When I was asked to write an article about how to have beautiful, glowing, dewy skin, the assignment took me back to my teen years, when I had an acne-riddled face. The zits and pockmarks finally went away when I was a sophomore in college.
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But the experience was not without exploring a variety of proper skin-care routines. I am still grateful to my parents who were diligent about solving this skin-care problem, which can be traumatic and devastating to teens — boys and girls alike.
I only wish David J. Goldberg, M.D., and Eva M. Harriott, Ph.D., had written their informative book, "Secrets of Great Skin,” when I was 16 and suffering the physical and emotional scars of acne.
•Take care of your skin.
That medical duo has written a comprehensive guide to taking care of your skin at any age.
"As the largest organ in the body, the skin takes center stage in the aging process. There is no way to avoid getting older, but there are numerous steps you can take to delay the signs of aging,” Goldberg writes.
Goldberg and Harriott's book details how men and women can have more beautiful skin that looks younger without invasive techniques such as cosmetic surgery.
"By taking control of the external factors that lead to aging of the skin, you can prevent time from leaving its imprint on your face — and even take years off your appearance,” Goldberg writes.
•What causes aging?
In a word — genetics, said Dr. Paul Silverstein, an Oklahoma City cosmetic surgeon.
"Look at your parents to see what you will look like as you grow older,” he said.
Hormonal changes also cause skin differences. Cellular decline is another factor in the health of your skin.
Extreme weight loss or gain, which causes stretch marks and rapid swelling of the skin, is another factor.
Severe infections in teens with acne can affect the skin.
"The processes of aging actually originate at a microscopic level of each individual cell,” Silverstein said.
"Staying out of the sun is one of the best ways to have beautiful skin,” he said. "Sun is the worst cause of premature aging. The sun destroys the elastic rubber that holds our skin together. If you have to be in the sun, wear a hat that protects not only your face but both sides of your ears and your nose.”
He also suggests a regular routine of morning and evening cleansing, moisturizers and sunblock.
One of the biggest causes of aging skin is the reduction in production of collagen, which helps the skin retain its softness and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Vitamin C, available in a cream and serum, is a great source for helping rebuild your collagen, Silverstein said.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, "There are many noninvasive ways to improve your appearance and ease the effects of the aging process. Among them are exercising, healthy eating, avoiding tobacco, drinking plenty of water, using alcohol in moderation and reducing ultraviolet light exposure.”
Silverstein cautioned against quickie Botox parties. Botox should be injected only in a clinic or doctor's office.
"Botox is not an anti-aging agent. It's a normal poison, a neurotoxin that paralyzes the muscles which caused the wrinkles. The side effects can be suffering from botulism,” he said.
Both societies note that noninvasive treatments or spa treatments are therapeutic and relaxing, designed primarily to reduce blemishes and protect the skin. But the results are temporary.
"These treatments — cellulite wraps, facials and deep-tissue massages — are used by people of all ages, from younger people who want to improve skin tone to older adults who need to relieve muscle tension or back pain,” Silverstein said.
•A whole-body approach.Dr. Joan Hardt, owner of Rejuvena Cosmetic Medical Center, takes a whole-body approach to skin care. Like Silverstein, she emphasized how damaging the sun's rays can be to your skin.
She said she stresses the importance of aggressive skin-care products, especially those that include alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids, which penetrate the skin and stimulate cell turnover. Retinoids, sunscreens and anti-oxidants also help, because as the skin ages, cells don't rejuvenate as quickly.
She performs a variety of treatments in her clinic and is a proponent of dermal fillers that smooth out deficits in the face, making the skin look healthier and more radiant.
"These aren't just wrinkle creams,” she said, stating they are a bit invasive, as they are injected into the skin.
Hardt also uses laser procedures that help restore collagen and target pigments to remove discolorations. Artefill is a permanent filler, and Thermage is a noninvasive radio frequency treatment that tightens the skin. These last about four to five years, while Botox treatments are rather short-lived, lasting a few months.
The next generation of Botox may be the GFX procedure, which was introduced in October by Dr. Cameron Rokhsar, a cosmetic dermatologist in New York City. He claims the GFX procedure can make Botox obsolete.
This procedure expands on the initial principle of Botox by weakening the motor nerves that cause frown lines, but instead of blocking signals sent from nerves to the muscles, GFX uses radio frequency energy to effectively weaken motor nerves. This in turn damages the nerves, which causes a relaxation of the muscle and creates a smoothing effect on frown lines. The procedure can last up to two years.
Fraxel is a laser treatment that penetrates and disrupts the skin. A slight sunburn is a side effect as the skin resurfaces itself, creating a healthier look. All of these treatments are a way of postponing cosmetic surgery, which is an emerging trend, Hardt said.
High intensity light treatments are another popular treatment, but Silverstein said they can cause permanent burns and scars. He said he has seen disastrous scarring on several patients.
•Precautions.
If you've tried just about every beauty potion you can find and you're still not happy with your appearance and are leaning toward cosmetic surgery, consider the suggestions of doctors Silverstein and Hardt.
Hardt said, "Ninety percent of the time, you can avoid surgery by using noninvasive techniques to improve your appearance.”
Silverstein said, "You are responsible for what you let anyone do to you. Any time you want to consider cosmetic surgery, make sure you are dealing with a doctor who is a board-certified member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are several fake boards across the country whose members have no certification or training for what they may be offering in the realm of skin care.”
Hardt said there definitely is a place for cosmetic surgery but patients should consider alternatives first.
"It's your skin,” she said, "and always remember that you have a choice how you treat it.”
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