Afraid of losing your youthful appearance to aging, spotted, and wrinkled skin? Understanding how to keep your skin polished, hydrated, and soft will help you preserve a younger look as you age.
healthandbeautyresource.wordpress.com gathered information about what happens to our skin as we age and how to slow or reverse the effects of time.
Aging Skin
With aging, the outer skin layer (epidermis) thins, even though the number of cell layers remains unchanged. The number of pigment-containing cells (melanocytes) decreases. The remaining melanocytes increase in size. Aging skin looks thinner, paler, and clear (translucent). Signs of aging skin include:
- Wrinkles
- Age Spots
- Skin Tags
Pigmented spots (age spots or liver spots) may appear in sun-exposed areas. The medical term for these areas is lentigos.
How to Reverse Wrinkles
With modern topical applications and dermatological treatments, severe wrinkles are now easily treatable. There are several deep wrinkle treatments available that can reduce the appearance of existing wrinkles and fine lines and prevent more wrinkles from occurring. Some treatment options for wrinkles include:
- Retinoids (These are a class of compounds that come from vitamin A)
- Micro-Needling (This is a minimally invasive procedure stimulating collagen production)
- Microdermabrasion (This is a minimally invasive procedure renewing skin tone and texture)
- Dermabrasion (This is a skin-resurfacing procedure using a rotating device to sand the outer skin surface)
- Chemical Peels (A chemical solution is applied to the skin removing the top layers)
- Laser Skin Resurfacing (This process removes skin layer by layer with precision)
- Botulinum Toxin Type A (This popular injection therapy temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles)
Note: Unless you are severely dehydrated, drinking more water isn’t going to help get rid of wrinkles or plump up your skin.
Wrinkle Prevention
Regular use of moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid and vitamin C can be especially effective at preserving aging skin and preventing wrinkles from getting deeper. Other ways to prevent wrinkles include:
- Protect your skin from the sun
- If you smoke, stop
- Reduce alcohol consumption
- Avoid repetitive or pronounced facial expressions
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Gently cleanse your skin
Tip: Ask your dermatologist for product recommendations.
How to Eliminate Age Spots
People can attempt to eliminate age spots at home using over-the-counter (OTC) topical creams and specially formulated lotions. These products may help lighten the skin and cause the age spots to fade. Other age spot treatments include:
- Microdermabrasion
- Dermabrasion
- Chemical Peels
- Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Freezing (Cryotherapy)
- Medications (Prescription bleaching creams)
Note: No matter what skin treatment you choose, age spots can return. You can prevent recurrences by protecting your skin from the sun.
Age Spot Prevention
True age spots do not require treatment. However, they are a sign of excessive sun exposure and are an attempt by your skin to protect itself from more sun damage. For cosmetic reasons, age spots can be lightened or removed. You can prevent age spots by regularly using sunscreen and avoiding the sun.
How to Eliminate Skin Tags
If you’re trying to cut off skin tags painlessly or how to remove skin tags at home, there are no entirely safe methods, and DIY’ing it could lead to uncontrolled bleeding, severe scarring, and infection. The following procedures are safer and can be done under your doctor’s supervision:
- Surgery (Your doctor removes the skin tag with surgical scissors)
- Cryosurgery (A physician, typically a dermatologist, freezes off the skin tag with liquid nitrogen)
- Electrosurgery (An electric probe or needle is used to burn off the skin tag)
Note: Skin tags do not grow back after removal. If you develop other skin tags in the same location after removal, you may be prone to having them there.
Skin Tag Prevention
While the likelihood of developing skin tags increases as you age, you can significantly reduce and prevent their development by the following:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Get regular exercise
- Avoiding wearing jewelry and clothing that repetitively rubs against your skin
Note: Skin tags are harmless, but if you develop them, they won’t go away without treatment.
Reverse Aging
In this article, you discovered essential information on how your skin can appear to prematurely age and what you can do to stop and reverse it.
Knowing which procedures to undergo and what changes to make in your diet, exercise, and habits will help you restore and maintain your youthful appearance.
Ignoring the need to care for your skin can deepen wrinkles, result in sun spots, form skin tags, and cause premature aging and weathered skin.
Sources:
health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/8-tips-to-protect-and-preserve-aging-skin
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/age-spots/symptoms-causes/syc-20355859
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21528-skin-tags-acrochordons
urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=85&ContentID=P00323
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