Natural Anti Aging

We are all aware that as we age, the levels of collagen and elastin production decrease.  Eventually, if we want to look as attractive as we age, we are going to consider antiaging cosmetic surgery. There are ways in which to put off the need for some of the more invasive processes such as cosmetic surgery or even plastic surgery and we shall try to cover them here.

Collagen and elastin are proteins which give skin its volume and moisture. When collagen production begins to decline, the skin loses its plumpness and the result will be that wrinkles, creases form and deep folds develop. To delay the necessity of cosmetic surgery using the various cosmetic fillers available, there are some supplements you can take to help with collagen production such as hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.

You can also avoid environmental factors such as sun damage, pollution, poor diet, stress, smoking, and alcohol to help delay the aging of our skin  Avoiding these factors will help to delay the aging of our skin.

Eventually though, you may consider getting some anti-aging cosmetic surgery and begin to research the products available that will replace lost volume and fill out wrinkles in areas around the eyes or nasal labial folds.  However, you can use a excellent anti-aging skin cream and anti-aging serum that includes ingredients such as Strivectin SD, Regenerist by Olay, Wrinkle Relax by DDF which use an ingredient called Pentapeptides.

Pentapeptides were actually studied in the field of wound healing. Pentapeptides are amino acids which function as chemical messengers and were used in wound recovery studies to increase the skin cells production of collagen.  Applying pentapeptides combined with fatty acids assist absorption into the skin and help to produce more collagen. These anti-aging creams also contain herbs and vitamins with anti-aging properties.

Strivectin SD was originally developed for stretch marks which are the result of separated collagen fibers. Users of Strivectin SD began applying the cream to their face and they saw as a  result a stimulation of collagen production and softened wrinkles.

Other excellent ingredients to look for in skin creams for anti-aging are products such as argireline complex and hyaluronic acid. Argireline is claimed to work like Botox, destroying a protein which discharges a neurotransmitter that keeps muscle tense and causes wrinkles.

Hyaluronic acid, another ingredient in anti-aging creams has had a lot of research into the use of it. It is a Glycosaminoglycan , a water-binding agent found in the skin tissue and synovial fluid that moisturizes the cartilage and joints. It is also used for products that treat “dry eye syndrome”. It is known as “nature’s moisturizer” because it is naturally occurring in the skin tissue and joints.

Another of the most promising researched ingredient for wrinkle prevention is Retin-A, the brand name for the ingredient tretinoin. It has been around for about 25 years and has been successful in the treatment of sun damaged skin, acne and wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion:

Microdermabrasion can be done in a spa or salon but it is best of course to have this done by a skilled and experienced esthetician.  Microdermabrasion works on the outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum where the fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes on your face lay. It is a less invasive procedure than cosmetic fillers such as Botox, etc., and can be viewed as an “instant” facelift. The prices range from $50 – $175 a session. Your esthetician will recommend a series of treatments to achieve the results you wish.

How does microdermabrasion work? During the microdermabrasion process the outer layer, the stratum corneum is disturbed. The body interprets this as an injury and responds with crythema – the redness you will see after the process and mild edema (swelling). These reactions will last anywhere from an hour to 48 hours.

The beneficial effects of microdermabrasion are the creation of new skin cells and a smoother skin surface. It can “fix” such things as removing fine lines, correcting sun damage and blemishes and allows moisturizing creams applied after the treatment to reach the lower levels of the skin. Over time and with repeated microdermabrasion procedures, it can also improve minor acne scarring by generating new healthy skin cells, thereby improving the skin surface.

Advanced Fluorescence Technology or Photo Facials:

A photo facial is an anti-aging treatment for conditions such as age spots, small vessels, melasma and rosacea.
AFT (Advanced Fluorescence Technology) or  a Photo Facial is a light based therapy that uses light and can be applied to the problem area causing minimum damage to the healthy surrounding skin. It is safe and effective with little downtime and minimum risk or side effects.

Botox:

Botox relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles giving the face a more relaxed and youthful appearance. There is no downtime to the procedure; it can even be done over a lunch hour.

What is Botox?  Botox is a purified protein which is injected into the area that requires it. It can be used for frown lines and wrinkles around the eyes. It is injected into the muscle and causes the muscle to relax, smoothing out the wrinkle which forms on top of the muscle.  Results will last anywhere from four to six months when you will need to have Botox done again.

Restylane:

Restylane is a cosmetic filler used for lips, wrinkles and facial contours. It is made by a Swedish company called Q-Med that develops, produces and markets medical implants.  It is used make lips fuller, fills in deep folds in the face and smoothes wrinkles. It is made of a natural ingredient called stabilized hyaluronic acid.  Restylane gives natural and long lasting results. The results are not permanent, but they do last a long time. Factors which affect the length of time that Restylane will last depend on many things, including muscle activity, life style and skin type.

