Managing Ageing Skin

Skin is the body’s largest organ and one of the most important, but it inevitably ages as time moves forward.

Ageing is caused either by natural or environmental processes with the result you might see visible signs of getting older, such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and discolouration.

As a result, the skin sometimes needs some external help. Regular treatments performed by skin experts, can work at a much deeper level than any home treatments and can help to improve overall skin health and help achieve long-lasting results.

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What causes natural ageing?

Unfortunately, this is largely down to genetics and is the reason for skin becoming dry, the appearance of wrinkles, loss of firmness and increased pore size. With age, the skin produces less oil which can contribute to lines and dehydration.

At the same time, skin naturally loses collagen and elastin, which also contributes to the visible effects of ageing – as does everyday expressions such as frowning, smiling and squinting.

Environmental ageing is more controllable as it includes factors such as exposure to UV, pollution, smoking, lack of sleep, stress and excess alcohol. Poor nutrition is also a key element of premature ageing.

The creation of free radicals can reduce skin’s collagen and elastin, reducing healthy cell turnover which can result in wrinkles and sagging as well as poor skin tone.

Anti-ageing products for a targeted skincare regimen

Regardless of the cause of skin ageing, it is never too early to start incorporating an anti-ageing cream into your skincare routine. Prevention and protection are the two essential steps of the best anti-ageing skincare regimen. Using a topical vitamin C antioxidant serum and a sunscreen every morning helps prevent and protect skin from direct UV damage as well as damaging free radicals that cause premature skin ageing.

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What ingredients should I look for when purchasing anti-ageing products?

Ingredients and formulations that are backed by evidence-based science and clinical studies to ensure efficacy are generally the best option.

For example, Vitamin C is one of the most effective and extensively studied antioxidants available in skincare today, it is favoured by skincare professionals for its preventative and anti-aging benefits on skin. For the best free-radical protection, look for pure ascorbic acid (l-ascorbic acid) on the ingredient label. In addition to neutralising free radicals and preventing premature ageing, l-ascorbic acid has anti-ageing benefits that include improving the appearance of wrinkles and loss of firmness.

Retinol is another essential anti-aging ingredient. It is a form of vitamin A, a retinoic acid, and has decades of research and case studies to back up claims of efficacy against issues such as fine lines and discolouration. As with vitamin C, there are many forms of retinol. For maximum anti-ageing results, always look for ”retinol” on a product’s list of ingredients. Other derivatives such as retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, and retinaldehyde are not as effective.

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What anti-ageing aesthetic procedures or treatments can help improve visible signs of ageing?

While effective skincare is an obvious part of a skincare regimen, advances in aesthetic procedures and treatments offer the ability to powerfully transform skin’s appearance, in the form of lasers, peels, injectables, like neurotoxins and soft tissue fillers, and more. A New You Clinic can create a tailored treatment plan according to your needs, goals, and budget.

When should I start using anti-ageing products?

Prevention is always better than cure and is key for delaying the appearance of visible signs of ageing. Using a vitamin C daytime antioxidant serum and a sunscreen will go a long way in helping to prevent against premature ageing caused by environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution.

There is such a choice of treatments available, it can be daunting to pick the ideal skin care regimen.  However, A New You Clinic is on hand to provide objective and professional advice to help you help your skin look its best, whatever its age.

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