4 Skin-Saving Tips Dermatologists Tell Patients of All Ages

When people talk about getting older, the words "aging gracefully" or "growing old gracefully" are quite often used. Aging gracefully doesn't mean just looking generally good while getting older…It's more about protecting your skin and taking care of your body through the years so a healthy complexion can glow at every stage of life. Aging gracefully doesn't mean you have to wear your wrinkles and sagging, dull skin with pride. If you want to lose weight, you eat healthy and regularly work out. Once you reach your weight loss goal, do you stop eating healthy and working out to maintain your weight? No. The same applies to taking care of your skin. Caring for your skin consistently is key.

The truth is there will be changes in your skin. Some good while others not so good. However, one thing is for sure, with all the product and treatment advancements in today's world, most of them can help improve aging skin. And if you haven't been doing anything to take care of your skin, it's never too late. Keep in mind though that protecting and restoring skin at 50 is done differently than at age 20. According to most dermatologists, here's what to look for and do for your skin as you age through the years.

Under 20 - Wear Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

If there's one skin care habit everyone should follow, even at a young age, it's to wear sunscreen. Practicing good sun protection habits early on can have a serious impact on your skin as an adult. Even just getting one blistering sun burn during your childhood years and over exposure to the sun can double your chances for developing melanoma later on in life. Children are taught to brush their teeth twice a day. They should also be taught to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen daily as well as cleanse and moisturize skin daily as part of overall skin health. These habits will help diminish the chance of developing skin cancer and also help skin to age in a healthy way. Dermatologists will tell you that 90% of visible signs of premature aging are attributed to over exposure to the sun, so wearing sunscreen every day as a teenager can keep you look youthful for much longer.

In Your 20s - Practice Preventive Anti-Aging Habits

In your 20s, the most common skin concerns are typically acne and preventive anti-aging. So, it's generally recommended to wash your face twice daily and focus on keeping skin hydrated. In addition to wearing broad spectrum sunscreen and practicing proper skin care habits daily in your 20s, make sure to stay away from smoking and avoid laying out in the sun or tanning beds. Follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and maintain a steady weight. Moisturize your skin (face and body) to maintain a healthy skin barrier because dry skin ages more quickly and is more susceptible to inflammation. If you're still breaking out in your 20s, go see your dermatologist and/or use a safe and effective regimen specifically formulated for adult acne. If you are opting for procedures and treatments to enhance your appearance in your 20s, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, and facials are popular for 20-somethings. During these years, it's not so much about wrinkles as it is about prevention and enhancing your appearance.

In Your 30s and 40s - Use Retinoids and Follow a Healthy, Balanced Diet

In your 30s and 40s, most dermatologists will tell you to use a retinoid cream or serum daily and watch your diet a little closer than usual. The foods you eat are very important to your overall skin appearance and health. Eliminate or greatly reduce sugars, white flour, processed foods, and dairy products in your diet.

In your 30s, you are probably going to start seeing some fine lines and wrinkles. Elasticity will start to diminish. You may also start to see some uneven skin tone, redness, dark spots or a combination of both. Prevention is very important in your 30s. Skin care products with retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids in them can help to reverse some of the damage that has already been done. You may want to consider Botox or fillers, not because those lines are deep but because they aren't yet. If getting injectables scares you, you can also go for needle-less options available on the market.

It's all about skin sagging, loss of collagen and elastin in your 40s. Make sure you give your body 8 hours of sleep a night so your skin has a chance to repair itself. If you've abused your skin and feel you need a treatment at the doctor's office, Ultherapy, Thermage, Kybella, and IPL treatments are all considerable options. Also, an at home alternative treatment that can help with skin firmness and fine lines is the AMP MD roller system. The roller offers high-precision micro-exfoliation technology to gently and safely condition skin. You can use it nightly at home to amplify your results for visibly refined tone and texture, reduced appearance of lines and wrinkles, and firmer-looking skin.

In Your 50s and Older - Keep Your Skin Hydrated

In your 50s and older, it's important to make sure that your skin is well hydrated. In addition to drinking water, make sure to use a good moisturizer and serum with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid twice a day. Also, make sure to exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week or incorporate a glycolic acid wash into your routine because this can help improve cell turnover without drying the surface out. Botox can help lift droopy brows, put volume back in a receding chin or help with jowls. Fillers also help add volume to sagging skin. But don't overdo it or you can look unnatural.

As the saying goes…"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of filler." With all that is going on in the anti-aging skin care market these days, surely there is way to age gracefully. Even though many women don't begin to develop noticeable signs of aging until their late 30s and early 40s, the damage that causes fine lines and wrinkles starts occurring way before that. By taking care of your skin properly at a young age, you can decrease the chances of those fine lines and wrinkles showing up prematurely. I think it's safe to say that when it comes to taking care of your skin, the earlier you start, the better off your skin will be. However, later is still better than never!

Source:

https://www.newbeauty.com/slideshow/2877-dermatologist-tips-better-skin-every-age/2/