Restylane is injected in tiny amounts into the area that requires it. The gel binds with water and is absorbed slowly. This process allows for time to maintain the results. Speak to a doctor who is experienced with Restylane injections and cosmetic surgery. Follow up treatments can take place after about six months. It is not necessary to have local anesthetic unless you require it. Some side effects may include redness, swelling, itching, pain, discoloration and tenderness at the site of injection. About 1 in 2000 patients experience sensitivity reactions which can start a day or two after the injection. Restylane creates a soft natural look by creating volume and smoothing wrinkles.

Artesense:

ArteSense is known as a permament injectable filler and will last for many years.  ArteSense actually stimulates the growth of natural collagen.  Consisting of tiny PMMA microspheres, it binds with you own collagen, a process which takes about two to three months.  The collagen carrier delivers the PMMA and is absorbed by your body and forms new collagen.

You may ask what is PMMA?  This is a substance which has been used for nearly a century in ocular lenses, dental work, bone repair, artificial hips, limbs and pacemakers.  It is a safe substance and has been used by over 400,000 patients around the world.  Anti-aging results with ArteSense have lasted 10 years or more.

Radiesse:

Radiesse is made of synthetic calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) microspheres which are suspended in a gel carrier.  CaHA is a biomaterial used for over 20 years in orthopedics, neurosurgery, dentistry and ophthalmology.  It is also a primary mineral constituent of bone and teeth.  It is naturally compatible with the body.  It is a man made synthetic, much like calcium phosphate.  It has been used since 1995 in clinical trials and produced safe and efficacy results.  It is approved by Health Canada and the FDA in the U.S.  The results are immediate and long lasting from anywhere from one to two years.

Teosyal:

Teosyal, a new generation of anti-aging cosmetic filler produces results that can last up to one year or more.  It has an immediate volumizing effect.  This antiaging dermal filler boasts low concentration of by-products, is made from Hyaluronic Acid suspended in a monophasic gel and is 100% of non animal origin.  It is a homogeneous product which takes longer to be broken down by free radicals.  Teosyal is biodegradable and completely biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid.

In conclusion, it is possible to delay seeking out anti-aging cosmetic surgery procedures by way of avoiding the environmental factors that contribute to aging skin.  Using a good anti-aging serum and moisturizer which contains the ingredients listed above, avoiding environmental factors which will age your skin and adding the supplements hyaluronic acid and vitamin C will help. Microdermabrasion and photo facials will improve the surface of your skin and are less invasive than cosmetic surgery and can actually delay the need for actual surgery.  When you feel the time is right to start investigating anti-aging cosmetic procedures, you now have the facts.

How the Skin Ages

There are four processes involved in the aging of the skin. The process of aging of your skin involves cell turnover, the slowing down of collagen production, the skin drying out as estrogen production and thyroid function decrease and the attack of free radicals on your skin. All of these things are involved in the aging process of the skin.

As we age, the skin dries out because of a decrease in the production of the hormone estrogen and thyroid function. Decreasing thyroid and estrogen production affects the sweat glands which results in the lowering of the levels of moisture available in the skin. Bioidentical hormone replacement can assist greatly in preserving your skin because it replaces the hormones that you are losing as you age.

A part of the aging process involves new cell production slowing down. A natural exfoliation process occurs in the skin throughout our lives. Throughout life, the skin sheds the upper top level of dead skin cells as new cells created deep in the epidermis layer push up and replace the older skin cells. When we are young and our skin is healthy, the process of new skin cells replacing older cells take about 28 days and the older skin cells slough off in approximately 12 days. In older skin this process slows down, newer cells are not created as quickly and the older cells exfoliate at a slower tempo. A process called microdermabrasion will assist greatly with the rate of skin cell turnover. It removes the upper level of dead skin cells encouraging the replacement of new skin cells.

Skin also ages because of the attack of free radicals against the body. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules which come from stress, cigarette smoke, pollution and sun damage. The result of this attack of free radicals on your skin causes skin discolorations, cancer and other skin cell irregularities.

And finally, as we age, the levels of collagen and elastin production decline. Collagen and elastin are proteins which give skin its moisture and fullness. When collagen production breaks down, the skin loses its volume and the result is that wrinkles and creases form. There are supplements you can take to assist with collagen production including hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. It is also possible to consult with an anti-aging specialist or plastic surgeon about cosmetic fillers such as Botox, Artecoll or Restylane which replace lost volume and fill out wrinkles in areas around the eyes such as crows feet or nasal labial folds.

Our next article will discuss in depth the most important things you can do to slow down the aging process of the skin including the care of aging skin and some of the best organic skin care products you can use.

Can Topically Applied Anti-Aging Creams Get the Same Results as Wrinkle Fillers such As Restylane, Botox, Artecoll etc.

Anti-aging creams promise the same results as the cosmetic fillers, but can they really perform at the same rate? A lot of us feel skepticism when we read the labels on those jars of creams and then view the photographic results of the cosmetic fillers.

Scientific testing is difficult to do with anti-aging creams because we all age at different rates. Environmental factors such as sun damage, pollution, diet, stress, smoking, alcohol, skincare regimes, and even racial origin all play a factor in individual aging. These very factors make it very difficult to methodically and scientifically test anti-aging products. The questions remain: how much to use, how often to apply and how long the creams need to be used to produce significant results?

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