Aging Skin At A Glance

Like everything else on our body, our skin gradually begins to age as we get older. So what do we have to look forward to? Have a glance below.

30s

In the third decade of life, we start to see the first signs that we have truly left our childhood years behind. That’s when certain effects start showing up more, like puffiness under the eyes. Although they can start as early as our 20s, expression lines also begin to appear around the eyes usually due to sun exposure.Luckily, you can slow it all down by protecting yourself from further bombardment by the sun with sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. This is also a good time to incorporate an antiaging product, like retinol, into your skincare regimen to boost your collagen reserves. You might also consider microdermabrasion, peels and photo-rejuvenation.

40s

In your 40s, expect to see further loss of elasticity in the skin. Any areas that experience a lot of movement, such as the eyes, will start to exhibit more wrinkling. Botox injections or topical treatments have been known to repair collagen degeneration and reduce eye wrinkles.

50s and Beyond

The changes you experience in your 30s and 40s become more magnified as you reach 50 and beyond. The loss of collagen and fat makes the face sag and even the bony structure of the face starts to go. Deep wrinkles become more apparent due to sun exposure, health habits and age. At this stage in life, treatment options may include collagen and laser resurfacing.

Although it might be disheartening to realize how everything seems to disintegrate as we age, that should not be how we perceive age. Age is nothing but a number. What that number actually looks like in the mirror is in your control.

What steps are you taking to control father time?

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Fight Eye Wrinkles From The Inside Out

Your diet is one of the most important parts of your skin care regimen to get rid of eye wrinkles. You can enhance the effects of a topical antioxidant program with a nutrition plan that promotes overall health. The best diet for good health and gorgeous skin is one made up of the freshest possible fruits and vegetables, combined with low-fat sources of protein, complex carbohydrates, and clean water. Add plenty of rest and at least a moderate amount of exercise and you may very well be accused of discovering the fountain of youth.

In adopting healthy eating habits, you need a protein, a good source of carbohydrates and a small amount of unsaturated fat. This translates to meals that include a piece of chicken or fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, and a small amount of monounsaturated fats such as olive oil or a few nuts (such as almonds or macadamias). You should broil, steam, grill or sauté - never fry. Steer clear of fatty cold cuts, red meats and hydrogenated (hard) oils and fats. For complete menu ideas for high-antioxidant meals, pick up Enter the Zone and Optimum Health.

If your primary staples currently include fast food (any burger joint will do), processed food (if it’s in a can eating is bland) and plenty of sweets, you may not be ready for drastic changes in your eating habits. But, all hope is not lost. You can gradually improve your nutrition with just a few minor substitutions.

If you want to eat...	Try this instead...
bacon	turkey bacon
beef steak	salmon steak
ice cream	low-fat frozen yogart
fried fish or chicken	bread-crumb baked fish or chicken
hamburgers	turkey burgers
pasta	spaghetti squash
potatoes	butternut squash
strawberry shortcake	hot mixed berry compote
waffles & syrup	slow-cooked oats with apples, cinnamon & raisins

For snacks, try:

• half a cup of fresh, unsalted nuts

• an apple, orange or pear

• six black and green olives and celery sticks

• fresh veggies, cut up finger-food style, topped with vinegar, soy sauce and olive oil

• grilled shrimp (about a half-dozen large) with garlic on skewers. Dip in soy sauce.

Remember, what you put into your body is what you get out. Your skin will reflect the signs of a low-nutrient rich diet. However, a focus on antioxidant rich meals supported by an appropriate skin care regimen will make those eye wrinkles go away.

How Skin Tone Triggers Fine Lines

Skin tone undoubtedly impacts the appearance of eye wrinkles. In fact, your skin color controls your ability to resist sun damage and recover from irritation or inflammation. It also dictates the type of treatments used to effectively eliminate or reduce wrinkles.

Fair skin. Fair-skinned people are far more susceptible to skin damage, fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun exposure. While cosmetic procedures such as a face-lift can dramatically improve the skin’s firmness, it can’t improve the skin’s texture. All a facelift will do is pull lines and wrinkles into a new position.

By contrast, antioxidant therapy can help improve the actual health of the skin as well as slow the development of fine lines. A good antitoxidant therapy includes high potency products such as alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin-C-ester. Topical vitamin-C-ester, an antioxidant, can help increase the skin’s production of collagen, thereby helping to thicken the skin.

