Nothing stops the march of time. You will get wrinkles, stuff will sag, and hairs will go gray. But maybe we can convince the wrinkles to arrive a bit later.
Aging is no reason to say goodbye to youthful and robust, healthy skin. If you spot more crow’s feet creasing at the corners of your eyes in the morning, do not panic! Here are some ways you can decrease the appearance and severity of wrinkles.
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Get quality sleep
Our skin is hard at work even when we go to sleep. This is the time when it produces collagen and attempts to repair the damage your face has accumulated during the day from stressors like pollution and dirt. New York-based dermatologist Patricia Wexler says that people who get only 5 hours of sleep can have double the wrinkles as those who get 7 or more.
Your sleeping position may also be causing wrinkles. Try to sleep on your back as much as possible. Sleeping on your stomach or sideways literally creases your face against pillows and breaks down collagen faster, causing wrinkles.
Use sunscreen everywhere
Contrary to what many may think, the beach is not the only place you should use sunscreen. In fact, you should have been slathered in sunscreen every time you were exposed to the sun as early as 6 months old!
But do not worry. It is never too late to start fighting sun damage. The sun may be a primary source of Vitamin D, but it also emits harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. UV rays age skin by disrupting skin cell growth at the DNA-level. In severe cases, excessive exposure to UV rays may lead to cancer. So lay that sunscreen on thick for healthier, fresher looking skin.
Eat healthy
Promote collagen and elastin production by eating food groups that contain Vitamin C. You can also use solutions and serums that concentrate the effect of Vitamin C, making it more potent.
Dry skin makes lines stand out more. Green, leafy vegetables like lettuce or kale are actually 90 percent or more water, and can keep your skin cells hydrated. Then, mix green with a little bit of red. Lycopene is a compound found in most red and orange fruits like tomatoes, watermelons, and grapefruits. The nutrient usually finds its way onto our skin, and helps block out harmful effects of UV rays such as sunspots, wrinkles, and dryness.
Pair these fruits and veggies with moisturizing, Omega-3 rich fatty fish like mackerel or salmon. Omega-3 is a fatty acid that not only helps the brain and heart, but also preserves moisture and keeps down inflammation, keeping your skin more supple and fresh.
Use organic anti-aging masks
Nourish the skin on your face directly by applying masks with anti-aging properties. Anyone can start at home by grabbing a few ingredients off the kitchen counter.
Egg masks are one of the easiest to do — just beat the egg and apply to your skin! The riboflavin in the egg traps moisture and is an antioxidant that protects from damage, while the egg white tightens skin. You can also throw in a splash of lemon, which helps decrease age spots, and raw honey, which is nature’s own bacteria-fighting secret.
Oats, bananas, yogurt, and avocados are other proven ingredients for homemade anti-aging face masks.
Watch out for wrinkle forming habits
Eating healthy and using anti-aging products is only part of the equation. We still do small, seemingly innocuous things that contribute to wrinkle formation. For instance, using straws habitually — aside from harming the environment — can cause wrinkling around the mouth. Rubbing your eyes and frequent squinting are also major culprits for crow’s feet, so be sure to get the right prescription from your glasses, and grab shades when you go out during the day to block out the sun.
We also have harmful, not so innocent habits that cause wrinkles. Smoking lessens the oxygen your skin gets by 40 percent. The less your skin is able to breathe, the less elasticity there is. Smoking is so harmful that it causes wrinkles and sagging all around your body, not just your face. If you are a heavy drinker, this compounds the effect of smoking, as alcohol severely dehydrates the skin.
Get injectable dermal fillers
At The Aesthetics Centre, we use Restylane Skinboosters, which are dermal fillers made of hyaluronic acid. Alarming as the word “acid” may be for some, do not fret. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring compound in our bodies. It keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized, giving it a plump, healthy appearance. As we age, the amount in our bodies decrease. By using injectables, we can restore levels and decrease the appearance of laugh lines, and lift sagging cheek bones. Our fillers are infused with lidocaine, a numbing agent that reduces the discomfort of the procedure.
There’s also Botox, which uses minute concentrations of a neurotoxin derived from naturally-occuring bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Botox, when administered correctly, relaxes muscles by decreasing abnormal contractions.
Use light and radiofrequency treatments
Few treatments in anti-aging are as popular as Botox. But the idea of injecting neurotoxins into your face to get rid of a few lines may make a few uncomfortable. Fortunately for the needle-fearing, there are other, less invasive treatments.
The BTL Exilis Elite is a treatment that uses a radiofrequency device to smoothen skin by promoting collagen growth. Results are more subtle than Botox, and we recommend around 2 to 4 sessions for noticeable changes.
You can also opt to get a Photofacial IPL treatment, which functions similarly to BTL Exilis Elite in that it promotes collagen growth. However, instead of radiofrequency waves, photofacials use targeted pulses of light. Aside from reducing wrinkles, it can also lighten age spots.
Do you have other questions about anti-aging treatments? You can send us a message at enquiry@theaestheticscentre.com, or give us a call at +65 6820 3308/+65 6820 3309.
