Front-Shop Magazine

[

Mature and Aging Skin

Frieda Kilian BA (Hons), Dip IMM.

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?

The thought of growing older always seems far away in the future for younger people. As the years pass, the skin and body ages and one day, suddenly, potential remedies and skin care become much more important and customers start looking for a potential miracle cure.

The skin is the largest organ of the body, and the effects of aging can be seen directly by looking at the skin, as it is visible to all (not like most other organs). With aging, the body’s metabolism changes, and there are visible changes to skin and shape. Although potions and lotions cannot miraculously reverse these changes, a good skin care routine will retard the aging process somewhat.

Signs and symptoms

To explain the aging process in a little more detail, let’s consider the three layers of the skin – the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous layer below the dermis.

• With aging the outer layer or epidermis starts to thin
• The pigment containing cells (melanocytes) decrease in number but increase in size. (These pigment cells produce melanin which determines the shade of your skin). The result is a paler appearance of the skin
• Age spots or liver spots start to appear, and most often this is as a result of too much sun exposure, especially in sunny South Africa The blood vessels in the second layer (dermis) loses strength and bruising occurs more frequently
• The subcutaneous layer under the dermis starts thinning. This layer provides the padding that gives younger skin its smooth and healthy appearance, but becomes thinner with age
• The sweat glands and sebaceous glands become less active, and a customer is likely to complain about dryness of the skin, a condition they probably did not have difficulty with when younger
• Healing of the skin becomes slower.

Causes and Risk Factors

The following factors can accelerate skin aging:

• sun exposure
• first- or second hand cigarette smoke
• environmental toxins
• poor diet
• excessive alcohol consumption
• stress
• harsh soaps or detergent-based moisturizers
• sleep deprivation, not enough sleep, disturbed sleep

As a result of the abundance of sunshine that we enjoy in South Africa, as well as our outdoor lifestyle, the risk of skin damage is high. Avoiding the sun and applying a sunscreen or block out cream is essential.

Smoking is the 2nd biggest cause of skin damage as nicotine constricts blood vessels and decreases the flow of oxygen to the skin. Stopping smoking is good advice to all customers who want advice on good skin care.

Pollution in the environment will damage skin, as would a bad diet that does not contain enough fresh fruit and vegetables, too much alcohol, a lot of stress and lack of enough sleep. Harsh soaps that dry the skin, which is not followed by a good moisturizer, would also contribute to skin looking tired and aged.

Treatment options

The Outside

A good anti-aging cream would contain vital nutrients and vitamins that have been proven to help rejuvenate the skin.

There is a vast amount of information and products available to help reduce the signs of aging and too many options to discuss in one article, but here are some ideas on what should be considered:

• A cream containing retinol (a form of Vitamin A) can help decrease the appearance of wrinkles, but customers must be made aware that they must stay out of the sun when using a retinol-containing cream
• Exfoliation once a week will keep skin looking more youthful and get rid of dead and flaky skin. An exfoliator appropriate to the customer’s skin can be recommended
• The skin around the eyes is very thin and one of the first places where wrinkles appear, so the daily use of an eye cream, especially if it contains a sunscreen as well, should be considered
• Free radicals make the membrane covering of the skin cell more permeable, in other words, it will allow the cells to dehydrate or lose water. It has been found that the use of antioxidants gives great protection against free radical damage, and whether used topically or orally, will help slow the aging process
• Studies have shown that Vitamins C and E as well as alpha-lipoic acid has a protective effect against free radical damage. In a study where Vitamin C cream was used topically, it showed increased collagen formation, and the results were statistically significant (Fitzpatrick et al. 2002)
• It is good advice not to go in the sun without a good sunscreen or sun block, at least Factor 15, and then not to stay in the sun for too long either.

The Inside

Feeding and nourishing the skin from the outside is important, but it is essential to look at a person’s diet in terms of food and nourishment as well. Some general guidelines that should be followed in addition to a good skin care routine.

• Where possible, avoid all processed foods from the diet as these often contain high levels of salt, sugar, fat and other preservatives and is likely to contain less nutrition
• Eat more natural and whole foods such a whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts and a small amount of protein in the form of fish or poultry
• Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated
• Take it easy on the alcohol!
• Foods such as spinach, cauliflower, cabbage and berries are high in antioxidants and should be part of the diet
• Go easy on refined sugars
• Add some foods rich in nucleic acids such as sardines, salmon, tuna, shellfish, lentils and beans
• Consider a good multivitamin, with an added antioxidant formula.

Referral

Dermatological studies have been conducted with many nutrients and vitamins which can help retard the aging process. Good, regular skin care from a young age should be stressed with all customers asking for advice, and a healthy diet and exercise will benefit skin, mind and body.

The use of Botox, Collagen injections, or any other medical type of interventions should be discussed with the customer’s healthcare practitioner as it is a vast medical speciality on its own. In addition, there are many clinics that specialise in skin rejuvenation therapy, and such clinics will have their own experts available to give advice to their clients.

Conclusion

Aging skin and aging in general is a multibillion dollar industry in the world today. There are creams, potions, treatments, myths, legends, old wives’ tales and many other things that can be tried to prevent the signs of aging, but a healthy body and mind, with a good skin care routine is the most logical route to follow. Aging can be retarded and slowed down, but growing old gracefully will be a good way to accept the inevitable changes.