Expert Guide: Understanding and Treating Aging Skin Naturally
It is a biological fact that everyone ages as the day goes by. Just as the body grows older, so does our skin. Some skin-aging factors cannot be controlled, but others can. Too many people assume that there is nothing that they can do to prevent wrinkles and sagging skin. The reality is that preventative measures are more productive and effective than you might realize.
Human skin is affected by two different kinds of aging. The first of these is called "intrinsic aging." This aging is simply a natural process that is undergone by the entire body. Over time, visible lines begin to emerge on the face. The skin becomes drier and thinner, and most people lose some measure of that young-looking "fullness" in the face that they used to take for granted. There's little that can be done about such changes because they are regulated by our genes.
However, it is possible for people to have a great deal of control over the other aging process. Known as "extrinsic aging," this process is heavily influenced by lifestyle choices and the environment. These factors conspire together to cause the skin to prematurely age.
If you want to prevent your skin from making you look older than you really are, then it is vital for you to understand what causes aging skin. Even more important is identifying what methods and products you can use to treat aging skin.
What Causes Aging Skin?
A surprising number of factors may influence how old your skin appears. While it may seem impossible to protect your skin from all of these potential threats, you really do have a great deal of power over how much all of these factors affect your skin. Many of the lifestyle choices that you make several times per day can either cause or prevent the signs of premature aging.
1. Sun
This is the single most influential factor when it comes to premature skin aging. The real culprit here is the ultraviolet, or UV, rays that are emitted by the sun. UV rays fundamentally undermine elastin fibers within the skin. As the fibers break down, the skin stretches and sags while also losing its elasticity. This means that the skin can no longer "snap back" to its usual form after stretching like it used to. Sun damage also may result in an increased tendency of the skin to bruise or tear as age increases.
How do you know if your skin has sun damage? Skin that is darkened or reddened by the sun is the most obvious sign, but you also may begin to see wrinkles and blotches. Some people may develop rough and scaly patches on the skin or unusual moles. Skin cancer is the most dangerous sign of sun damage. If you have a suspicious mole, then it's wise to have it looked at by a doctor.
2. Smoking
Loose skin under the eyes, excessive wrinkles and poor skin tone all are signs of aging that are caused by smoking. When you smoke, you deprive your skin of adequate blood flow as well as oxygen and vital nutrients. This causes sagging, wrinkles and uneven coloring. Additionally, cigarettes contain thousands of chemicals, and many of these destroy collagen and elastin. Damage like this makes smokers appear far older than they truly are.
3. Inflammation
Certain foods are known to cause inflammation in the body. Among these are those that contain white flour and refined sugar. Even the consumption of too many dairy products can lead to inflammation.
Inflammation is the body's natural response to an invasion from bacteria, a virus or other toxins. When an invasion is noticed, the white blood cells go on the attack. With healing complete, inflammation should disappear. However, when the body's system is unbalanced through a variety of things like eating an unhealthy diet, then the inflammation never truly goes away.
Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for many serious illnesses, and it also may have a detrimental effect on your body's largest organ, the skin. The inflammation may be caused by food, stress, lack of sleep or other factors, and it all may make your skin look much older than it is.
4. Not Using the Correct Skin Care Products
Good skin care products are formulated for specific skin types or to have certain effects on a specific type of skin. If your skin is dry and sensitive but you use products that are designed to control the amount of oil that your skin produces, then you likely are stripping your skin of essential hydration. Dehydrated skin may be dry, peeling, itchy, red and tight. All of this distress can lead to the signs of premature aging like lines, wrinkles and rough patches.
For those with sensitive or dry skin, I recommend our Age Proof: Daily Crème, which provides gentle yet effective hydration without irritation.
5. Genetics
Don't forget that your genes can play a huge role in what type of skin you have and how it ages. If your close relatives have oily skin that is prone to breakouts, then you're more likely to have these problems too. The same is true if your family has dry, sensitive skin that easily becomes inflamed.
While you cannot change your genetics, you can treat your skin for these conditions so that they do less damage. This minimizes the effects of premature aging so that you can look like your true age or perhaps even younger.
