Anti-Aging Skincare Myths

All of us would be happy to age gracefully. But just what causes our skin to age and how can we keep it looking young? Make sure that you get the facts about skin aging instead of believing the myths. Read on to get the skinny of how our skin really ages.

If Your Mother Doesn’t Have Wrinkles Neither Will You

Or the reverse – if your mother has wrinkles you will get them too. Neither of these ideas about skin aging is true.

Everyone’s skin ages differently. Yes, genetics can play a role, though a small one, in how our skin ages. Most of how your skin ages are connected to how you care for your skin and how much sun exposure you experience and not your genes. If you live in a very polluted area and love to spend time at the beach you can be sure that this will show up on your skin in the form of wrinkles and dark spots.

The opposite is also true – if your mother smoked and you do not, you can be sure that your skin will look less wrinkled than her skin. Overall lifestyle habits plan a larger role in skin aging than genetics.

Moisturizer Stops Wrinkles From Forming

Everyone needs a good moisturizer; even people with oily or acne-prone skin can benefit from the right moisturizer. While moisturizer does a lot of great things for our skin – helping our skin to stay hydrated and smooth for instance – it does not prevent wrinkles. To prevent wrinkles, you need to use sunscreen daily, lead a healthy lifestyle, and use an antioxidant serum. Moisturizer can lessen the appearance of wrinkles because it will temporarily plump the skin.

So do not get confused – while your beloved moisturizer is necessary for maintaining beautiful skin it will not prevent those wrinkles from forming.

Most Sun Damage Happens Before You Are 18

This is one of those persistent skincare myths that never seem to go away. I have even heard people say that 80% of our sun damage happens before age 18.

It turns out that only about 20% of the sun damage to our skin happens before age 18. This is great news because it means we have a lot of control over how our skin ages and looks. By using sunscreen daily (even on cloudy days), lessening stress in your life, maintaining good skincare habits like removing all your makeup at night, and using products with retinol and antioxidants to lessen the sun damage you have already have you can have great looking skin. Be sure to find a sunscreen that you like and use it daily. Remember to also reapply sunscreen throughout the day in order to always have sun protection.

If You Stay Inside You Won’t Get Wrinkles

I hear from a lot of clients that they do not need sunscreen daily since they hardly ever spend time outdoors. Nothing can be further from the truth. Just sitting in an office with a window can cause lots of sun damage to your skin since UVA rays penetrate glass. If you need proof be sure to check out this photo. Keep in mind that sun damage builds up over time. Even those 10 minutes in the car on the way to work or those 15 minutes are going out to run errands in the afternoon add up to serious sun damage over time. That sun exposure can be seen in our skin as wrinkles, fine lines, and dark spots. So be sure to use your favorite sun protection daily.

10 Anti-Aging Skin Myths and Tips

Fighting wrinkles, rashes, and age spots? Here’s MD-approved advice about what works and what doesn’t.

Myth

Water is the fountain of youth.

Fact

Only if you are suffering from severe dehydration, water will not stop wrinkles. Wrinkles and aging are mainly caused by the sun, age, and, most notably, genetics. Aside from choosing your parents wisely, the best way to prevent wrinkles is to use sunscreen at all times. Retinoids are still the gold standard for anti-aging. If your skin can tolerate them, these are excellent products to help prevent wrinkles as well.

Myth

Moisturizers lessen wrinkles.

Fact

Moisturizers only sit on your skin and help keep it hydrated—they retain the oil and water already in your skin. After you wash your skin, it is normal for it to feel dry. If you already have oily skin then adding moisturizers can actually worsen conditions such as acne. If you have dry, flaky skin, then you should use a moisturizer.

Myth

You don’t need sunscreen on a cloudy day.

Fact

You need sunscreen all day, every day, rain or shine. The ultraviolet rays that reach the earth are UVA and UVB. On a cloudy day, some of the UVB rays are filtered out so you may not burn as easily, but UVA rays penetrate right through the clouds and deep into your skin and also can cause premature aging and even skin cancer.

Myth

If a product is made with all-natural ingredients, you don’t have to worry about any adverse effects.

Fact

You can just as easily have an adverse effect on natural ingredients, such as aloe or vitamin E, as you can on chemical or man-made ones. Mother nature is not always kind. If you are using a “natural” or “organic” product, and your skin becomes irritated, stop using it immediately. If the reaction is mild, you can probably treat it with over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. If the reaction is severe, you will need to see your dermatologist for a prescription-strength cream or perhaps even systemic medication.

Myth

Lasers can get rid of anything on your skin.

