You take a look at your parents or your older siblings. They are beautiful in your eyes and you also see how they have aged. Are you looking at your own future? As you come from the same ‘stock’ you would assume that you have no choice but to age exactly the same way they have.
Think again. You may be able to fight your aging genetics by preventing the root causes and with skin treatments.
Let’s start with this photo of these identical twins. Susan, on the right, spent a lifetime lounging in the sun and now lives in Florida, while Jeanne resides in Ohio and avoids harmful rays. Susan also averaged a pack and a half of cigarettes per day for 16 years before giving it up in her late 30s, while Jeanne never smoked. The differences in them are remarkable considering growing up they would have looked exactly alike.
A tan is a scar
Sun exposure is the number one way to destroy your collagen and age your skin. Sure you think you look healthier with a bit of colour but the truth is, a tan is your body’s reaction to damage just like a scar. So even though you may have a family member who has spent a lot of time outdoors unprotected, if you can give up tanning and wear daily sunscreen you are already winning the battle with your genetics.
One of these twins worked in a house all of her life, the other in a garden…need I say more?
Still smoking? Don’t get me started
Smoking is the wrinkle creator. It narrows blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin. It reduces the amount of blood flow, oxygen and nutrients that can get to the skin. It makes the skin leathery, wrinkled and yellowish in colour. If your parents smoked but you haven’t, or you have quit, good news…you will never look like that.
Let’s talk prevention
I doubt I have to mention healthy eating, supplements and exercise but yes, it will all make a difference to keeping you looking the best you can.
Now let’s say that you are already feeling like you’ve messed up and have made all the same lifestyle mistakes the rest of your family has. Can you reverse some of this damage?
Absolutely! You want to focus on a few skin treatments that will wake up your collagen in a big way, reduce brown spots and fine lines and take some years off your skin. Depending on the current state of your skin, you may be able to see a good difference with IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) or photorejuvenation as some refer to it. This is not a laser but a broad spectrum light-based treatment that will stimulate collagen and reduce redness and brown spots.
If your skin has deeper lines and sun damage you may be recommended to try the Halo Laser instead. If you are really putting up a good fight, you will want to use a collagen stimulating energy device like these once a year after you have reached your desired results. This will keep your skin in excellent shape.
Maintaining your results will be much easier if you also invest in some strong, doctor recommended skin care including, Vitamin C&E, peptides, growth factors and retinols.
Preventative neuromodulators
If you are staring at the forehead and frown lines that dad gets when he’s concentrating, don’t fear, neuromodulators every 3-4 months will not only stop those muscles from moving but will prevent your skin from constantly wrinkling so those lines never become permanent. See this study.
Filler anyone?
If your family tends to get under eye bags and deep tear troughs, you can choose to get some thin filler in that area or try using your own platelets to smooth the area with PuraPlas. All of our faces tend to flatten out as we age but dermal fillers can change that by plumping up cheeks, thinning lips and even correct that weak chin that auntie Marg passed down.
The secret is to start slowly and try one thing at a time.
EVERY little bit you do will help keep you looking like one of the family but by far the youngest even if you aren’t!
