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Save Face The secret to younger looking skin? A good SPF, a lot of TLC and, when all else fails, a good chemical peel 
One of the cheapest and easiest anti-aging potions is simple SPF. The sun's ultraviolet rays - both UVA and UVB - ravage skin, damaging DNA and accelerating wrinkles. "The earlier you start using sunscreen, the more permanent damage you can prevent, but it's just as important after years of exposure," says Melissa Piliang, M.D., an associate staff member in the Departments of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.. She recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30, and reapplying it every two to three hours. Numerous moisturizers now contain SPF, making application easy, and don't forget the lips - this thin, sensitive skin is also susceptible to sun damage. While regular moisturizers won't stop your skin from aging, they do keep the skin hydrated and prevent the loss of natural oils, contributing to the appearance of smooth, dewy skin, says Amy Wechsler, M.D., author of the new book, "The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Reverse Stress Aging and Reveal More Youthful, Beautiful Skin" (Free Press, October 7, 2008). But for actual anti-aging purposes, both Wechsler and Piliang advise using a good skin cream that contains retinol, a Vitamin A derivative that regenerates collagen, evens pigmentation and plumps the skin. These products are available over the counter, although stronger, more effective solutions like Retin-A, Renova and Avage, require a prescription. While more drastic measures are still a viable option for more problematic aspects of aging such as drooping eyelids, there's no need to rush to surgery nowadays when there are so many other options available first, Wechsler says. She points to muscle relaxers like Botox ("It's perfectly safe, and lasts for about four months," she says), wrinkle fillers like hyaluronic acid and resurfacers like dermabrasion or laser skin treatments that vaporize the top layer of skin and stimulate collagen formation. Usually a little cheaper and definitely requiring less recovery time than laser treatments, chemical peels are another excellent option for erasing fine lines, lightening dark spots and stimulating cell turnover. Essentially an aggressive exfoliation process, peels slough off dead skin cells, leaving the skin beneath looking fresher and brighter, Piliang says. Of course, the deeper your wrinkles, the harsher the peel you might need; however, for the most part, Piliang recommends getting started with a superficial peel in your 30s to 40s. A series of three to six monthly peels will cost you around $100-$150 a pop. But the pleasure in putting off those wrinkles just a little while longer? Priceless. |
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