Thursday, April 03, 2008
Anti-Aging
Indulge In Skin Preservation This Summer - Tips to Abide by When Going Outdoors
(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Spring has certainly sprung and summertime is just around the corner. Although this is one of the most popular times of the year to start discussing ways to protect our skin from the damage summer sun can do, protecting your skin from weather and environmental elements should be a year-round effort. Dr. Jeanine Downie, MD, director of image Dermatology in Montclair, New Jersey, and co-author of the book Beautiful Skin of Color, explains the causes of skin damage and aging and what we can do to protect ourselves.
Research shows that there are two distinct types of aging Intrinsic (internal) and Extrinsic (external). Intrinsic again is caused by genetics, hormonal and metabolic processes that causes the skin to lose its structural and functional characteristics and it happens inevitably. Extrinsic aging is caused by environmental factors. Free radical damage occurs as we age and is exacerbated by environmental stressors, including:
Cigarette smoke, air pollution, UV radiation and Ozone.
Sun protection, including a daily SPF, is the first and most commonly-known line of defense against free radical damage, says Dr. Downie. I would definitely say sunscreen broad-spectrum protection at least an SPF of 30 that covers both UVA and UVB is a good first step.
But, sunscreen isn't the only line of defense. Many consumers don't know what ingredients to look for in their skin care products. Dermatologists and other skin care physicians offer expert guidance in the quest for healthy skin.
Skin care physicians agree that antioxidants are key in creating an effective anti-aging skin care regimen as they are our body's natural defense against free radicals. Antioxidants are effective because they bind to free radicals before they damage healthy skin cells.
Additionally, many skin care experts recommend glycolic acids. Glycolic acid has stood the test of time with a lengthy history of use in skin care products. Glycolic acid helps with the texture and tone of skin and I've seen firsthand that it helps with fine lines, says Dr. Downie. Patients say that their skin feels better, softer and that they feel better about themselves. The VIVITE skin care line, new this spring from Allergan, uses both glycolic acid with and antioxidant to correct and protect and repair damage. Plus, VIVITE includes many of the natural ingredients I look for in skin care products.
Natural ingredients such as pomegranate, green tea, licorice, aloe and chamomile are increasingly popular in skin care products. While each has beneficial properties, such as the soothing effect that some dermatologists attribute to chamomile, the full potential of these ingredients is reached when they are incorporated in effective formulations, and blended with other active ingredients.
VIVITE combines pomegranate, green tea, olive leaves, vitamins A, C and E, and 10 - 20% glycolic acid concentrations, has skin care physicians excited about its capabilities. Dr. Downie performed a facial study using the VIVITE skin care line. After three weeks, she found evidence of reduced dryness and tactile roughness and an improvement in the appearance of fine lines. VIVITE includes proprietary GLX Technology, a highly-specialized blend of hydrating glycolic acid and powerful, natural antioxidants that rejuvenates skin.
Dr. Downie offers the following tips for protection:
Seek the shade! Whether youre in a cabana or under the palm trees, staying out of the direct rays of the sun can help prevent sunburns and the photodamage that causes premature skin aging. If theres no shade, pack your own: bring an umbrella or a hat and always use sunglasses!
There's sun protection factor (SPF), one should use a broad spectrum sunblock of at least an SPF 30 on a daily basis protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply liberally and reapply every two hours. There's environmental protection factor (EPF). A skin care regimen should include antioxidants that provide protection from free radical damage or environmental stressors. Ask your doctor about EPF. Plus, antioxidants not only protect, they also correct!
Avoid peak sun hours. Plan your day to minimize sun exposure between 11am and 2pm. Additionally, if you spend a lot of time in your car, consider getting it sun-proofed, with special tinting to reflect sunlight. Windows in your house or apartment can also be UV proofed.
Teach your kids about using sunscreen every day at an early age. People who suffer severe blistering sunburns are at greater risk for melanoma.
Avoid tanning beds! There's a popular misconception that vacationers should get an artificial "base tan" to prevent burns when hitting the beach. Tanning beds are not safer for skin; in fact, they increase a person's chance of developing melanoma by 75%, especially if you start exposure under the age of 35.
A total skin examination is recommended for all adults by a board-certified dermatologist once a year. Skin self examination should be done at home at least once a month.
"When it comes to skin care, for real progress to be made, people should stop relying solely on recommendations from friends and promises from alluring department store promotions," says Dr. Downie. "Instead, they should turn to skin care physicians who can match people to an appropriate regimen, monitor their improvement and make changes along the way based on their progression. When dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons customize an anti-aging skin care regimen, they consider the patient's ethnicity and lifestyle, envision an endpoint, and then choose synergistic products -- or products and procedures -- that work in concert to achieve that end."
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