Changing the Face of Wrinkles

Wrinkles are really the bane of our existence. We hate them. My mother warned me about them when I was little, making sure I washed my face every day and put on lotion. As a child, when I looked at pictures from “the olden days,” I thought people weren’t smiling because they didn’t want to wrinkle their face. You may have heard that drinking with a straw causes small wrinkles around the lips. Lots of things cause wrinkles. I for one, enjoy using a straw, but I believe I can do that and still avoid looking like a wrinkly prune. Be proactive with your skin care. When someone asks me what they should be using on their face, my response is quick and simple. They are known by many different brand names, but everyone should have these four items in their skincare arsenal -- a good cleanser for your face, an antioxidant suited to your skin type (oily, dry, normal), a comprehensive sunscreen suited to your skin type, and a good retinoid or retinol. This arsena, used proactively, makes a difference in the fight against wrinkles.

A good facial cleanser is important. Forget those bar soap commercials featuring the young girl washing her face, saying it keeps her skin young and youthful, ladies. Bar soaps are good for cleansing your body. They strip the dirt off the surface, but many are very harsh and can strip more than dirt. Your face needs hydration and bar soap can drain the moisture and leave a soap film on your skin. You don’t want soap film on your face. The perfumes and deodorant that comes with many soaps can be harsh and may cause breakouts or worse, especially if your skin is sensitive. They can be very drying. Dry, dehydrated skin shows wrinkles very easily. A quality facial cleanser that works with your skin type is essential. If you skin prone to break-outs, you want a cleanser that helps dry up the sebum and other excess surface oils, but leaves the face looking hydrated. Dry and normal skin types need a cleanser that breaks down the daily grime and residue, removes makeup, and leaves skin clean, without taxing natural moisture reserves. Skin prone towards skin conditions, such as rosacia need very gentle cleansers, with additives that help calm the skin. Cleanser is important. Use it daily, especially in the morning.

Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, create essential barriers to skin damage. They are called antioxidants because they fight the oxidation process that damages and weathers your skin on a daily basis. Oxidants exist everywhere -- the sun, cigarettes, and many common environmental forces give off free radicals that attack your healthy skin cells daily. Oxidation creates the vicious sun spots, brown blotches and pigmentation that seem to appear out of nowhere. We hate them. Daily use of an antioxidantcan help prevent these. The antioxidant attracts these free radicals and destroys them, leaving your skin in tact and minimizing future splotchy pigment. It also enhances the protection of your sunscreen in multiples. There are many choices on the market. Choose one that is right for you -- not too oily, too drying, or too strong for your skin. It sounds hard, but it is really not as complicated a process as it was for Goldilocks to pick the right porridge. Ask questions and work with an esthetician familiar with your skin and your skincare concerns to come up with the one right antioxidant.

Did I mention sunscreen? Always – that means daily – use a good sunscreen. Even if your only outside activity is driving a car to the office – use a sunscreen! Pick a sunscreen that also acts as a moisturizer, rather than a moisturizer that contains an SPF. Frequently, moisturizers with SPF don’t provide the protection you need. The SPF is often a small amount of filler that got bigger billing than the rest of the ingredients. There are sunscreens that work for all skin types. You can find one that is comfortable for your face.

Use a vitamin A cream daily – at night. They come in different strengths and carriers, and go by different names – tretinoin, Retin-A, tazarotene, to name a few. Topical vitamin A creams have been proven in studies to reduce wrinkles and actually regenerate collagen. They can be called the “skin genie in a bottle!” After the age of thirty, collagen begins to erode from our skin quickly. It is the ingredient in our skin that provides elasticity and that young, supple look. After thoroughly cleansing your skin at night, you should use a topical retinoid. Retinoids started being used in the late sixties as an answer to acne. By the 1980s, we knew they could prevent wrinkling of the skin. Today, we know that these topicals can improve wrinkles, rough skin, acne, and help reverse some of the aging process. Research is still being conducted, so who knows what we will know about the attributes of retinoids in ten more years?

As a nation, we probably spend more money looking for that fountain of youth and a cure for wrinkles, than is spent looking for a cure for the common cold. The good news is that there are products on the market today that help maintain a youthful appearance. These four items should be the cornerstone for your skincare – a cleanser, an antioxidant, a good sunscreen, and a retinoid are essential. Add other products as you need them, such as a bleaching agent to reverse pigment, acne treatments, and the like. Please smile for your pictures, use straws with your sodas, and enjoy life. You can still avoid wrinkles!

For more information on anti aging skin treatments, please contact Ageless Remedies Lake Norman

After the Tan Has Faded

The signs of spring abound, which means summer is almost here. We all know what summer means to the Lake Norman crowd – fun in the sun! So, let’s put the question out there. Is there a safe way to tan? In a word, the short answer is no. You can enjoy the summer – and create safe conditions for your skin – by not tanning. When the sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate your skin, your skin responds by producing melanin The suntan is your skin’s response to an injury.