Brown Skin. Brown skinned people are less likely to sustain sun damage and more likely to remain smooth and wrinkle-free longer. Some evidence suggests that brown skin is more elastic and tends to stay firmer longer. Brown skin best tolerates treatment with alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), a group of natural acids derived from fruit, milk and other natural substances that work as a gentle exfoliant. Equally important to note is that surgical procedures on brown skin may cause uneven pigmentation. Products such as Retin-A (an acidic form of vitamin A) and Renova (which contains the Retin-A molecule but in a very mild base) that work well to fade lines and wrinkles on fair skin, can discolor brown skin if not used in the right strength.

Light Brown or Yellow Skin. In the middle of the color spectrum lies light brown or yellow skin. These skin tones are more resistant to sun damage than fair skin and are susceptible to fewer wrinkles.

A regimen of alpha lipoic acid cream containing DMAE with 15% vitamin-C-ester can reduce wrinkles and puffiness around the eyes for medium-skinned people. Adhering to a healthy diet that hydrates the skin is helpful in avoiding problems with sallow skin tone. Specificallly, drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day and eating plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are important for healthy skin.

5 Ways To Prevent Eye Wrinkles

Sun damage is the leading cause of wrinkled skin. In fact, many experts agree that wrinkles are the direct cumulative result of decades of unprotected sun exposure, rather than aging itself. Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin, invading the normally sturdy layers below and eventually destroying collagen and elastin. Collagen makes your skin firm and youthfully plump. Elastin gives skin resiliency and keeps expression lines from forming into creases and wrinkles.

No matter what your age, you can help prevent further sun damage by using a strong sunscreen, that absorbs ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. UVB, the burning rays, are more prevalent in the summer and strongest at midday. UVA rays reach the earth year-round and in greater amounts. La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX is currently one of the most effective sun protection creams on the market because it contains Mexoryl SX, an active sun filter.

To get the most from your sunscreen (see product review for Athelios SX), use the following guidelines:

1. Stay away from midday sun. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
2. Put sunscreen on early. Apply a sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go out to allow it to penetrate your skin’s top layer, and 15 minutes before you apply makeup.
3. Don’t be stingy. Use an amount about the size of a marble to cover your entire face.
4. Hide your eyes. Wear sunglasses that block as much ultraviolet light as possible.
5. Go undercover. Stay in shady areas, wear a brimmed hat to protect your scalp and further shield your eyes.

Fine Lines? Vitamin C To The Rescue

Got fine lines around the eyes? A stroll down the aisles of your local department store will reveal lots of sparkling bottles, jars and vials guaranteeing to smooth out those fine lines and give you a youthful look. Unfortunately, these claims are rarely true. As you may intimately know, many products offer only limited, short term benefits. That’s not to say that these products can’t do your skin some good. Many companies produce high quality emollient and exfoliant formulas that can temporarily smooth the skin’s surface around the eyes or increase its ability to maintain moisture. And if you are in need of a quick fix, a short-term gain may very well suit your needs.

If you are serious about getting rid of eye wrinkles, however, you must consider those products and treatments that have been scientifically proven to penetrate to where the aging process actually takes place: in the deeper layers of the skin. Antitoxidants or, more specifically, topical antioxidants fit the bill. One of the most effective antioxidants for treating eye wrinkles is vitamin C.

Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen, the strong connective tissue that essentially holds us together. Dietary vitamin C is just as important as topical solutions. Fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, tomatoes and red bell peppers are rich in vitamin C.

Vitamin C ester is a topical solution discovered by Nicholas Perricone M.D., that can be easily absorbed into the skin. It can be mixed into creams and lotions and keep its potency for months and even years. And over time, vitamin C ester can reduce deeply embedded lines as well as fine lines around the eyes.

But, not all antioxidants are created equal. Even more important, some are better suited to some skin repair jobs than they are to others. According to Dr. Perricone, the skin conditions most likely to respond to treatment with vitamin C ester topical preparations are:

• Fine lines and wrinkles on severely sun-damaged skin;

• Sagging skin that is losing its firmness because of lost or damaged collagen; and

• Sunburned, inflamed or irritated skin.

So if your skin falls into one of the above categories, check out the newest products from Dr. Perricone.

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