Fact

A laser is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. It’s a machine that gives off light that is amplified and has a specific target, such as blood, melanin, or water. Lasers can treat dilated blood vessels especially on the face, they are wonderful for brown sunspots, and the lasers that target water are excellent for superficial resurfacing/smoothing and fine lines. But lasers, just like any other technology, have limitations. They cannot eliminate moles, growths, rashes, or most skin cancers. And a laser cannot make a 60-year-old look 40.

Myth

If something worked for your friend, it will work for you.

Fact

Everyone is different and also has a very different type of skin. A treatment that is perfect for your blue-eyed, fair-skinned, blonde friend might be a disaster for your brown-eyed, olive-complexioned sister. In the world of skincare, we are not created equal, so find what works for you.

Myth

The more expensive a skin-care product, the better it will work.

Fact

For the most part, price and efficacy have no relationship. If you swear that a $250-per-ounce cream works best for you, and you can afford it, then that is what you need to use. However, there are many wonderful products available at stores like Target and Costco that will probably do the same thing.

Myth

Dirt causes acne.

Fact

The causes of acne are multi-factorial. Most people who believe their acne is caused by dirt have scrubbed their faces so hard that they have actually worsened their acne by irritating their skin. Acne is mainly under hormonal control, and it is the sensitivity of one’s oil glands and hair follicles to one’s own normal hormones that create the problems. You just need to get on an appropriate skin-care regimen that works for you, which your dermatologist can help you do.

Myth

Liver spots are related to a problem with your liver.

Fact

These unsightly brownish spots may have a liver-colored hue, but there is no connection between “liver spots” and your liver. They are caused by sun exposure and become more visible as we get older. The best way to prevent these spots is to use sunscreen and practice sun-safe behaviors like wearing a hat and finding shade. When applying sunscreen, don’t forget your chest, ears, and the tops of your hands.

Myth

Warts have roots.

Fact

A typical misconception is that if you don’t get the “root” out, the wart will come back. Nothing that grows on your skin has roots. Warts are caused by a virus and are notoriously difficult to treat, especially those where the skin is thick, such as the hands and feet. If you don’t remove all the cells that contain the wart virus, the wart will grow back. There are many ways to treat warts ranging from topical products that contain salicylic acid, to immunotherapy, to injectable chemotherapeutic agents. The treatment is tailored to the patient, the location of the wart, and the number of warts being treated.

Do You Need To Use Anti-Aging Products In Your 20s? – When To Start Using Anti-Aging Products

When is it too early to start using anti-aging products? If you want to preserve the beautiful skin you have in your 20s should you start using anti-aging products in order to do so? The answer to those questions is actually – no. In your 20s you want to work on saving your youthful skin, but you don’t need anti-aging products in order to do so.

Why There Is No Need To Use Anti-Aging Products In Your 20s

Maybe you just want to make sure that you keep your skin looking as youthful and beautiful as long as you can. Or perhaps you’ve started to notice a few fine lines around your eyes and want to stop them before they become full-blown wrinkles. Certainly, it is no problem to find anti-aging products and ingredients like peptides and retinols, but if you start using these ingredients too early, you can actually just end up irritating or even damaging your skin instead of helping it.

A lot of anti-aging products help speed up skin cell turnover since this skin function slows down dramatically as you age, but keep in mind while you are in your 20s your skin still produces new skin cells all the time. There is no need to try to make this process go faster while you are in your 20s. If you keep using products and ingredients that your skin doesn’t really need you could be left with red, irritated skin. Also, many anti-aging moisturizers can be heavy on the skin and might even clog pores. In case you have acne you definitely want to be careful about which products you apply to your skin so that you don’t make your acne worse. Another reason to avoid anti-aging products while you are still in your 20s is the cost.

Ingredients like peptides don’t come cheap. I would suggest saving your money for other things before buying the newest anti-wrinkle cream.

What Skin Care Products You Should Be Using In Your 20s

So how should you be caring for your skin while you are in your 20s if anti-aging is important to you? Your skincare regime should be all about prevention and preservation while you are in your 20s.

In order to achieve these goals, the most important product in your skincare regime needs to be sunscreen. Make sure that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, no matter what. Yes, even if it is cloudy outside. Yes, even if it is raining. No excuses. Most skin aging is caused by external factors just as sun exposure and even pollution so by protecting your skin daily with sunscreen you give your skin a definite leg up when it comes to anti-aging. Your skin will look better in the future if you start using sunscreen daily. So remember that sunscreen isn’t just for the beach or the summer; sunscreen needs to be a daily and integral part of your skincare regime.

