Free Radicals

Free radicals are the main cause of the body's aging process. They are found freely in the body. Basically, free radicals are atoms or group of atoms that have missing electrons, therefore making them unstable. To gain back their stability, they get electrons from nearby atoms, breaking their strong chemical bonds, rendering the other atom incapacitated.

The ultraviolet rays from the sun causes an upsurge of free radicals on the skin's surface, damaging the collagen and elastin molecules found in the skin. This injury distorts the shape of collagen molecules, causing wrinkles and sagging to occur on the skin. Haven't you noticed the people who are usually out in the sun tend to look more mature than the ones who are indoors most of the time. Subsequently, elastin molecules are also damaged by the free radicals. Since elastin is the protein responsible for the skin's flexibility, an injury to its molecules will cause the skin to lose its suppleness and ability to go back to its original form. When this happens, years will be added to your appearance.

The damaged collagen begins to deteriorate and, in essence, becomes deformed. Healthy collagen is smooth and supple. The more free radical damage you have, the more sagging and wrinkles. The weathered skin you see on people who spend a life time in the sun is the result of cross linked collagen.

Elastin is the protein in your skin that gives it elasticity. Free radicals turn elastin into something resembling a dried out rubber band. Your skin loses the ability to spring back. The suppleness diminishes and you look aged.

Melanin, the pigment responsible for your complexion, is also affected by free radicals by disturbing its proliferation, thus giving you uneven spots or age spots as they call them, on your skin, ranging from freckles to the big brown ones. Melanin production is upset and quite disorderly, making your skin look old.

Healthy skin usually have their cells replenished every 21 to 28 days. Sun exposure and free radicals disturb this process by delaying the production of new cells. Since the life span of a cell is about 21 to 28 days, with the production of new cells slowing down, the skin will be composed mostly of old, dying cells, making you age prematurely. Basking in the right amount of sunlight is good for the skin, but prolonged exposure to it, like when you get a tan, will destroy it, making you look older and frail, instead of young and healthy.

The effects of free radicals are shocking. They can make you appear much older than your actual age. And yet many people continue to promote the myth that a tan is youthful and healthy.

Repeated exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, especially during noon can cause an upsurge in the free radicals in the skin, making the mechanism of normal cell growth malfunction. If this practice will persist, it will eventually lead to skin cancer, and ultimately, disease.

How Skin Ages

The skin grows older every minute. In fact, it normally takes about four weeks to create new skin to replace the old one. But, there are several factors that may contribute to speeding up the process. These factors are interconnected with each other in that you cannot pinpoint just one factor as the ultimate cause of skin aging. These factors work together to make your skin look old and ultimately make you appear older.

Aging is classified into two types, intrinsic and extrinsic:

Intrinsic aging is inherited aging. Your genes are responsible in causing which wrinkles will occur, where it will be and if you will have sagging skin or not. There is basically nothing you can do about it except of course cosmetic surgery for a full face lift and the proper care of your skin so as to delay these effects from occurring.

Extrinsic aging evolves from different factors concerning your lifestyle. Some factors that may affect your skin are the degree of exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays, your skin care regimen, what mood your face often reflects, levels of stress, underlying medical condition, hormones, food intake, and physical activity. Treatment is according to how you manage your lifestyle.

Factors that contribute to the cause of aging skin:

Sun damage is an extrinsic aging factor. The damage that the sun's ultraviolet rays cause is an extrinsic factor of aging. It creates an upsurge of free radicals in the skin which are responsible for damaging collagen and elastin molecules which leads to wrinkles and sagging.

Pollution is another extrinsic factor that shares the same principle of the production of free radicals with ultraviolet rays, although not as serious.

Smoking is also an extrinsic aging factor and can cause the skin to age faster since it not only damages collagen and elastin through free radicals, it also gets rid of it.

Genetics is an intrinsic aging factor. Your skin cells may be genetically programmed to slow down replenishment at a younger age than other people.

Chronological aging. Every year, your skin produces less sebum and has fewer fat cells to keep it plump. Skin is thinner and looks more transparent as we age.

Inflammation. When you have an infection in the body, caused by more factors, this causes the body to be stressed and age. This inflammation should be controlled and reduced before visible signs of recovery can be seen.

