I believe that education and knowledge is the first defence against aging skin 2nd the sun!
This is the first of a series of articles relating to skin and aging. We can do something about the apperance and here is how, start now.
There are two factors that affect aging of the skin, internal aging and external aging. Internal aging is biological aging that occurs with the passing of time. External aging is the natural process of biological aging complied with exterior causes such as sun exposure, air pollution, smoking, lifestyle, cosmetics, other allergens and lack of care. It is the external aging that affects the appearance of the skin.
Extreme agers are exposure to extreme weather, cold heat, wind for log periods of time, smoking is not only toxic to skin but, will form upper lip lines, pollutants, inappropriate cosmetics, lack of skin care and protection.
1. SUN EXPOSURE: The most damaging of all external factors is sunlight over exposure. Wear suncreen and stay out of the sun!
UVA & UVB rays destroy skin. UVB burns and UVA ages. Sun exposure zaps the tissue of all moisture and hydration, and sun radiation penetrates the dermis and affects the skin at the cellular level, causing long-lasting damage. It also depletes the nutrients in the skin. Over time, such nutrient depletion compromises the skin's ability to regenerate: as deas cells build up on the surface of the skin, the productin of new cells becomes less and less, resulting in aging skin.
Most sun damage occurs in early childhood, but damage continues throughout our lifetime. Effects are acumulative and gradual, yet very BRUTAL! It is said that 90% of all wrinkling of the skin is due to sun damage. Tanning beds, well, are NO NOS. No skin type is safe.
2. ENVIRONMENT: Pollution causes free-radical damage. Use of topical and systemic antioxidants can help protect the skin from such damage.
3. LIFESTYLE: Indadeqauate sleep, insufficient fluid intake, and poor nutrition all have a negative effeect oin the skin. Smoking, a big free-radical producer, is a major dehydrating and aging lifestyle habit.
Why is it that as we chronologically age, our ability to repair and recover from damage is much less?
The primary reason is the damage caused to cells by free radicals. These are unstable molecules that take electrons from healthy ones and create a cycle of more free radicals that attack cellular membranes.
ATIOXIDANTS & HOW THEY AFFECT SKIN
Internal activity of free radicals is a natural process and the body will normally adjust to this. However, there are many outside factors that increase free radical damage-number one is sun, then air polution, smoking, foods, chemicals in everyday products, and the air we breathe. There is a constant barrage of intruders on our skin.
The use of nutrients that will actually absorb into the tissue and support healthy cell development is important in counteracting free radical damage. Antioxidants are an answer to a healthier skin and its ability to penetrate. Important antioxidants are wine extracts (resveratrol, grape see extracts, Vit E, C and beta carotene.
COLLAGEN: Gives our skin its youthfuo appearance, unfortunately it is also a primary target for free radicals. When collagen is healthy it keeps the skin smooth and resilient, but becomes very stiff and brittle when damaged. This begings to give the skin a more aged and sagging appearance.
ELASTIN: A protein which is a key molecule that affects the aging of the skin. It is more stretchable than collagen and also adds to the resilience and elasticity of the skin.
SKIN NUTRITION: Adding mineral supplements, vitamis, to our diets does not erase wrinkles and stop aging, but, improved eating will slow it down and contribute to better health. A diet of junk food or no food, will eventuallly affect your skin as well as many organs of our bodies. Nutrition from within will encourage healthy cells but will not protect the skin from external damage. Mild deficiencies may not directly affect the skin but may slow down the skin's ability to heal and renew itself.
The most effective anti wrinkle cream is SUN BLOCK. Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide. Avoid the chmical sunscreen ingredients such as Methoxicinnamate (OCM) as they may clog or irritate your skin.
Till next,
Lilly Rivera
BridalGal Radiant Face & Body
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