Another great way to keep your skin looking great for as long as possible is to start incorporating a serum or moisturizer with antioxidants into your daily skincare routine. Antioxidants fight free radical damage to our skin. Free radicals destroy our skin’s collagen which eventually leads to fine lines and wrinkles. There are numerous antioxidants out there that can help preserve the great skin that you have now so that you keep looking young for a long time. In spite of what beauty companies will tell you there is no “best” or “most powerful” antioxidant. Different antioxidants help the skin in different ways. For instance, besides fighting free radical damage and skin inflammation, Vitamin C can brighten the skin and help build collagen. You might find that products with antioxidants are a little on the expensive side, but if you look hard enough, you’ll find more affordable options as well.

Lastly, in your 20s instead of concentrating on anti-aging concentrate on creating an easy-to-follow skincare routine that involves thorough cleansing, exfoliation, and sun protection. Your skin now and later will thank you.

3 Best DIY Facials

5 Anti-Aging Products for Your 40’s – Great Products For Younger Looking Skin

When it comes to anti-aging and our skin most of us could use some help. Even if you have used sunscreen daily for years and have been taking care of your skin up until now, you still may see fine lines, crow’s feet, dryness, and bags under your eyes. All of us eventually need some anti-aging skincare products.

The good news is that there are lots of skincare products available that can help your skin look younger and healthier. No need for a scalpel! Even if you didn’t prepare for your 40s by following a strict skincare routine in your 20s and 30s, you could still start a healthy anti-aging skincare routine now.

Here are 5 anti-aging products that actually work and are definitely worth trying.

RoC Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream

Using a night cream at any age is a great way to rejuvenate your skin as you sleep, but as you age, it becomes even more important. As we age, our skin becomes drier so many women in their 40’s may start to experience dry skin for the first time in their life. Your 40’s is an important time to reassess your skincare needs and skin type. During your 40’s it’s important to both hydrate your skin and treat wrinkles.

RoC Deep Wrinkle Night Cream is a great product for both moisturizing and treating your skin. It is formulated with retinol which builds collagen in the skin, smooths existing wrinkles, and prevents new wrinkles from forming. Also, people with oily skin can use it. This product always gets great reviews, and the price can’t be beaten.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

The eye area is one of the first places that the signs of aging show up in our skin. You can have fine lines in that area, called crow’s feet, dark under-eye circles, or even deep wrinkles. Using an eye cream at least once a day, preferably twice, starts to be a necessity when you reach your 40’s.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream contains retinol to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and hyaluronic acid to moisturize this delicate area. With regular use, your eye area will look rejuvenated and fresh. The price definitely won’t break the bank either.

Sunscreen (Yep, sunscreen.)

That’s right—something as simple as sunscreen is absolutely necessary for those in their 40’s (and before). Sunscreen is essential to preventing damage from the sun, even if you do not spend much time outside. Simply performing everyday activities outside or walking to and from work is enough exposure to damage your skin and cause wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, and dark spots.

Protect yourself from these signs of aging by always using a broad-spectrum (protects from UVA and UVB rays) sun protection product with at least SPF 30. Many times, you can find daily moisturizers or makeup products that have SPF in them which are great, but be sure you apply enough of any product with sun protection in order to make sure your skin is truly protected. Enough product means a teaspoon of product for your face, neck, and chest.

SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator

If you have sun spots, age spots, or other skin discolorations, get a good hyperpigmentation cream such as SkinCeuticals Pigment Regulator, which uses the proven lightener hydroquinone. Any cream with kojic acid, azelaic acid, licorice, or Vitamin C is a good choice for brightening your skin. You can use these creams for spot treatments or for larger areas of discoloration. Be sure to treat the spots each day in order to lighten them, and then use a good sunblock to prevent further damage.

Using a brightening product along with an exfoliator on a regular basis is a good way to lighten dark spots on the skin. You need to be very consistent with your use of these products, otherwise, they won’t work.

Tretinoin and Other Prescription Retinols

One of the most common prescription retinol treatments is tretinoin. Retinols are available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms; however, prescription retinol delivers results faster.

All retinol work to eliminate wrinkles and the signs of skin aging by helping to build collagen in the skin, and many dermatologists recommend retinol for all age groups in order to renew the skin. Retinols are especially necessary for women in their forties since wrinkles will start to become more prevalent. Added bonus – if you suffer from the occasional breakout tretinoin will heal that too.

If you begin using a retinol product, be sure to avoid the sun as much as possible and to apply SPF 30 or higher anytime you go outside. Retinols make skin more susceptible to sun damage, which can, in turn, cause more signs of aging. Your skin may not react well to retinol at first. Skin can turn red and peel from prescription retinol, so ease them into your routine slowly and be sure to moisturize thoroughly while using them.