Anti-Aging

Anti-Aging, Skin Care & Wrinkles: Everything You Need to Know About Slowing Down the Aging Process

 

At some point in our lives, we eventually ponder if we should focus on our skin care. However, it varies from person to person, as in some cases, some people tend to start their skin care at an early age while there are those who are in their 40s and 50s but never felt the need to work on their skin.

Regardless, if you are one of those who wonders what the best skin care routine for anti-aging should be, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got everything you want and need to know about anti-aging skincare and more. But first, let’s talk about what aging skin really is.

Pollution face

What is Aging Skin?

The biological process of growing older in years, the term ‘aging’ essentially summarizes all the different processes that contribute to the deterioration of human health over a significant period.

When we talk about mature skin specifically, we refer to the side effects or signs of aging, which may be visible on the top dermal layers. Mostly, our skin follows the maturity pattern as the rest of our body, changing with respect to the calendar years gone by. In some cases, though, the maturity process may be expedited or accelerated for our skin. This is known as premature aging, in which the obvious signs manifest as early as the early 20s. These biological changes take place in all the dermal layers, which include the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. Now, you might be wondering, apart from the obvious, what may be some of the other reasons that cause aging?

This brings us to….

Common Causes:

A number of different factors contribute to the signs of maturity exhibiting well before time. They range from lifestyle choices and forces of habits to environmentally induced damage to underlying medical conditions and more. Here is a look at some of the common causes of mature skin.

Smoking

Amongst several other health concerns, smoking is also known to heavily contribute towards damage to the dermis with the most apparent side effect being increased wrinkling on your face and other parts of the body. Nicotine in cigarettes is the main culprit that causes irreversible damage to the skin by leading to increased constriction of blood vessels. This, in turn, impairs blood and nutrient flow to the dermal layers, making them appear saggy and wrinkly. Smoking and wrinkles have a directly proportional relationship – so the more you smoke, the greater the damage you suffer, and the longer it will take for that wrinkle cream to be effective.

High Levels of Stress

Mental, emotional, and physical stress all are known to contribute to a number of physiologically or behaviorally adverse effects. According to research, high levels of stress have an immediate and lasting effect on the largest organ of the body: skin. Stress can not only trigger multiple inflammatory reactions but can also delay the healing of wounds and expedite the maturation process by greatly reducing the lifespan of cells and their functionality.

Excessive Sun Exposure

Excessive exposure to the harmful rays of the sun is among the top reasons for mature skin and associated damage. UV damage can cause discoloration, lead to the prevalence of pigmentation and uneven sun spots, and increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles exponentially. Anything more than 20 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight is considered harmful.

Pollution

The consistent exposure of the dermal layers to pollution can create and release highly damaging free radicals. These free radicals not only further accelerate the oxidative stresses caused by the sun, but also further affect the strength of the cells and their membranes in all three dermal layers.

Weight Fluctuations

Nutrition has a lot to do with our skin’s health. People who are both underweight and overweight are likely to suffer from the prematurely aging skin. While being underweight may cause a significant loss of essential natural fats, which keep the top most dermal layers looking supple, additional weight can make them appear older simply due to a lack of proper muscle tone. Eating a balanced diet and incorporating a moderate amount of exercise in your daily routine help in managing and maintaining a healthy weight, according to your BMI. These practices prove to be effective in keeping the derma healthy and wrinkle-free by supporting the anti-aging effects of the various products in the market.

Age and Genetics

While your biological and calendar ages are important factors for choosing the best wrinkle creams for your skin, genetics also play a vital role in the maturation process. Some people are just more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles well before their time – it’s heredity at play. So, if you noticed your parent’s skin manifesting the numerous signs of growing older as early as their late twenties – chances are, that could be you, too.

Repetitive Facial Expressions

As we grow older, the muscles lose their elasticity and ability to spring back into their proper place. Facial expressions, such as squinting, frowning, laughing, and smiling, all cause the contraction of underlying facial muscles. When repeated continuously over a long period, the muscles settle into a perpetually contractual state, causing deep lines and facial groves to emerge and making the skin appear older than it is.

Recognizing the Signs Early On

There are some apparent signs of an older skin, which are basically markers or indicators of the need for anti-aging skincare. Being able to pinpoint and recognize these signs is crucial to buying the right face care product at the right time.

