When women talk about aging skin, the first thing they mention is wrinkles. But the loss of radiance or a youthful glow can add years to a woman’s look, too. The luminosity of skin is dependent on how well it absorbs and reflects the light and that can be a problem for over-40 faces. Dead skin cell buildup and dark spots triggered by years of sunlight interfere with the skin’s reflective ability. The collagen fibers that support our skin tend to break down with age. To amp up collagen production, even out skin tone and increase luster, try this simple regimen.
1. Smooth Skin
Sweeping away surface cells gives you a more light-reflective complexion and allows the products you’ll apply next to penetrate better. Use a cleanser or lotion that contains alpha or beta-hydroxy acid; these gentle exfoliants are less likely to inflame skin than gritty scrubs. For a more dramatic effect, you can use prescription strength vitamin A creams (tretinoin), which increase the cell turnover rate and help us shed the damaged surface layers. These creams have the added benefit of helping reduce our risk for precancers of the skin.
2. Even Out Tone
Antioxidants are nature’s recipe for evening out the irregular pigment and blotchiness we often experience from too much sun. Topical concentrations of vitamin C, green tea, CoEnzyme Q 10, as well as other vitamins and herbs have been shown to improve skin tone and quality, some with the additional advantage of assisting in skin cancer prevention.
3. Moisturize and Protect
Keeping skin hydrated always helps boost a blah complexion, but new lotions made with niacinamide (vitamin B) and other thirst quenching nutrients do more than that. Protect your skin from the sun with a daily sunscreen SPF 30 or higher. For those of you who are active outdoors, sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming/heavy sweating. New studies show that combining green tea extracts with sunscreens provides more potent protection against sun damage.
4. Quick Food Fix
Adding a dressing made with olive oil to your salad may increase your skin’s radiance. The monounsaturated fats in the oils help increase the absorption of the disease-fighting antioxidants and skin-smoothing vitamin E found in dark leafy greens and colorful vegetables. A diet high in antioxidants and low in refined, processed foods not only keeps our skin smoother, it also protects us against skin cancer and other forms of cancer.
5. Water
Stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause one to feel ill and stresses the body’s organs. Sodas, alcohol and beverages with caffeine cause our bodies to lose more fluids than we take in. Lack of water is the number one cause of daytime fatigue. Even mild dehydration can slow the metabolism and cause difficulty focusing.
There are many additional treatments that target the changes in your skin and help to repair its dullness and gives it a smoother, creamier glow. Consult with your dermatologist to see which treatment may be best for you.
Dr Lisa Benest is a medical and cosmetic dermatologist in Burbank. She and her staff provide comprehensive skin examinations as well as an array of non-invasive, cosmetic procedures and offer a full line of skin care products. To learn more about skin rejuvenation as well as the most up-to-date lasers, schedule a a free consultation with our skin care specialist!. Check out our website for a complete list of all our treatments.
Dr Lisa Benest can be reached at:
1624 W. Olive Ave #B
Burbank, CA 91506
818-729-9149
www.lisabenestmd.com
For permission to reprint this article in full or in part, contact info2006@lisabenestmd.com