Hormone imbalances. Hormones play a role in predicting your skin type. Imbalances in these hormones, probably due to disorders in the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands can cause undue stress to the skin.

Hormonal depletion. Hormones can also get depleted as you age, which is a normal occurrence. To help treat this problem, hormone supplements are given to balance out the hormones in the body as well as replenish those that have been depleted.

Immune system suppression. Autoimmune diseases, long term stress, the natural aging process, and an unhealthy lifestyle cause these.

Immune system imbalances. Autoimmune diseases, long term stress, the natural aging process, and an unhealthy lifestyle cause these.

Poor diet. A diet heavy on junk food, sugar, starches, and sodas in unhealthy for your whole body. Try to eat more vegetables and a better balanced diet.

Unhealthy lifestyle. Sleep deprivation, too much ongoing stress will show up in your skin.

While you can't do anything about genetics or chronological aging, there's plenty you can do to remedy or reverse most of these aging factors.

Anti Aging Skin Care Treatment

Baby
A baby's skin is the best example of a perfect organ in a human body. The skin is amazingly resistant. A child's skin derives its shine and smoothness from the abundance of collagen and elastin that exists in the body. A child has a very fertile system in place that creates and recreates the same with unerring frequency. All that the child needs to be assisted with is a simple water wash with a mild soap to wipe off any dirt and he or she still maintains the lovely skin texture.

Because children's skin is so new, the skin cells turn over and renew themselves naturally every 21 to 28 days. The most important aspect of skin care in this decade is sun protection. Apply sun protection whenever your child goes outside. Make applying sunscreen nonnegotiable. It is essential to the health of your child. Avoid serving junk food to your child. Be sure to feed your child vegetables and fruits filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Healthy eating habits established early in life will be the good habits in the future.

Teen
Skin starts changing and keeps on changing through the teenage years. There are two changes occur in this period. The first is increased hormone production while moving through puberty. The second is a teenager's is a desire to have perfect skin. Hormonal changes are the beginning of adulthood. While the hormones change, the skin produces more oil due to sebaceous glands being overactive, and this causes breakouts. Acne type skin can develop acne that can range from slight to severe.

1. It is now time to find reliable skin care products and start using them twice a day for cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

2. Exfoliate in between them one to three times a week, based on the skin type and how often the breakouts occur. Use salyclic acid exfoliants for breakouts and acne type skin. They are known to have antibacterial qualities and go inside the pores to control bacteria.

3. The most important thing to know for the teenage years is no picking. The risks of picking are serious and may cause permanent scarring and spreading to other areas of the body.

4. Be faithful to your routine and be sure not to overdue it. Never go to sleep without washing your face, and never go to bed without removing your makeup. While you sleep your skin renews itself and releases waste products and toxins. This process gets backed up when you don't remove makeup and wash your face before bed.

5. Avoid sunbathing or tanning beds. Tanning ruins the internal structure of your skin.

6. Whenever you are outside use sunscreen or sunblock. Make it a fact of life. be sure to apply enough so you protect your skin and don't burn or tan.

7. Avoid junk foods, heavily processed foods, and foods heavy in sugar. Instead, choose vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, meats, fish, and poultry. Learn all about low glycemic foods and make them the important part of your diet. High glycemic foods create inflammation, which shows up as breakouts and aging on the skin.

8. For unusual skin problems, visit a dermatologist.

Twenties
Hormones begin to balance out by the age of twenty. Normally your skin needs typical care for great results. You may notice a couple of lines around you eyes when you squint, but they are not considered wrinkles. Your skin's oil production has slowed down and your skin is starting to change. The cell renewal cycle of 21 to 28 days is also starting to slow down. If you've had acne breakouts as a teenager, they normally slow down as well. Enjoy your skin now and start adopting a lifestyle that will keep your skin healthy for the rest of your life.

1. During this time, at least by the age of 25, you need to be on a daily skin care ritual of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing twice a day. Never go to sleep in your makeup or without washing your face.

2. Be sure to apply sunscreen every morning immediately after your skin care routine. Reapply often if you are outdoors during the day.

3. To keep your skin healthy, try to get regular exercise into your day. Take a vitamin mineral supplement to assure that you are getting the nutrition you need.