However, using an effective application of sunscreen before you go out into the sun may enable that fun in the sun we all crave. Despite the fact that we all purchase lots of sunscreen, it is still, for many of us, an often underutilized product. Yes, we cover (really, paint) our children with it, but as adults, we aren’t as diligent. Maybe understanding some basics of sunscreen protection would make it more interesting – and more utilized. For example, did you know that sunscreens should be used every day if you are going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes?

Sunscreen is one of the most effective substances you can put between your skin and the sun. What is sunscreen and what makes it so effective? Broadly speaking, sunscreen is any substance or material that protects the skin from UV radiation. Sunscreen is usually an opaque cream or paste that provides a physical shield from the sun, such as a zinc cream. Sunscreens provide protection by reflecting the V rays before they penetrate your skin. This includes lotions, gels, spray, cream, salve or stick -- anything that can be applied to the skin. It also includes clothing, sunglasses and film screens that are affixed to windows and other materials to shield the suns rays.

Effectiveness is generally measured by SPF, an abbreviation for sun-protection factor. Normally, we use sunscreen substances listed with SPF numbers of 15, 30, and today, even as high as 60. This number indicates how long a topical sunscreen remains effective on the skin. To determine the effective duration of a specific product, multiply the SPF by the length of time it takes for you (the individual) to burn without sunscreen. For example, if you normally burn in 10 minutes without sunscreen, then a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will protect you for 300 minutes ( 10 time the SPF 30). Also, consider other factors such as sweating and swimming, which require more frequent applications to the exposed areas. Also, keep in mind that sunscreen is usually provided by a cream that is SPF rated. Sunscreen reacts with chemicals in your skin to offer protection by absorbing the UV rays. Since this chemical reaction takes time to occur, you should apply your sunscreen 30 minute prior to sun exposure. Generally, an SPF of 30 is recommended when exposed to direct sunlight or when participating in outdoor activities.

All sunscreens are not created equal! There are two types of ultraviolet radiation that reach earth's atmosphere from the sun -- Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and ultraviolet-A (UV-A). You need protection from both. Many cosmetics and suntan lotions advertise protection levels of SPF contained in their makeup. Read the fine print! Too many times protection is only offered against only one type of ultraviolet radiation -- ultraviolet-B (UV-B). It’s important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UV-A and UV-B.

You may be able to use the sunscreen that you bought last summer. But keep in mind that if you are using the appropriate amount, a bottle of sunscreen should never last you very long. So, before you throw any leftovers out, check the expiration date. The FDA requires that all suncreens be at their original strength for at least three years. If you are using the right amount of sunscreen, you should use up a bottle very quickly. Approximately one ounce of sunscreen, enough to fill a shot glass, is considered the amount needed.

Here’s an easy application guide.
• Face and Neck (1/2 tsp.)
• Arms and Shoulders (1/2 tsp. to each side)
• Torso (1/2 tsp. to front and back)
• Legs and tops of feet ( 1 tsp. to each side)
• Thickness of the application is important. If the right amount is not applied the SPF could drop
Some quick tips --
• Reapply your sun protection product every 1 ½ to 2 hours regardless of SPF.
• Remember that the SPF of a sunscreen is reduced by wind, sweat, water activities, etc. Therefore, apply more often under these conditions.
• Sunscreen can cause eye and skin irritation and some may be too oily for certain skin types. It is not recommended for babies less than 6 months old. Check with your children’s pediatrician for individual recommendations. It is important to consult with an expert to find the right protection and ingredients for your skin type.
• Some medications can limit a sunscreen’s effectiveness. Always consult with a professional if you are going to be in the sun and are using medication.
Spring and summer at the lake are fabulous, memory-making times. There is always so much to do – boating, picnicking, and softball games. You name it! You do not have to avoid the sun – just use plenty of sunscreen. Chronic exposure to the sun produces a change in the skin’s texture and causes wrinkles and age spots. Thus, tanning to improve appearance is ultimately self-defeating. At Ageless Remedies we take sun protection seriously. It is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from aging and even more importantly from melanoma. After all, no one wants to look in the mirror and see the results of last year’s summer sun exposure – after the tan has faded. Wasn’t that what Lady Macbeth really saw when she cried out, “OUT dammed spot”.

Fore more information on anti aging skin treatments, please visit our site!

About Us

Ageless Remedies bridges the gap between beauty and medicine to give you smooth, healthy skin from head to toe. Using only the most advanced products and clinical treatments we achieve stunning results. No where else will you find such a perfect blend of technology, service and satisfaction!

Our services include...
Microdermabrasion • Peels • Laser Hair Removal
Facial Treatments • Anti-Aging • Photo Rejuvenation
Acne Treatments • Vein Removal • Cellulite
Air Brush Tanning • Lash & Brow Services
Waxing • Permament Hair Removal
Permanent Makeup and Massage

When you want smooth, healthy skin from head to toe, Visit Ageless Remedies.
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