You can grow old gracefully, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look amazing at the same time! There is no reason to give in to the most common signs of aging when there are so many treatments available, both over-the-counter and in-office. Additionally, there are a multitude of preventative measures that you can take to slow aging and keep your youthful appearance for much longer.
Common Signs of Aging That You Can Do Something About
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are inevitable as you age. As you get older, your skin begins to slow down on its production of collagen and elastin, the proteins that make your skin supple and resilient. Wrinkles are also caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to the sun and not getting enough water. You can slow down the formation of wrinkles by eliminating these factors.
For example, sugar breaks down collagen. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke also ages your skin prematurely. On the other hand, antioxidants, beta carotene, and drinking plenty of water slow the formation of wrinkles. You can also visit your dermatologist for treatments, such as injections, dermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.
Going gray is a natural part of getting older, but there are other causes as well. Premature graying can be caused by vitamin deficiencies, genetics, and smoking. Gray hair can also be a symptom of stress. Taking vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, biotin, vitamin D, and vitamin E supplements may help stop early graying. Quitting smoking and learning healthy stress management will also help. If your grays are here to stay and you aren’t quite ready to show them off yet, dying your hair is a simple, inexpensive fix.
Age Spots
Age spots (also known as liver spots) can be lightened or even removed. There are several treatments available, ranging from over-the-counter fading creams to prescription bleaching creams. More intense treatments can be done at your dermatologist’s office. There are several in-office procedures to consider. Microdermabrasion and dermabrasion use a rotating brush to scuff off the top layer of your skin. Laser therapy destroys age-spot-causing melanocytes. Chemical peels use a chemical solution that causes your outer layer of skin to peel off and regenerate. Finally, cryotherapy uses liquid nitrogen to destroy the excess pigment in age spots.
Proudly owning your age and preserving your youthful appearance don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It only makes sense that you want to look your best at each stage of life. With proper nutrition, limiting environmental toxins, and taking advantage of modern treatments, you can be proud of the way you look at every age.