CARING FOR YOUR SKIN
For centuries, people have scoured the globe for the secret of eternal youth. While we haven’t discovered it, we do know that healthy, beautiful skin is attainable and is one of the keys to looking young and vibrant.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Over time, it sustains damage from the effects of aging and factors in our environment. When skin is young, it works at peak performance and continuously repairs itself. As we grow older, these repair mechanisms grow weaker. That is when we begin to see signs of damage such as thinning of the epidermis anddermis, coarsening of the skin, enlargement of pores and loss of suppleness.
Here are some of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may affect the state of your skin:
INTRINSIC FACTORS
Aging
Although the aging process is inevitable, with the proper care, your skin can age gracefully and beautifully.
Heredity
Everyone ages differently. Some people get deep wrinkles, others don’t. Scientists have discovered that the root cause
of aging lies deep within our skin cell’s DNA. A good clue about how a person will age is to look at the parents and
grandparents, however this does not mean that the future state of your skin is predestined. You can control extrinsic factors and follow a healthy skin care regimen to help your skin stay more vibrant, longer.
EXTRINSIC FACTORS
The environment
Skin is affected by external factors, such as exposure to the sun, cigarette smoke and chemicals in the air. They all deprive skin of the oxygen it needs. For instance, smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. Smoking also interferes with normal blood flow in the skin. Limiting exposure to harmful factors is important, as is making sure your skin has the nutrients it needs to fight back.
Photo aging
Photo aging is damage to skin that occurs from many years of exposure to the sun. Studies have shown that too much ultraviolet (UV) light, a type of light from the sun, can cause skin problems and premature wrinkling. The sun’s UV light damages fibres in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these elastin fibres causes the skin to sag and wrinkle and slow its ability to exfoliate. The skin also bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal. While sun damage may not show at a young age, it will surely show later in life, which is why it is important to protect your skin.
Nutrition
Everything that is taken into the body affects skin, so a balanced diet keeps skin looking healthy. An antioxidant-rich diet is important because the environment subjects the body to oxidation. The most important vitamins are A, B, C, and E — all of which are antioxidants. As well, sufficient daily water intake is vital to keep skin hydrated and help retain moisture within the skin layers. Water helps your liver remove toxins, which keeps the skin clear. Dehydration can make the skin appear patchy and yellow. Eating well and properly hydrating your body gives your skin a better head start on a successful skin care regimen.
FREQUENT SKIN CARE QUESTIONS/ TIPS:
When do I apply sunscreen?
Q: I know that daily use of sunscreen is important, but I’m not sure when to apply it. Do I apply it before or after my moisturizer?
A: You should always apply your moisturizer first. An effective moisturizer should penetrate the skin and lock the moisture inside. Sunscreen should be applied last, as a barrier, and should have an SPF of at least 15. The daily use of a sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection is an important part of a healthy skin-care regime. Sunscreens and sunblocks not only protect you against premature aging, they are associated with reducing the possibility of skin cancer. Many moisturizers today contain sunscreens — try to find one that offers multiple benefits related to your skin type.
Skin Care: Women in Their 30′s
Q: I am 30 years old, and am worried about my skin aging. What types of skin-care products do you recommend?
A: You should use a sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 15 to protect against photo-aging and sun damage. You should also consider using anti-oxidants such as water- and fat-soluble forms of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A acid and alpha-lipoic acids. The daily use of anti-oxidants play an important role in the skin’s defense against damage associated with sun exposure. They can also help to repair some of the damage that has already occurred, helping reduce sun spots and fine lines and smoothing skin’s texture.
For centuries, people have scoured the globe for the secret of eternal youth. While we haven’t discovered it, we do know that healthy, beautiful skin is attainable and is one of the keys to looking young and vibrant.
The skin is the largest organ of the body. Over time, it sustains damage from the effects of aging and factors in our environment. When skin is young, it works at peak performance and continuously repairs itself. As we grow older, these repair mechanisms grow weaker. That is when we begin to see signs of damage such as thinning of the epidermis anddermis, coarsening of the skin, enlargement of pores and loss of suppleness.
Here are some of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that may affect the state of your skin:
INTRINSIC FACTORS
Aging
Although the aging process is inevitable, with the proper care, your skin can age gracefully and beautifully.
Heredity
Everyone ages differently. Some people get deep wrinkles, others don’t. Scientists have discovered that the root cause
of aging lies deep within our skin cell’s DNA. A good clue about how a person will age is to look at the parents and
grandparents, however this does not mean that the future state of your skin is predestined. You can control extrinsic factors and follow a healthy skin care regimen to help your skin stay more vibrant, longer.
EXTRINSIC FACTORS
The environment
Skin is affected by external factors, such as exposure to the sun, cigarette smoke and chemicals in the air. They all deprive skin of the oxygen it needs. For instance, smoking can produce free radicals, once-healthy oxygen molecules that are now overactive and unstable. Smoking also interferes with normal blood flow in the skin. Limiting exposure to harmful factors is important, as is making sure your skin has the nutrients it needs to fight back.
Photo aging
Photo aging is damage to skin that occurs from many years of exposure to the sun. Studies have shown that too much ultraviolet (UV) light, a type of light from the sun, can cause skin problems and premature wrinkling. The sun’s UV light damages fibres in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these elastin fibres causes the skin to sag and wrinkle and slow its ability to exfoliate. The skin also bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal. While sun damage may not show at a young age, it will surely show later in life, which is why it is important to protect your skin.
Nutrition
Everything that is taken into the body affects skin, so a balanced diet keeps skin looking healthy. An antioxidant-rich diet is important because the environment subjects the body to oxidation. The most important vitamins are A, B, C, and E — all of which are antioxidants. As well, sufficient daily water intake is vital to keep skin hydrated and help retain moisture within the skin layers. Water helps your liver remove toxins, which keeps the skin clear. Dehydration can make the skin appear patchy and yellow. Eating well and properly hydrating your body gives your skin a better head start on a successful skin care regimen.
FREQUENT SKIN CARE QUESTIONS/ TIPS:
When do I apply sunscreen?
Q: I know that daily use of sunscreen is important, but I’m not sure when to apply it. Do I apply it before or after my moisturizer?
A: You should always apply your moisturizer first. An effective moisturizer should penetrate the skin and lock the moisture inside. Sunscreen should be applied last, as a barrier, and should have an SPF of at least 15. The daily use of a sunscreen with broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection is an important part of a healthy skin-care regime. Sunscreens and sunblocks not only protect you against premature aging, they are associated with reducing the possibility of skin cancer. Many moisturizers today contain sunscreens — try to find one that offers multiple benefits related to your skin type.
Skin Care: Women in Their 30′s
Q: I am 30 years old, and am worried about my skin aging. What types of skin-care products do you recommend?
A: You should use a sunscreen daily with an SPF of at least 15 to protect against photo-aging and sun damage. You should also consider using anti-oxidants such as water- and fat-soluble forms of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A acid and alpha-lipoic acids. The daily use of anti-oxidants play an important role in the skin’s defense against damage associated with sun exposure. They can also help to repair some of the damage that has already occurred, helping reduce sun spots and fine lines and smoothing skin’s texture.