When it comes to taking care of our skin and preventing skin damage, we are taught the Golden Rules from a young age…
“Always wear sunscreen, wash your face before bed, drink lots of water”… sound familiar?
But there are a few hidden culprits that cause skin damage every day that many of us may not realize. Learn how to protect your skin from redness, dryness, and wrinkles – to keep a youthful appearance at every age.
➡ Environmental Toxins
Whether you're indoors or out, your skin is affected by the environment. From UV rays to blue light and pollution, environmental factors cause oxidative damage in the skin, which breaks down collagen and may also damage the barrier function of the skin. These include:
- UV Rays - No surprise here, the sun - although we love it - can cause significant damage to your skin. UV rays trigger the production of free radicals in the skin that lead to DNA damage, the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin that causes wrinkles, and stimulates the melanin production that leads to skin discolorations. #DidYouKnow UVA rays from the sun can penetrate through glass windows and clouds which block UVB rays, which means sunscreen is always crucial, even on cloudy days and when you are driving!
We recommend: SkinMedica’s Total Defense and Repair provides sun protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays, as well as antioxidant properties to help repair any damaged skin. ColoreScience Sunforgettable Total Protection is a Timeless fan fav, offering complete protection in one convenient, on-the-go application—alone or over makeup.
- Blue Light - A high-energy wavelength light that comes from our computer screens and phones, blue light penetrates the skin down to the third laye. Blue light has the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin compared with both UVA and UVB light and is responsible for the production of free radicals in skin, which have been linked to an accelerated appearance of aging.
We recommend: SkinMedica’s LUMIVIVE® System is designed to provide a bio-barrier against blue light and other environmental aggressors from damaging skin during the day and recharges the skin's essential repair process at night.
➡ Using Low Quality (or Outdated) Skin Care Products
Most skincare product lines available at department stores or drug stores do not contain the concentration of active ingredients needed to achieve optimal results. Medical-grade skin care products are stronger and are able to reach deeper layers of the skin because they are dispensed by medical professionals trained to evaluate a concentration appropriate for each patient.
We recommend: Our favorite skincare regimens are SkinMedica, Obagi, and ColoreScience . An experienced medical Timeless provider can create a personalized SkinScript to ensure results.
➡ Facial Expressions
Over years of squinting, smiling, and frowning, the muscles begin to contract and restrict. As you age, your skin loses elasticity and volume. As a result, wrinkles and fine lines form and the face can begin to look hollowed out.
We recommend: BOTOX® injections target the muscles that reside underneath the skin to actively relax those muscles. This lessens the appearance of lines and wrinkles as you age. Fillers like Juvederm® Voluma®, RHA®, Restylane® and Belotero® not only plump up, hydrate and fill where volume has been lost, but also encourage the body’s own natural collagen production to increase.
➡ A Poor Diet
Eating a diet high in sodium removes moisture from the skin, leaving it dry. When you eat sugar, your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which raises your insulin levels. Simple carbohydrates, like refined sugar, white bread and pop, can cause spikes of insulin release, which triggers inflammation. This produces enzymes that break down collagen and elastin, resulting in sagging skin and wrinkles. Aside from increasing the effects of aging, sugar can also worsen acne and rosacea.
We recommend: Load your diet with plenty of “super foods” that are antioxidant-rich like fresh berries, broccoli, and spinach, and complex carbs like beans, nuts and whole grains that are broken down into glucose at a slower rate and won’t have the same negative effects on your skin.
➡ Dehydration
Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate the body causing premature wrinkles. Drink 8 glasses of water each day to flush out the toxins that build up in your body and keep your skin looking glowing and radiant.
We recommend: While the rule of thumb is to drink 64 oz. of water each day, in reality how much water you need depends on a variety of factors including your weight and activity level. What we do know for sure is that proper hydration levels help the skin to become plump and improves its elasticity meaning it’s less likely to crack and have irritations and blemishes.
➡ Lack of Sleep -
While you are sleeping, your body’s hydration levels rebalance. Skin is able to recover moisture, while excess water is processed for removal. When you are sleep-deprived, this leads to puffy bags and under-eye circles, as well as dryness and more visible wrinkles. Lack of deep REM sleep also accelerates the aging process when growth hormones aren’t released to repair damaged cells and your body makes more of the stress hormone, cortisol.
We Recommend: Of course, aim for the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, but know that there are also a variety of treatments at Timeless that can help you look refreshed even on those days when you might not feel it!
At Timeless Skin Solutions, our providers help you to determine your ultimate goals and the best combination of products and treatments to help you achieve them. Our goal is to help you look natural and refreshed – you, just a little better. Contact us to start your skincare journey today.
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