Sun Spots

Also known as the solar lentigines, they are small spots of hyperpigmentation or freckles on the top dermal layers, usually visible on the face or the limbs. These spots begin on the deepest of the dermal layers, namely the hypodermis after which they progressively move towards the surface. Initially, the solar lentigines may not be visible to the naked eye and can only be viewed using a magnifying mirror that cosmetic technicians have. Sun spots are one of the most obvious signs of premature aging and may be visible in young adults in their early 20s. These spots are caused by the UV damage sustained throughout their toddlerhood or teenage years.

Dehydration

Dehydrated patches on the skin is another sign of growing older. When your skin feels and looks dry with the presence of itchiness, peeling, cracking, or flaking, this indicates an extreme loss of water as well as the water retentive functionality of the dermal layers.

Fine Lines and Wrinkles

Crow’s feet near the eyes, the forehead, and even the lips, and deepened nasolabial grooves indicate the severe need for investing in all things anti-aging. Fine lines and wrinkles appear when the dermis starts losing collagen and elastin – the two components that maintain the skin’s elasticity. This usually happens when the dermal layers begin to lose their water retention, becoming increasingly dehydrated. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, can heavily contribute toward the appearance of these unwanted wrinkles. Both these habits cause collagen breakdown, reduce collagen restoration, lead to tissue degradation, and restrict blood and nutrient supply.

Inflammation/Skin Sensitivity

Patchy, discolored, and inflamed dermal layers with an uneven pigment distribution and leathery texture is a sign of dermal sensitivity and premature aging. This is often caused by free radical oxidation or UV damage from the harsh rays of the sun.

Pronounced Dullness

As we grow older, the body’s metabolism slows down, causing the cellular turnover rate – the rate at which new cells grow – to significantly drop. This leads to the dermis or the top most dermal layer to appear flaky and dry, losing its vibrancy and flow.

Sagging/Drooping Skin

A softening jawline, sagging or lax dermis in the cheeks, deeper wrinkles around the nose and the lips, and furrows in the forehead are all signs of drooping and mature skin. Photo damage, lack of adequate hydration, loss of fatty tissue, and collagen and elastin breakdown all contribute toward older skin.

Selecting Anti-Aging Products Wisely

Choosing anti-aging products is confusing due to many brands promising life-altering results. Stores are filled with products claiming to make you look younger. But how do you know what works? Check the label to gauge effectiveness. Anti-aging products depend on ingredients, so be cautious. Some ingredients can worsen wrinkles. Price, name, and claims don’t guarantee results. Consider customer testimonials. Look for key ingredients in your rejuvenating skincare.

Vitamin A Derivatives – Retinol

Retinol and retinoids are vitamin A derivatives known to support the epidermal, dermal, and sub dermal structure by increasing the production of collagen. They are a common ingredient in most anti-aging products, especially the wrinkle creams, because they do a great job in restoring firmness and improving skin texture. It also helps reduce pore size and provides protection against oxidative damage.

AHA and BHA

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a combination of glycolic and lactic acid compounds, which are great for exfoliating the dermis. Helping remove the dead dermal and epidermal cells from the surface, they help restore the smoothness of the skin, as well as soothe it.

Hyaluronic Acid

Every anti-aging product needs a humectant – an ingredient that helps restore the water to the dermis. Hyaluronic acid is one of the more potent humectants, effectively moisturizing dry, flaky, and aged skin.

Niacinamide

A vitamin B3 component, Niacinamide is an antioxidant that benefits the dermis’s elasticity. It improves the necessary free-fatty acid levels, preventing it from losing its essential water content. It also supports and stimulates microcirculation within the dermal layers.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is one of the most potent natural protectors of the dermal cell membranes. Its anti-aging properties include preventing collagen breakdown, protection from oxidation damage, and working in synergy with vitamin C to restore its elasticity.

Peptides

Peptides are antioxidants that prevent the dermal layers from thinning, restore collagen levels, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and aid in superficial and deep wound healing.

Following an Effective Anti-Aging Skin Care Regimen

Anti-aging face care routines vary according to skin types and requirements. Even the best products can have the worst effects if you don’t monitor their frequency and manner of use, as well as how your body responds to them. To achieve the maximum benefits of any particular anti-aging skincare regimen, it’s essential to find and select the brand and the products that are formulated with care, keeping in mind the individual requirements of different skin types. You can easily attain the best anti-aging results by choosing from Newport Cosmeceuticals’ range of specific anti-aging products, or you can head to our complete guide to skincare for more advice and information on the kind of products that are right for you.

Here are some options from the NC Skincare range that will prove effective as part of an anti-aging skincare regimen for normal skin:

Morning

Night

Find more information about NC’s anti-aging products or anti-aging kits, or contact the experts at Newport Cosmeceuticals Inc. here for personalized anti-aging skincare guidance.