Your Beautiful Skin: turning the clock back

Written by Bakersfield Magazine

One of the first things we notice about one another is our appearance...more specifically, our skin. Our skin is often the go-to characteristic people use to determine, among other things, our age. That is why so many of us are diligent in caring for our epidermis (the scientific word for skin) from a young age; we want to put our best face forward (because what 40-year-old wants to be asked if their AARP benefits have kicked in?).

The youthful look is, has, and always will be in. So we dye our gray hair and dress younger, but the process of ensuring our skin ages gracefully with us is a bit more time-consuming. But the benefits of beginning an anti-aging process are numerous, not just to your skin. In addition to the treatments you can receive at local health spas and skin care facilities, there are things you can do at home to help give your skin the youthful glow you want it to have, as well as keeping your body feeling young and full of vigor.

First things first: don’t put it off any longer! It’s never too early and it’s never too late to get yourself on the path to younger-looking skin. Our body is capable of incredible rejuvenation on its own...but you have to help promote that rejuvenation. Pay attention to what, when, and how much you eat, how you cope with stressful situations in your life, and the steps you take to prevent sun and skin damage by the environment. These factors will help you determine the right type of skin care products or treatments to utilize.

First, look to your diet. No matter what your age, you should be eating different types of foods known to contain antioxidants. But it especially becomes important as you age and your body begins to show the effects of the environment, especially from being out in the sun, wind, and pollution. Try incorporating foods such as broccoli, berries, garlic, soy, whole grains, spinach, and carrots into your diet.

Additionally, there are foods that do more than provide our body with antioxidants; they impact our bodies on a cellular level, which helps the aging process. These foods possess anti-inflammatory properties. Think nuts, yogurt, green vegetables, onions, acai fruit, beans and lentils, and even hot peppers. Next, take a look at any supplements you’re ingesting.

Many of us don’t get the proper nutrition we need, and that means we should be taking vitamins or supplements to try and counterbalance pizza we ate for lunch or the French fries we had with dinner. Many of us don’t think that vitamins will help our skin, but many of the essential nutrients we get come from the foods we eat and will help prevent wrinkles and a dull complexion. And when we can’t eat healthy, we should be supplying our bodies with a boost of those much-needed minerals. Vitamins and supplements are in no way supposed to replace any foods you may eat, but are meant to boost your system.

However, if you make it a point to eat a well-balanced diet, you’ll find that step of an anti-aging regime is already taken for you! But just in case, try supplementing your diet with vitamins E and C and selenium.

Now take a look at your lifestyle. One of the first effects stress has on our body is to make our skin look sallow and haggard. Managing that stress by exercising will help exponentially. The benefits of moderate, regular exercise are enormous for your physical well-being. But make sure your lifestyle includes protecting your increasingly youthful-looking skin. One big way to do this is by using a lotion with an SPF. Make sure you’ve got sunglasses and sunscreen with UV protection included. Using sunscreen daily on your face and on your body prior to sun exposure will also help to avoid wrinkles, brown spots and other signs of premature aging.

And using products is a great part of an anti-aging routine. Creams and lotions are a great way to keep your skin looking youthful because they add and promote moisture in your skin, which alone reduces early wrinkles and keeps skin hydrated and elastic.

The National Skin Care Institute has some tips you can follow as you embark on your journey to younger-looking, healthy skin.

• Get plenty of sleep. A good 7-9 hour rest through the night helps organisms to restore levels of oxygen in the blood that are responsible for quick renewal of your body’s cells.

• Avoid direct sunlight, keep your face covered when in the sun; use high-factor sunscreen, put on sunglasses, and a wide brimmed hat.

• Quit smoking and avoid stressful situations that can show up on your face no matter how thoroughly you take care of your skin.

• Women: Never go to bed with make-up on...it can seep into your pores, clogging them. Wash your skin twice at the end of the day: first to take off the makeup and then to wash the skin itself.

• Handle your skin very carefully—never pull, tug, or rub roughly.

• After washing your face at night, be sure to remove dead skin cells (exfoliate) with the gentle scrub at least twice a week. Use products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which are derived from fruit, milk, and sugar cane and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Sources: skincarenet.org, bestantiaging.org, skincarearticles.com

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Article appeared in our 26-3 Issue - August 2009