How to Treat Aging Skin
If you don't think that your skin is yet showing the signs of premature aging, then now is the perfect time to take preventative action. However, even if you're concerned that lines, wrinkles and dark spots are making you look older than you are, it's not too late to take action. Science and the right skin care products can perform a miracle for your skin.
1. Correct Skincare with Anti-Aging Ingredients
The skin care products that you routinely use can go a long way toward protecting your skin from damage while also reversing some of the signs of premature aging. Look for skin care products that contain one or more of the following ingredients:
Retinol
When you regularly use products containing retinol, then your skin will be stimulated to produce more collagen. This is beneficial because collagen is the skin's main building block. Unfortunately, the skin produces less collagen on its own as the body ages. Our Rejuvenate: Retinol Crème counteracts this effect by increasing collagen production. It also may produce new blood vessels in the skin, leading to a healthier color. Age spots and rough patches also may be softened. A compound based on Vitamin A, many products contain retinol to help you achieve younger-looking skin.
Vitamin C
Not only is vitamin C a powerful antioxidant but also it stimulates the production of essential collagen. Skin that has been damaged by the sun may be rejuvenated when vitamin C-containing products are regularly used. Vitamin C further may mitigate the damaging effects of free radicals, unstable molecules that decimate the skin's supply of collagen.
Hyaluronic Acid
This is hands-down one of the best ingredients that you can put on your skin to reverse the signs of aging. The body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, especially when the body is young, but that production decreases with age. Accordingly, it's vital to nourish and hydrate dry skin with a hyaluronic acid treatment.
The skin is naturally adept at holding in water when it is young. As the years go by, the skin begins to lose this ability. This results in a loss of elasticity and firmness, and wrinkles begin to appear more frequently. Luckily, our Youth Elixir: Peptides & Stem Cell Serum can help by improving your skin's ability to retain moisture. The result is fewer lines and wrinkles, enhanced suppleness and a healthy glow.
Peptides
Think of peptides as tiny bits of protein whose main job is to stimulate collagen production. Research suggests that peptides have incredible anti-aging qualities. Some scientists have even described an effect like Botox, as dynamic wrinkles tend to become far less pronounced when peptides are regularly used as part of a skincare routine. If you want to see fewer lines and wrinkles, then a peptide-containing product may be the way to go.
Antioxidants
Is your skin looking dull? Perhaps it's inflamed or irritated, or maybe you're just seeing the signs of premature aging. In any of these scenarios, antioxidants can help you. Antioxidants include substances like vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, green tea, and more. These ingredients may protect the surface of the skin so that it can resist environmental damage. At the same time, they reverse the effects of premature aging by making fine lines and wrinkles look less pronounced. You'll also see a more even skin tone and notice that your skin looks brighter when you regularly use products that contain antioxidants.
Ceramides
Ceramides are fats, which are sometimes called lipids, that naturally occur in the skin's outer layers. This substance effectively holds together skin cells while also forming a layer that helps prevent moisture loss. Like collagen, the body produces fewer ceramides with age. This makes it vital to use skincare products containing ceramides. They improve the skin's ability to retain moisture, resulting in fewer lines and wrinkles.
AHAs
Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, can do amazing things for your skin. Often found in facial masks and exfoliating products, AHAs are derived from both plant and animal sources. For example, glycolic acid comes from sugar cane, while hydroxy acrylic acid is derived from animal sources.
Regardless of which AHA you choose, they generally are effective for promoting collagen production and healthy blood flow. AHAs may lighten skin discolorations from scars or acne or make surface lines and wrinkles less noticeable. They even help your skin better absorb other healthy skincare products.
Peptides
Think of peptides as tiny bits of protein whose main job is to stimulate collagen production. Research suggests that peptides have incredible anti-aging qualities. Some scientists have even described an effect like Botox, as dynamic wrinkles tend to become far less pronounced when peptides are regularly used as part of a skincare routine. If you want to see fewer lines and wrinkles, then a peptide-containing product may be the way to go.
