Anna Maria Richards
If there is one thing that we all try to avoid as long as possible, it’s the aging process. Wrinkles, sagging skin, achy bones, and stiff joints will eventually catch up with us all, but there are some things we can do to prevent the aging process from taking over too quickly.
While we may be able to hide the effects of aging on the body, the one body part that we present to the world for full review is our face. Our face is a telltale window that displays how quickly we are succumbing to this process—just how do we age, and what can we do to prevent and even reverse the process if at all possible? Take a look at those facial features that are most prone to aging, and what we can do to stop it:
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Eyelids
The skin of the eyelids is already extremely thin, and it can droop with age and improper care of the skin around the eyes. When we age, we gradually stop making collagen, which helps to keep the skin elastic and resilient. Muscles can also lose their tone underneath the skin, causing the skin around the eyes to sag.
To fix sagging eyelids: Creams containing retinol and vitamin A have a quick tightening effect on the skin around the eyes. Effective without being too harsh on the skin, it will give you the lift you need to re-brighten the eye area.
If you want to go for a more permanent fix, try eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty to remove your tired look. This will help remove the excess skin in the upper or lower eyelids, making it appear brighter, awake, and younger-looking.
Age spots
A telltale sign of aging is age spots. Sun damage, coupled with your DNA, are responsible for this error in pigmentation; this excess production of melanin can turn up on hands, arms, and face.
To fix age spots: Creams and serums containing an ingredient called hydroquinone work to help fade these troublesome spots. This ingredient is known to cause irritation in sensitive skin, so some choose to battle the onset of age spots with antioxidants and vitamin C, very effective components in promoting even clear skin.
If you want to go pro and polish that skin, consider a broadband light or intense pulsed light treatment to erase age spots completely. You may need several repeat sessions for maximum effect, but it will be well worth the wait.
Thinning brows
While tweezing and aggressive waxing does not help, Mother Nature has something to do with the thinning of your brows over time. A lack of vitamins and nutrients contributes to hair loss, as do these pruning techniques that eventually kill hair follicles and prevent new growth.
To fix thinning brows: Put away the tweezers and consider applying a regrowth solution. Lipids and peptides work to help stimulate the regrowth of hair and help to bring it in thicker.
If you want a more permanent solution, talk to your doc about a product called Latisse, often used for the regrowth of lashes.
“Crepey” skin
The first areas of the face to develop thinner, crepe-like skin are the areas around the mouth and the eyes. This aging phenomenon is due to sun damage and exposure—in fact, 90 percent of it could be prevented with proper precautions and protection from harmful UV rays.
To fix crepey skin: It’s never too late to start protecting yourself from the sun. Application of moisturizing creams containing SPF is most helpful for reducing the occurrence of age spots and dry skin; even people in their 50’s and 60’s who begin using sunscreen see positive results.
If you must go pro, consider laser resurfacing therapy. Laser treatments treat irregularities in pigmentation, eliminate age spots, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles to almost smooth skin in a few sessions.
Uneven or dull complexion
Due to the loss of collagen and elastin, acne scars, and age spots, skin becomes more dull and brittle with time. You no longer have that smooth, bright complexion you once had. No amount of makeup or powder is going to enhance your glow, either. You have to battle this one from the inside out.
To fix dull or uneven skin tone: Use products containing retinol. Retinol is proven to help skin cells renew more rapidly and uncover younger, smoother skin. The addition of antioxidants, vitamins, and peptides smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, allowing you to recapture youth for just a bit longer.
A more permanent solution to uneven skin tone is again laser therapy. It works to tighten and tone subcutaneous layers of skin while sloughing off dead skin cells, revealing a brighter complexion.
Dark circles
Dark circles around the eyes indicate both fatigue and toxic liver overload. The loss of fat and collagen in this area of the face contributes to that saggy, droopy look.
To fix dark circles: Choose creams containing retinol and hyaluronic acid, which slough off dead skin cells and reveal younger skin. Products containing caffeine can shrink blood vessels under the skin, reducing the appearance of darkness around the eyes.
More permanent fixes for dark circles include injectable fillers, which should be administered by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Most of these products are a combination of both retinol and hyaluronic acid, and results can last for up to six months, which is an attractive option for those who do not regularly apply creams to their faces.
Double chin
While genes play a big role in this change, fat deposits slowly change location in the face and neck, contributing to the look of a double chin. Collagen and elastin are retreating, the neck and cheek muscles are starting to sag, and the result is something less than aesthetically pleasing for most of us.
To fix a double chin: Fat does play a role in the development of a double chin, so diet and exercise help to keep it at bay. Neck firming creams and lotions containing acidic compounds can help to reduce the look of sagging skin in this area as well.
If you desire a more permanent fix, consider a neck lift or liposuction, which will take out unsightly skin and fatty deposits. Many people are turning to injections that dissolve fatty deposits as well; results are quicker, and the procedure itself is less invasive.
Hollowed out facial features
As we age, skin and muscle both lose their tone, creating the look of hollowed-out eyes, saggy cheeks, and the development of jowls. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
To fix sagging facial features: Protecting yourself from sun damage and choosing products and foods that encourage collagen production will help to prevent the appearance of a Southward face.
Several patients are opting for surgical procedures involving the transfer of fatty deposits from other areas of the body into the face, helping to plump it up once more. Patients also choose facial fillers, which are similar to the fillers used in and around the eye area, to revitalize the skin.
Doing what you can to protect yourself against the sun and free radical damage will do wonders for your face. Eating clean and getting healthy, restful sleep are also great strategies for reducing Father Time’s inevitable effect on your beautiful face.
