Skin, Aging & Science (Part I)

First Rule Of Antiaging - Prevent Damage Before It Happens

Whether you're 35 and just beginning to see the first signs of aging, or 55 with skin that isn't exactly keeping your birthday a secret, seeking ways to reduce wrinkles is probably on everyone’s agenda. But, before we even talk about boosting new collagen production, we must first learn how to preserve what we already have. Here’re few simple things you can do on your own to preserve collagen in your skin.

Avoid Sun Exposure: Especially between 10:00 - 3:00. Wear sunglasses to preserve the delicate collagen around the eyes. UV rays are the biggest danger to collagen and elastin depletion: wear a good sunscreen. Put a sunscreen next to your toothbrush. The youthfulness of your skin is just as important as the whiteness of your teeth. I like Avene 

DO NOT Smoke: Archives of Dermatology Dec 2007 showed identical twins, who lived near each other and both worked as delivery truck drivers. One smoked heavily the other was a non-smoker: amazing difference. Another set of sibling studies done at the Twin Research Unit at St. Thomas Hospital in London found the brother or sister who smoked tended to have skin that was more wrinkled and up to 40% thinner than the non-smoker.

Food Choices & Glycation: You have been told in the past that the secret to radiant skin is avoiding fry-ups, chocolate and alcohol? According to a new book, you are in for a big shock. “Future Proof Your Skin” by dermatologist Dr. Stefanie Williams claims certain fatty foods and chocolate can be beneficial to your looks - while sugars, carbs, lentils and brown rice are no-no's. Glycation is a type of chemical reaction that happens when sugar molecules attack your body proteins, lipid or fats - In simple words it means sugar destroys your skin.

Avoid Squinting: The American Academy Of Dermatology (AAD) warns, any repetitive facial movement -- like squinting -- overworks facial muscles, forming a groove beneath the skin's surface. This groove eventually becomes a wrinkle. Also important: Wear sunglasses. It will protect skin around the eyes from sun damage -- and further keep you from squinting.

Get Plenty Of Sleep: Yale dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD, says that when you don't get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a hormone that breaks down skin cells. Get enough rest, Perricone says, and you'll produce more HGH (human growth hormone), which helps skin remain thick, more "elastic," and less likely to wrinkle.

Good Sleeping Posture May Help: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) cautions that sleeping in certain positions night after night leads to "sleep lines -- wrinkles that become etched into the surface of the skin and don't disappear once you're up. Sleeping on your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin, while sleeping face-down gives you a furrowed brow. To reduce wrinkle formation, the AAD recommends, sleeping on your back.

Don't over-wash your face: According to dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center, tap water strips skin of its natural barrier oils and moisture that protect against wrinkles. Wash them off too often, and you wash away protection. Moreover, unless your soap contains moisturizers, you should use a cleanser instead.

Hydrate Or Not To Hydrate: In a recent study in our literature, water consumption did nothing for collagen production or preserving, either way.