Tips to get fair skin? by NAV JIVAN Hospital Mehnagar. |
Why do we age?
After our twentieth birthday, we produce around one per cent less collagen a year. That causes skin to become thinner and more fragile.Our sweat and oil glands don't function as well, we produce less elastin and there's less GAG formation too – glycosaminoglycans or GAGs keep the skin hydrated.
Those are the natural causes of ageing. But some external factors play a role too; sun damagr , smoking and exposure to pollution all lead to sun spots and an exaggerated loss of collagen, elastin, and GAGs – so your skin ends up looking uneven, patchy, thin and lined.
Too much sugar in your diet doesn't help either. When you eat sugar a natural process called glycation happens, where the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form new molecules called AGEs.
The skin proteins most susceptible to glycation are collagen and elastin, which make your skin look plump and springy, so that excess glucose makes those fibres stiff and inflexible, leading to fine lines and wrinkles.
Fight back!
Boost collagen
Research shows that the antioxidant powerhouse vitamin C is 20 times more beneficial applied to the skin, rather than eaten through your diet. And vitamin C helps boost collagen to keep skin looking plump, minimises lines and fades pigmentation.It also boosts the skin's immune system, helping to combat free radical damage from pollution and UV rays.
Lock in moisture
Hyaluronic acid helps your skin to draw in moisture, making it look plump, wrinkle-free and youthful.Glycerine, lactic acid and urea all have the ability to hold and attract water in the skin too.
Look for lanolin in your skincare products; it's softening, smoothing and prevents moisture loss. Itis the main ingredient in cult moisturising products, such as carmex . It's also in sodocrem, which makes an excellent mask when polished off with a facecloth.
Even out patchy skin
Retinol helps stimulate cell regeneration and fades the appearance of age spots and scarring.When battling pigmentation, it's best to make a beeline for brightening products, which even out your complexion.
Make sure you choose ones that contain UVA and UVB protection too, so you don't do any further damage.
Ingredients like kojic acid block the production of too much melanin and glycolic acid speeds up the elimination of the over-pigmented skin cells.
If you've got the budget for it, sessions of IPL (intense pulsed light) disperse pigmentation. Hydroquinone bleaching cream will fade dark patches.
Limit future damage
Research has found that daily use of sunscreen can stop skin ageing for up to four-and-a-half years so always use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 – all year round.Make sure it's 'broad spectrum' so that it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are present all year round and are responsible for premature ageing.
Mineral sunscreens, which contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide, are particularly effective because they act as a physical barrier to the sun and work immediately. It takes twenty minutes for most sunscreens nto be absorbed so apply yours thirty minutes before heading out and use a teaspoon-full for your face.
Perfect your technique
Smearing your beauty products on willy-nilly won't banish lines because the nutrients won't be properly absorbed.Facial massage boosts circulation, flushes out toxins and delivers nutrients where they're needed, resulting in firmer, skin.
Apply products by making circles with your knuckles along the cheekbones, jaw and forehead for a minute, then lightly drum your fingertips over your face for another minute.
Eat your skin line-free
Good fats, found in avocados, oily fish and nuts help skin cell regeneration and lock in moisture.Antioxidant-rich berries boost circulation and help your body to produce collagen.
Broccoli helps clear toxins that can lead to fine lines.
Wholegrains, like oats and wholemeal bread, are rich in B vitamins, which encourage the growth of skin cells.
Foods rich in beta carotene, like carrots and sweet potato help your body create active vitamin A, otherwise known as retinol, which promotes cell turnover.
Don't forget your neck
The skin on your neck is more delicate, thinner and constantly exposed to the elements, so it often gives your age away.Avoid harsh products that contain sharp particles and instead go for a very mild exfoliator.
Your neck has fewer oil glands so it gets dry easily – combat that by using a rich and greasy cream specifically designed for your neck and give it as much attention as your face.
Cleanse and tone your neck every morning and evening and massage your cream in using upwards motions.
Don't forget to use a high SPF suncreen, whatever the weather. And for a more extreme answer, try Botox.
A Nefertiti Lift takes 15-minutes and involves up to 40 tiny injections of Botox into the neck and lower jaw.
Exercise wrinkles away
As you exercise, oxygenated blood rushes around your body. This improves the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cells and flushes away toxins.Increased blood flow brings toxins to the surface of your skin, so you can easily cleanse them post-workout, leaving your skin clean and glowing. It also helps boost collagen levels.
Not only that, a sweaty workout reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which leads to collagen loss through glycation
Good
ReplyDelete