Acne Cure
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Aging Gracefully: Skin care in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond
   
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The Contact Dermatitis And Clothing Connection
Persons who suffer with dermatitis or sensitive skin have a difficult time living day to day avoiding allergens and the dreaded rash, itching and discomfort that comes with it. I .....
Persons who suffer with dermatitis or sensitive skin have a difficult time living day to day avoiding allergens and the dreaded rash, itching and discomfort that comes with it. I .....
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
Serious Skin Care
Ideas and Tips for Serious Skin Care
Taking care of our skin should be a daily process in order to provide it with the required moisturizers and ingredients in order to .....
can all take to make sure our skin looks healthy and vibrant andIdeas and Tips for Serious Skin Care
Taking care of our skin should be a daily process in order to provide it with the required moisturizers and ingredients in order to .....
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 bodys 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 crme, such as one that contains vitamin E, for
example: Wildcrafteds 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 crme, such as
Wildcrafteds rejuvenating night crme, becomes a vital part of
your skin care regime
During 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 thats necessary. You could also use a cream
containing Rose oil, Jojoba oil or similar, as these contain
natural AHAs (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 Wildcrafteds 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 skins 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:
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine
and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and
aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products
by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of
combined expertise with you.