Adopt These Anti-Aging Skin Treatments for Younger-Looking Skin

Your face is likely the first thing you notice in the mirror each morning and one of the first areas to show the inevitable signs of aging. However, just because the years seem to be passing by faster does not mean the wrinkles have to show up at the same pace. With correct skin care, good habits, and proper anti-aging treatments integrated into your life, you can maintain a healthy, youthful appearance for a long time to come.

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

When you thinking of the body’s organs, some of the first to come to mind may be the lungs or heart. However, the skin, too, is an organ and benefits from water in much the same way as others do. In fact, it is the largest organ in the body. Skin is made up of cells, and without being well hydrated, cells cannot function properly.

Drinking your eight glasses a day doesn’t just keep your body working well, but also assists in keeping your skin supple and youthful. When the body is dehydrated, skin can become dry, tight and flaky, which makes it prone to fine lines and wrinkles and can leave it looking dull. Proper hydration can lead to increased elasticity and support the skin’s ability to rejuvenate.

Cleansing Routine

It’s easy to skip part of your bedtime skincare routine at the end of a long day or when you’re especially tired. However, it is important to

maintain a consistent cleansing routine for ultimate skin health. Use a gentle cleanser to remove makeup and any contaminants that may have found a home in your pores throughout the day. Use a sponge or soft cloth and resist the urge to scrub or use hot water, both of which can irritate the epidermis. Avoid skin-cleansing products that contain alcohol.

Once you have rinsed and patted your face dry, apply a quality moisturizer in a very gentle manner. Take extra care around the eyes where the skin can easily be damaged, increasing the appearance of wrinkles or puffiness. Choose a moisturizer that is designed for your skin type.

Exfoliation can be helpful in removing dead skin and promoting new growth. However, more abrasive does not mean better, and too-harsh products can result in inflammation. Limit exfoliating to only once or twice a week.

Sun Defense

While sunshine can be a fantastic source of vitamin D, unfortunately, the ultraviolet rays it possesses can also wreak havoc on your skin. In addition to potentially leading to skin cancer, exposure can dry out the skin, resulting in long-term damage and reducing the skin’s ability to repair itself, which can make the skin look older. A leathery texture and discoloration can also occur. You may see some of these effects occur after a major sunburn, but much of the sun’s damage doesn’t become obvious until years later, making it imperative that you defend your skin from the sun’s detrimental effects long before you notice any further changes.

Avoid being in the sun during prime exposure hours, which often occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Choose a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor, or SPF. The Mayo Clinic encourages an SPF of 15 or higher. Be mindful of the expiration date of your chosen sunscreen, and of the product’s directions for how often to reapply. Give yourself a second line of defense by wearing wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves during peak hours.

Visit an Esthetician

Facials today mean more than popping a few cucumbers onto the eyes. Now, that’s not to dismiss the effects of this cool veggie. After all, the cucumber’s anti-inflammatory properties do their part in reducing puffiness and adding hydration to the delicate skin in the eye area. However, there are a variety of facials and techniques available nowadays to fit individual needs, and the last thing

you want is to use a product meant for a skin type different from your own. For instance, an oily complexion might call for a mask that is naturally drying, but a combination complexion could be adversely affected by the same product.

In addition to traditional facials, consider skin treatments such as ultrasonic or LED light therapy. The ultrasonic machine, which uses sound wave technology, can be used for cellular renewal and reparation, to increase circulation and muscle tone, and to aid in lymphatic drainage for reduced swelling. Ultrasonic therapy does its work deep beneath the skin’s surface. LED light therapy, on the other hand, uses UV-free lights that focus on increasing collagen and elastin, resulting in firmer skin and the reduction of fine lines. It can also help to increase the rate at which your cells renew.

Microdermabrasion, chemical peels, serums, and laser therapy are a few other restorative procedures and products that may benefit you. Discuss your skin and the options available to you with the esthetician beforehand, outlining your needs, habits, and preferred outcomes.

Catch Your Z’s

Forget burning the candle at both ends if you want to look younger. Your body does its best regeneration and repair during the sleeping hours. You can give it all types of tools but without adequate rest, the regeneration time can be minimized, leaving your skin worse off. Make getting a full night’s sleep a priority to refresh and reboot your system. Be sure to also change your sheets and pillowcases on a regular basis to ensure minimal contaminants on your bedding that negate the effects of your evening cleansing routine while you rest.

Set a Dermatologist Appointment

Check in with a dermatologist on a regular basis to minimize your heath risks and assist in maintaining healthy, youthful skin. Your dermatologist can do skin screenings and keep tabs on potentially dangerous effects of past sun exposure and damage that has occurred. Your skin care doctor may also have a few anti-aging tricks up his or her sleeve that can only be performed by a medical professional, so put these on your question checklist for the next visit.

With the right care and attention to detail, you can minimize many of the effects of aging on your skin and look as young as you feel. Checkout the esthetician programs at Florida Academy to learn more about anti-aging techniques and how to become a skin care professional yourself with cutting-edge expertise.