Tips to Keep Your Skin Looking Youthful
Posted on September 22, 2014
At Aqua Plastic Surgery, we can relate to the desire to “turn back the hands of time.” In fact, most people would like to find the Fountain of Youth, so they can stop the natural aging process. As that has not yet happened, we will have to settle for the following tips to help keep our skin looking as youthful as possible.
#1: Wash Your Face Before Bed
Never go to bed without first washing your face. During the day, makeup, dirt, debris and pollutants build up on your skin. If you go to bed without washing your face, the same dirt and debris may end up clogging your pores.
Note: In your 40s, hormonal changes can cause oil production to slow. When this happens, washing your face too often may cause your skin to look dry, dull and wrinkled. If washing your face twice a day seems to be having this effect, simply wash your face with foaming face wash before bed and splash your face with lukewarm water in the morning.
#2: Use Sunscreen Daily
Even when it is overcast outside, the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are reaching earth — and you. Over time, the sun’s UV rays can cause premature signs of aging, including dark spots, wrinkles and more. To keep your skin looking as youthful as possible, you must apply sunscreen with a broad-spectrum SPF of 15 or higher every morning.
#3: Manage Stress
Chronic stress can age your skin in multiple ways. First, constantly frowning or grimacing as the result of stress can cause dynamic wrinkles to form, including so-called “frown lines” that appear in between the eyebrows or horizontal forehead furrows. Second, when you are under stress, your body produces more cortisol, the stress hormone. High cortisol levels lead to inflammation, which, in turn, breaks down collagen, a protein that is essential for healthy, supple and young-looking skin. Thus, managing stress by practicing yoga, meditating, taking deep breaths, going for a walk or talking to a friend is crucial for keeping your skin looking youthful.
#4: Watch What You Eat
To keep your skin looking its best, it’s best to eat well-balanced, nutritious meals and limit your intake of foods that are high in sugar. This is because nutritious foods help support skin health while sugary foods hinder it. For instance, foods that are high in antioxidants help reduce inflammation, which, again breaks down collagen. In contrast, eating large amounts of sugary foods can cause a physiological process called “glycation.” Glycation causes the proteins in the body, including collagen proteins, to become hard and inflexible. When collagen becomes too rigid, so does the skin.
#5: Seek Help to Combat Visible Signs of Aging
Although no one can completely stop the natural aging process, Dr. David Rankin can help combat visible signs of aging with cosmetic surgery and nonsurgical treatment options. If you are already experiencing noticeable signs of facial aging, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
To schedule a personal consultation with Palm Beach plastic surgeon Dr. David Rankin to learn more about your facial rejuvenation or skincare treatment options, contact Aqua Plastic Surgery by calling (561) 776-2830 or (954) 564-3832.