Thirty to Forty
Skin in your 30's can easily look great. Lines and wrinkles in your thirties depend on the amount of sunscreen you used or sun exposure when you were younger. Your level of facial animation can also make a difference. Those with more expressive faces will have more lines. At some point in your 30's, your skin experiences a major turning point. This starts with the time when your metabolism starts to slow down, partially because muscle mass starts to decline. Skin cell turnover is slower, maybe even as slow as every 40 days. Your skin starts to wrinkle, particularly around the eyes. Sun damage from earlier in life starts to show up as sagging and skin discolorations.

1. Continue your daily skin ritual of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.

2. Now is the time to start using glycolic acid exfoliation products regularly. Start with once a week, and gradually add one more treatment per week, up to two to three times a week, based on need. Glycolic acid has been shown to assist the skin in rebuilding collagen.

3. Consider getting a chemical peel once a month from a professional skin care specialist. At the very least, consider a professional facial and skin treatment at the change of seasons.

4. Get checked for skin cancer by a dermatologist or medical doctor yearly.

5. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and sleep. In your 30's and beyond, dancing into the wee hours in the night shows up the next morning. Your face may swell and bags and dark circles could develop under your eyes.

6. Continual high stress levels result in inflammation, wrinkles, and sagging.

7. When eating, choose foods that keep your skin healthy such as low glycemic carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and complete protein. Avoid cortisol inducing foods and beverages, such as coffee, caffeine, and alcoholic beverages, which can cause inflammation and irritation.

Forty to Fifty
Great skin in this decade has minimal sun damage and few expression lines, although you can expect to have some lines around your eyes. Many men have a new skin care concern in their 40s, a receding hairline. Care for the balding areas around your face just as you care for the rest of your facial skin. Any serious health challenges, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or autoimmune disorders affect the health of your skin. The skin condition rosacea could begin in this decade. For women, the 40s usually signal the start of perimenopause. At this time, skin oil production slows, leaving skin drier, and may start to become thinner and more translucent.

1. Cleanse, tone and moisturize twice a day.

2. Apply sunscreen faithfully every day.

3. Continue your daily skin care ritual, taking into consideration that you may need to switch products or skin care lines as your skin becomes drier and more sensitive.

4. Start doing chemical peels once a month to encourage more rapid cell turnover.

5. Exfoliate at home two or three times a week with AHA's, scrubs, or enzymes.

6. Use cosmeceuticals, vitamin C, and alpha lipoic acid to help reverse the visible signs of aging.

7. Consider asking your dermatologist for a prescription for Retin A or Renova to assist your skin with rejuvenation.

8. Check your skin regularly for skin cancers and have your dermatologist or medical doctor check as well.

9. You may want to consider such medical procedures as botox or collagen injections to improve your appearance and to temporarily melt away lines and wrinkles. Laser resurfacing can destroy deep brown pigmentation and enlarged or broken capillaries.

10. If you haven't already, become more conscientious about your eating habits. Get plenty of exercise.

Fifties
If you've been good to yourself and your skin, by now you are enjoying the rewards. Your skin has an even tone, with perhaps some slightly darker pigmentation spots. If you've used sun protection regularly, your skin has enough collagen and elastin to remain plump and smooth. You may have some sagging, but not much. By your 50s, expression lines are a fact of life, especially if you have dynamic facial expressions.

Men's skin is more robust than women's because men don't lose their reproductive capacity through menopause. Men's skin sags less because men have more vital collagen and elastin, provided they've stayed out of the sun or used good sun protection.

1. Stick to your daily skin care ritual.

2. Be aggressive with encouraging skin cell turnover by using glycolic peels and frequent exfoliation. If you've spent time in the sun, the damage is showing as sagging skin from collagen and elastin damage. Deep brown pigmentation spots are another result of sun damage. You can reverse some of this damage by the use of cosmeceuiticals, vitamin C, and alpha lipoic acid. Both glycolic peels and Retin A or Renova assist the skin in rebuilding collagen.

3. Eat the foods that nourish your skin, including essential fatty acids (EFAs) and plenty of vegetables and fruits daily. Avoid all junk food, alcoholic beverages, caffeine, and sodas.

4. Get outside more and often using plenty of sunscreen. Regular massage and lymph drainage will help perk up your skin.

5. Now is a good time to consider a surgical face lift. This proves to be a good investment because the results can last up to 10 years.

