Aging Gracefully: Skin care in your 20's, 30's, 40's and
beyond
by Danny T. Siegenthaler
zone3
Skin care is important at any age. However, as we get older, our
skin's micro-anatomy and physiology. The steps you need to take to adjust
your skin care regime are outlined in the following article. You can have
great looking skin at any age and your first step to achieving great
looking skin is to understand how natural skin care works.
How to keep your skin looking great!
Invest some time and care! Everyone wants to have younger looking skin.
Unfortunately, even the most expensive skin care products, with all their
claims of 'reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles', can't turn
back the years. However, don't despair! There are steps that we can all
take to make sure our skin looks healthy and vibrant and stays
wrinkle-free for longer. All we've got to do is invest some time and care
in looking after it.
It is important to understand the basic function of our skin in order
to look after it properly. The skin is our body’s largest organ and
comprises three major layers:
The Epidermis:
This layer has five sub-layers; the outer layer consists of
mainly dead cells which are continuously shed and replaced by cells
beneath. The epidermis is also responsible for ‘water proofing’ your skin,
protecting your skin from potential invasion of microbes and generate new
skin cells which move from the deep layer of the epidermis to the outer
layer, where they are eventually shed.
The Dermis:
Is the ‘middle layer of the skin and is composed of connective
tissue containing collagen and elastin. The dermis is thick in the palms
and soles and very thin in the eyelids. It contains blood vessels, nerves,
glands, and hair follicles.
The Subcutaneous layer:
This layer consists of areolar and adipose tissue. Fibres from
the dermis extend down into the subcutaneous layer and anchor the skin to
it. The subcutaneous layer, in turn, attaches to underlying tissues and
organs.
Aging of the skin
There are several factors influencing how quickly our skin ages,
ranging from genetic factors, your natural skin type, as well as external
factors such as exposure to sunlight, environmental factors and whether
you smoke or not. In general, pale skins wrinkle faster than darker skins,
which are protected by increased amounts of pigment and lipids.
Another vital factor is, of course, our age. Our skin looks and
functions very differently at 20 as opposed to when we are 60. Below is a
skin care plan of how to look after your skin as the decades go by and how
to adapt your skin care regime accordingly.
Looking after your skin in your 20s
Your 20s is a great time for your skin. You've left behind the
adolescence acne and your skin has a radiant, youthful glow and the
epidermis is well toned. However, this is not the time to be complacent.
In your 20s skin cell renewal drops by up to 28 per cent, dead skin cells
are not as easily shed and external factors are starting to have a greater
impact, leaving your skin slightly duller.
According to dermatologists, 80 per cent of all aging can be directly
related to exposure to sunlight. Therefore, it is a good idea to avoid the
mid-day sun, or if you have to be out in the heat of the day (especially
in countries like Australia), than cover up. Penetrating UVA rays will
start to damage collagen fibres and elastin coils in your skin.
Smoking one factor you can control and now would be a good time to
quite. Smoking inhibits oxygen getting to the outer layer of your skin and
has a premature aging effect. In addition, smoking can cause fine lines
around the mouth over the years and this is to be avoided – if you want to
keep your good looks.
Looking after your skin in your 30s
By the time you get to your 30s skin cell turnover has slowed.
Environmental damage from pollution, smoke and sunlight are starting to
take their toll on the dermis, causing collagen fibres to loosen so that
skin starts to loose its tone and develop fine lines and wrinkles. When
you smile, subcutaneous fat forms ridges and refuse to bounce back as
readily as it once did. Your first wrinkles may start to appear.
By now you should have established a daily skincare regime that
involves exfoliating (two or three times a week), cleansing, moisturising
and sun protection for your skin. In your 30s, it's important to maintain
a balanced diet consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and fish,
which are high in antioxidants such as Vitamins A, B, C and E. These
Vitamins counteract free radicals in your body that help the skin to
repair itself, produce the enzymes that stabilise collagen production, and
stay moist and healthy. For further protection, try using a day crème,
such as one that contains vitamin E, for example: Wildcrafted’s Age
Defying Essence.
Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation as it deprives your skin
of vital nutrients and may cause your facial blood vessels to become
dilated leading to permanent, red ‘spider veins’ on your cheeks and in men
often across the nose.
Maintaining well hydrated tissues by drinking plenty of water each and
every day (3 litres a day is not at all excessive) is vital to retain
moisture in your skin. In addition, you should ensure that you get enough
quality sleep.
Looking after your skin in your 40s
In your 40s, collagen fibres decrease in number, stiffen, break apart,
and form into a shapeless, matted tangle. Elastic fibres lose some of
their elasticity, thicken into clumps, and fray. The result is the skin
forms crevices and furrows known as lines and wrinkles. In addition, loss
of fat in the subcutaneous layer leaves your skin more fragile, whereas
the dermis will continue to lose its elasticity. A rich nourishing night
crème, such as Wildcrafted’s rejuvenating night crème, becomes a vital
part of your skin care regimeDuring this time the stratum corneum (the
outer layer of the epidermis) starts to grow even thicker, as dead skin
cells hang around for longer. If you are not already using an exfoliant
regularly, now is a good time to get into the habit of exfoliating your
skin regularly using a facial scrub – 2-3 times a week is all that’s
necessary. You could also use a cream containing Rose oil, Jojoba oil or
similar, as these contain natural AHA’s (alpha hydroxy acids) and to help
remove dead skin cells.
As deeper wrinkles start to form, you may wish to use a complete skin
care system, which systematically helps you to nourish and moisturise your
skin on all levels. Choose natural skin care products for your daily skin
care regime, as you do not want to introduce unnecessary toxins into your
system by using products full of unpronounceable chemicals. Quality
natural skin care systems, such as Wildcrafted’s range of natural skin
care systems should be matched to your specific skin type.
Looking after your skin in your 50s and above
As we reach our 50s and beyond, the hair and nails grow more slowly.
Langerhans cells (involved in the immune response, dwindle in number, thus
decreasing the immune responsiveness of older skin. Decreased size of
sebaceous (oil) glands leads to dry and broken skin that is more
susceptible to infection.
In women, after the menopause, decreased oestrogen levels mean that
skin lose its plumpness and tone, and it may be left dry, itchy and more
sensitive to allergens.
At this stage in your life it is important to take that extra care of
your skin’s health. Mature skin is more fragile, prone to injury and
infection and bruises easily. As if this was not bad enough, it also takes
longer to heal. Taking care of your skin will reduce the aging effect;
keep it healthier as well as more resistant to injury and infections.
Remember, a face that has a lived in look is much more attractive than a
Botox face and character is much more beauty.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Beauty Related Articles:
 Beauty Secrets of the Stars
Professional Skin Care Look
The Art Of Make Up!
7 Tips for Beautiful Skin
Skin Care Advice At Any Age
Deception Wrinkle Cream
Detox for Beautiful Skin
Follow this 3 minute routine before applying makeup
Honey: A Notable Facial Skin Care Product
Olive Oil In Your Beauty Routine?
|
Go to Page: 