 ASK
OUR EXPERTS...
As I get older (close to my late 50’s), I am noticing a drastic
change in my facial skin. It is starting to look withered. What can I do to
reverse this?
When your skin starts to look withered, the cause is most likely a
deficiency in nutritional components. What is happening to your skin is that
this deficiency is causing a breakdown in the skin’s elasticity, meaning
that the elastic fibres degenerate due to water loss and fat tissue reduces
in thickness. To top it all, your skin is experiencing a dramatic reduction
in oil production - this causes the dryness. And to make matters worse,
blood circulation is reduced due to cholesterol deposits in the arterioles.
Granted, as we get older it is a natural process for changes to happen in
our skin, especially the signs of wrinkles, visible texturing, dryness and
spotting. As your age increases, your estrogen levels decrease, the moisture
balance is disrupted, and the circulation of blood on the surface of the
skin decreases as the protecting layer of the skin (known as the lipid
layer) becomes thinner. Unfortunately, many of these “changes” are
unavoidable in mature skin, however you can take some preventive measures to
at least slow down the signs of aging, particularly those nasty wrinkles.
The best prevention you can offer your skin is to be careful of your
exposure to the sun. The sun is the major cause of most skin damage and the
intensity of wrinkles is a tell all as to how much you worshipped this
luxury. To start, always wear some form of sunscreen with an SPF of at least
15. When spending long hours in the sun, wear a hat with a brim especially
between 10:00 am to 3:00pm. Take note that the sun can be just as intense on
your skin during overcast days as well. If you substitute natural sun for
sun tanning beds, avoid tanning your face. It is far healthier for you to
match your facial tone to your bronzed skin using liquid or powder
foundations.
The next best prevention for your skin is to avoid conventional creams that
are full of toxic chemicals. Granted it is very easy to get caught up in the
amazing “promises” made by skin care manufacturers, however truth be know,
chemicals are chemicals! Fortunately there are loads of “natural” and
“certified organic” skin care lines popping up on the market. Most of these
are rich in essential oils and other pure ingredients that are combined to
naturally rejuvenate the skin at every age. For aging skin, look for a
product that is rich in moisture components.
For more practical beauty advice, send your questions via email to
experts@risingwomen.com
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