets worse as we age. So, maybe slathering on the baby oil before baking yourself in the sun wasn’t such a good idea. Sure, it may have looked good then, but now it’s time to repair and reverse those sun spots.
Baby-step solution: Anyone who has come home from the beach sporting a splash of new freckles knows that sunscreen is most crucial to people prone to sunspots. Layer on protection any chance you get - vitamin C serum under daily sunscreen and topped with mineral powder is a sweet trio. At night, help the fade with alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy, or kojic acid.

Serious fix: Ask your dermatologist about mild acid peels to increase cell turnover and get rid of blotchy surface skin, or Intense Pulsed Light treatments, which are extremely effective in targeting and removing sun damage.

Erase Those Lines
Expression lines result from a combo of UV damage and the skin's elastin wearing out from repetitive use.

Baby-step solution: At home, use vitamin A derivatives like over-the-counter retinol or prescription retinoids like Retin-A Micro to prevent and minimize fine lines by increasing collagen. Retraining ourselves to not make some very basic facial expressions - like scowling - can make all the difference. Whenever you feel tense, consciously take a moment to breathe deeply, which will force you to relax your facial muscles.

Serious fix: The only way to stop expression lines from forming is to refrain from making the expression, which requires Botox or another botulinum toxin. Some dermatologists recommend starting to use a botulinum toxin as a preventative measure, before those lines set in.

Pamper Your Pores
As we age pores start to sag because of, you guessed it, sun damage. Makeup, pollution, and your skin's natural oil can stretch out your pores over the years beyond the point where they can shrink back, and folks with oily skin are even more prone to stretched pores because their skin produces more…well…oil.

Baby-step solution: Clean out and tighten your pores so they can't hold as much. Peptide creams and serums strengthen and firm the skin, salicylic acid products dissolve the oil in your pores, and face scrubs with round beads smooth away surface dullness - just steer clear of scrubs that contain ground seeds or pits because jagged edges can microscopically tear skin, making the problem worse in the long run.

Serious fix: Enzyme facials are great for jump-starting a pore-minimizing regimen. For a more drastic approach, Isolaz is a no-downtime laser procedure that literally vacuums out your pores and kills bacteria, which also makes it great for getting rid of pore-stretching acne - a condition that many women don't outgrow until their 40s.