The Importance of Helping Your Facial Skin Age Well

Aging is inevitable, much as we might wish otherwise. This is particularly true of the face, as it is one of the most important features of the human body. While changes in facial appearance due to aging are normal, there is no reason why we cannot do our best to minimize those changes. Our staff at Jefferson Plastic Surgery strongly believes in the importance of skin care as the body ages. Doing so helps you keep your face looking younger and more radiant.

(Don’t) Let the Sun Shine In

As winter gives way to spring, the temptation to take in as much sun as possible is almost overwhelming. A number of studies have shown that the mood begins to improve as the weather does, particularly in colder climates that experience snow in the winter.

However, the sun’s rays can contribute quite a bit to premature aging of your skin, as well as possibly cause skin cancer, particularly melanomas. The sun puts out two different types of rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA), which is responsible for drying out the skin, and Ultraviolet B (UVB), which can cause melanomas and sunburn. If facial skin dries out due to excessive UVA exposure, fine lines and wrinkles may develop, particularly around the outer corner of the eyes (crow’s feet). The skin can also take on an uneven tone in the form of darker areas of skin, known as sun spots. Once the skin dries out, it is prone to premature aging because excessive UVA exposure hastens the loss of collagen, which is a protein the body forms to fill out the skin over the skeletal framework.

Our staff recommends using a broad-spectrum sun screen (to screen out both UVA and UVB) with a sun protection factor, or SPF of 15 or higher. This sun screen should be applied if you are to be outdoors for more than approximately 15 to 20 minutes. A wide-brimmed hat and large sunglasses can also cut down on excessive sun exposure.

Proper Hydration

You’ve probably heard that the human body mainly consists of water. This is absolutely true, and vital to understanding why skin hydration matters to keeping your face looking as youthful as possible. In addition to losing collagen due to excessive sun exposure, the body will also lose it due to the effects of aging. Once this process happens, it can leave the face looking gaunt and hollowed, as well as emphasize lines and wrinkles around the eyes, lower nose, and mouth. The skin may also feel excessively dry and leathery.

We recommend the regular use of a good facial moisturizer to keep the facial skin properly hydrated. Some moisturizers are combined with sunscreen, so these may be a good option to help you avoid skin damage from excessive sun exposure. Additionally, increasing your intake of water will help with overall body hydration, including facial skin. An easy rule of thumb is to aim for the consumption of 64 ounces of water a day.

Taking good care of your facial skin before it begins to show the signs of aging will get you ahead of the game in terms of looking years younger than your actual age.