anti aging skin care is not a lost cause after 40 - honest!
At any age, sensible skin care starts with being sure to avoid any and all avoidable skin damage, particularly from the sun and wind. As you enter your forties, skin maintenance problems increase dramatically (particularly for women).
As you pass 40 your skin face meets more challenges but has fewer resources
After 40 our levels of various hormones and growth factors decrease rapidly. Damage to cells will have accumulated over the decades, especially in your skin. The renewal rate of your skin cells will reduce dramatically too.
Women in particular experience dramatic hormonal transformations as they approach and then go through the menopause. The loss of these hormones causes a reduction in the production of collagen, elastin and other skin components. This in turn leads to a reduction in the production of sebum and in turn this leads to the skin thinning and dryness.
In men over 40, declining levels of testosterone initiate similar (but less obvious) consequences.
Age-related skin inflammation problems also manifest themselves. Inflammation can increase the production of harmful free radicals, which in turn may lead to cell damage, skin degradation and other skin problems.
These accelerating changes can lead to significant changes for your skin:
* Drying and thickening of the outer layer (the epidermis) leaving the skin looking dull, and dessicated
* Thinning of the dermis (skin's mid layer), leading to less firmness and elasticity. This increases the development of lines and wrinkles
* Development of wrinkles, lines and creases, especially where facial expressions lead to repeated folding of the skin. The aging dermis can no longer recover and bounce back from this continuous folding of the skin
* Patchiness, skin blotches, blemishes, broken capillary veins
* Reductions of subcutaneous fat and a steady weakening in facial muscles, eventually lead to a gaunt expression
But it doesn't have to be like that! Aging cannot be avoided, but its effects certainly can be. Some of the effects of aging can - in some cases - actually be reversed, others can be put "on hold" almost indefinitely.
Here is a brief list of the major problems with aging skin, and how they can be avoided
Deydration Dry skin is very common after the age of 40, and proper hydration of the skin is needed for every other phase to work properly. Wash with a good moisturizing soap and clean fresh water, avoid alcohol wipes, and avoid sun and wind as much as possible. Drink lots of water.
To reduce wrinkles and fine lines use retinoids (e.g. Retin A) and vitamin C. Believed to be very effective are lipoic acid and also copper peptides. Remember however, that some of these suggestions may be right for one person but not for another.
Estrogen and progesterone Recent research indicates that replenishing of estrogens and progesterone via external application improves skin hydration, reduces wrinkles, and produces several other beneficial effects in women at or past their menopause. However, any treatment should be embarked upon only with the approval of your physician.
Exfoliate After forty, your epidermis (outer skin) will likely become drier and thicker because its cells are not replaced as quickly as they used to be. Your skin may then look dull, dry, and uneven. Occasional exfoliation may then help to restore a youthful feel by removing the dead keratin. But it is important not to exfoliate too much. Start with mild exfoliating agents (like table sugar scrub). Only if this is insufficient, try a mild chemical exfoliant.
Skin Texture and Colour Age spots and blotchiness are common as you head into your 40s. They are mostly caused by an increased production of melanin in the skin. The problem can sometimes be alleviated by applying a lightening agent which slows the production of melanin.
Motion wrinkles Wrinkles develop in areas of the face where regular movement results in folding of the skin. They become much more common after 40 and are extremely resistant to traditional treatments such as anti-wrinkle creams, laser resurfacing and/or chemical peels.
Anti Aging Botox Treatment However, motion wrinkles respond surprisingly well to anti-aging botox injections (botulinum toxin). This appears to be because Botox effectively stifles movements that cause the problem.
Botox can reduce horizontal lines in the forehead, crow's feet, scowl lines between the eyebrows, and those ghastly wrinkles in your upper lip. Botox seems to be less good at treating smile lines and it's useless for wrinkles which are NOT caused by facial movements.
Professional Intervention If your skin defiantly resists all these self-administered treatments, you may consider skin treatments performed (usually) by medical professionals. It is most important to choose the right treatment and the right doctor.
Available professional treatments include lasers, dermal fillers, chemical peels, Botox injections and so on. Some of the available treatments are invasive, painful, and all are very expensive.
The Best Anti Aging Cream? Genuine anti aging skin care treatments have now arrived. There is a user-applied non-invasive Botox alternative available on the internet and in some specialist stores. You can learn about this great new anti aging wrinkle cream, and why it works so well, by visiting my HGHscene web site (see last paragraph). You'll also find see some truly amazing "before and after" photos of over-40 skin which has been treated.
This new anti aging product offers:
* Wrinkle density reduction of 33%
* A 23% reduction in the volume of wrinkles
* A 20% lessening of the depth of wrinkles
Buy some Sunglasses One concluding suggestion! It may seem ridiculous to you, but one of the best wrinkle prevention remedies available is a pair of good sunglasses. If you are often out and about in bright sunlight, you'll probably squint a lot (we all do, even if we don't realise it).
This type of extreme squinting can last for minutes or hours, and over weeks or months it can lead to permanent skin wrinkling - it is mostly around the eyes, but also extend further afield.
This is particularly marked after 40, but is something that can start much earlier for many. Their skin may seem to recover when they are younger, but longer term damage is still being done.
Moral: don't wait until the wrinkles appear, that will be too late! Take action long before you think you need to!