Sixties and Beyond
Your skin in thinner, with heavier wrinkling. Lifestyle and genetic diseases and disorders, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease can affect the radiance of your skin. This is when lifestyle makes the biggest difference in the quality of your skin skin.

The Truth About Acne Skin Care

Let's face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Even dermatologists cannot cure a severe case of acne but can only provide an acne treatment regimen.

However, you can support your acne treatment efforts with proper acne skin care in order to reduce the recurrence of acne flare-ups and not aggravate existing acne.

Knowing What You're Doing
One of the first pieces of advice is to make sure that you understand and follow the directions for any acne remedy that you are using. If you are taking a prescription acne medicine, read the patient leaflet that accompanies the medication carefully. Typically for moderate to severe acne a dermatologist may prescribe several acne medicines, each with its own treatment protocol and directions.

In order to achieve the acne free skin that you desire, it is important to use all the acne treatments properly and in the correct order. Consider bringing a tablet of paper, a pen, and a friend or relative with you to your appointment with your dermatologist. Simply jot down some notes about the order and time of day for applying each acne medicine and what its purpose is.

Remember, just because the acne clears with the use of your acne medicines doesn't necessarily mean that you have succeeded in curing acne. Most people with moderate to severe acne must continue to use their acne medicine long-term to prevent any recurrence of their acne problem. Using the acne treatments properly should translate to clear skin and freedom from acne scars.

What About Over-the-Counter Remedies?
Besides using medications prescribed by a doctor, there are a large number of products on the market labeled as skin cleansers, facial cleansers, pore cleansers, and facial pore cleaners that can be used in curing acne.

When cleansing skin that is afflicted with acne, an important point to remember is not to scrub the skin; never scrub your face with a washcloth. It is a misconception that acne is caused by dirt clogging the pores of the skin. You dont scrub away the offending dirt; you cant scrub away the offensive acne and achieve acne free skin.

Over-washing or scrubbing skin afflicted with acne only serves to aggravate the condition. Rather use only a gentle skin cleanser, lukewarm water, and a gentle motion with your fingertips as your primary acne skin care regime. When you wash your face with your hands, be sure to first thoroughly wash your hands.

Do Natural Treatments Really Work?
Look for gentle cleansers that are sold as acne solutions. When you're evaluating skin cleansers for acne, include natural acne treatments in your search as well. For example, a soap made from Echinacea and other herbal ingredients is an effective antibiotic facial cleanser that helps fight acne and restore clear skin. Tea tree oil also has known antibiotic properties and serves as a mild anesthetic that will soothe the irritated skin.

Oily skin is implicated as a one of the causes of acne. It doesnt necessarily make sense to use a moisturizer on oily skin as a means of achieving clear skin. But many of the acne treatments, whether they are prescribed or available as over-the-counter products, have a tendency to irritate the skin while curing acne.

A moisturizer is a boost to irritated skin and keeps skin from becoming overly dry due to the acne treatments that have been applied. Look for a moisturizer with the following properties:

Oil-free
Wont clog pores (non-comodogenic)
Containing a sun-screen.

Besides a great desire to just scrub away the acne, many people try to remove the acne pimples by hand as a way to get clear skin. People who are afflicted with acne should avoid touching their face except to gently wash it with mild cleanser as already discussed.

By trying to remove pimples by hand you run the risk of creating acne scars that will last for a lifetime. Instead, have patience and rely on your prescription or over-the-counter acne treatment to work. Acne remedies usually take 6 to 8 weeks before curing acne.

For male acne sufferers, the daily ritual of shaving can be a problem. One acne sufferer has recommended the Gillette Sensor Excel as a gentle and effective razor to use. Other males prefer to try an electric razor. The advice is to shave delicately to avoid nicking the skin and to shave only as often as necessary. Finding a moisturizing shave gel may be one way to enhance your acne skin care program.

Female acne sufferers have their unique problems too, in finding the right cosmetic products to use. Females who are accustomed to using a foundation product may find that the foundation is difficult to apply smoothly if the facial skin becomes irritated due to the acne treatments being applied.

You may have to abandon the use of some cosmetics during the acne treatment period. Be sure to select only oil-free cosmetics and ones that are labeled as non-comodogenic (wont clog pores) to use on your road to clear skin.

Proper acne skin care is a necessary addition to your arsenal for fighting your battle with acne and achieving clear skin once again.