Antioxidants
Is your skin looking dull? Perhaps it's inflamed or irritated, or maybe you're just seeing the signs of premature aging. In any of these scenarios, antioxidants can help you. Antioxidants include substances like vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, green tea, and more. These ingredients may protect the surface of the skin so that it can resist environmental damage. At the same time, they reverse the effects of premature aging by making fine lines and wrinkles look less pronounced. You'll also see a more even skin tone and notice that your skin looks brighter when you regularly use products that contain antioxidants.
Ceramides
Ceramides are fats, which are sometimes called lipids, that naturally occur in the skin's outer layers. This substance effectively holds together skin cells while also forming a layer that helps prevent moisture loss. Like collagen, the body produces fewer ceramides with age. This makes it vital to use skincare products containing ceramides. They improve the skin's ability to retain moisture, resulting in fewer lines and wrinkles.
AHAs
Alpha hydroxy acids, or AHAs, can do amazing things for your skin. Often found in facial masks and exfoliating products, AHAs are derived from both plant and animal sources. For example, glycolic acid comes from sugar cane, while hydroxy acrylic acid is derived from animal sources.
Regardless of which AHA you choose, they generally are effective for promoting collagen production and healthy blood flow. AHAs may lighten skin discolorations from scars or acne or make surface lines and wrinkles less noticeable. They even help your skin better absorb other healthy skincare products.
2. Sunscreen
It follows that because the sun is the single most damaging factor for premature aging, wearing sunscreen every day is the most critical thing you can do to protect your skin. Even on overcast, rainy days, UV rays can still penetrate your skin and cause damage. Using sunscreen every day prevents the rays from actually causing the harm that leads to lines, wrinkles, and spots, so put it on before you even leave the house.
At a minimum, a sunscreen-containing product should be used daily on the face, neck, and décolletage. Ideally, your hands would receive similar protection, as damaged skin on your hands can make you look far older than your true age. Our Tinted Facial Mineral Protectant SPF 40 provides excellent daily protection while giving your skin a natural, healthy glow.
3. Fillers
Sometimes called anti-aging injectables, fillers are a quick and easy way to improve the appearance of your skin. Products that are based on hyaluronic acid are particularly beneficial and effective, with proponents saying that they can make your skin look smoother and plumper for months.
When it's done right, no one will be able to tell that you had fillers. Plus, some studies suggest that fillers may even stimulate collagen production. There also are fillers, like Botox, that effectively paralyze the muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles, which are the wrinkles that result from habitual facial expressions. Accordingly, fillers can make it look like you've actually reversed the aging process.
4. Laser Treatments
Laser skin resurfacing is a revolutionary treatment that can minimize lines and wrinkles while also reducing the appearance of dark spots and improving skin tone. A variety of lasers may be used depending upon the improvements you seek. For instance, CO2 lasers are designed for the treatment of wrinkles, while pulsed-dye lasers are used to absorb pigments with the result being less hyperpigmentation and fewer broken capillaries. There may be a laser treatment that is specifically designed to address your biggest anti-aging concern.
My Professional Tips for Aging Gracefully
As an esthetician with over 25 years of experience, I've found that the most effective anti-aging approach combines quality skincare with lifestyle changes. That's why I developed WODA's moisturizers and cremes collection to work in harmony with your body's natural processes.
The Power of Prevention
While treating existing signs of aging is important, prevention is truly the best strategy. I recommend starting an anti-aging routine in your mid-20s, well before visible signs appear. Focus on three key areas:
Hydration: Keep your skin plump and resilient by maintaining proper hydration both internally and externally. Drink plenty of water and use hydrating products with hyaluronic acid.
Protection: Besides daily sunscreen, protect your skin from environmental stressors by using antioxidant-rich products and maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Renewal: Support your skin's natural regeneration process with gentle exfoliation and products that boost collagen production.
Remember that aging is a natural process, and the goal isn't to stop it completely but to age gracefully while maintaining healthy, radiant skin. With the right care routine and high-quality, natural products, you can help your skin look its best at any age.
In my years of experience at my European Skin & Massage Studio in Santa Monica, I've seen countless clients transform their skin through dedication to proper skincare and lifestyle choices. The key is consistency and using products that are specifically formulated for your skin's unique needs. By understanding what causes aging and taking proactive steps to protect and nourish your skin, you can maintain a youthful, radiant complexion for years to come.
