You probably didn’t think much about your skin care routine when you were younger. You may have quickly washed your face with your favorite products, patted it dry, and then went about your day.
But now that you have passed your 40th birthday, does it seem like the skin care products you always relied on are no longer reliable. Perhaps your skin feels too dry in addition to not feeling especially clean. What gives?
Well, there is a logical explanation.
Skin Changes as a Result of Aging
As we get older, our skin undergoes significant changes. It becomes less elastic, which will eventually result in wrinkles and sagging. Once we hit our 40s, our skin also starts producing less oil, which means that it is losing the natural fullness that could previously disguise fine lines. At this age, it’s common for people to start noticing crow’s feet, reduced skin firmness, and blotchy skin. An unhealthy diet, smoking, and too much exposure to the sun can make these problems more noticeable.
Daily and Weekly Care of Your Skin
It’s important to wash your face with a gentle skin cleanser each morning and evening. If your skin is excessively dry, once a day is enough. Be sure to apply moisturizer after rinsing and washing your face in the morning and a night cream after the evening wash. We also encourage patients to use sunscreen each day, regardless of the weather. Some makeup products have sunscreen built into them.
Using a non-drying toner every day can draw moisture to the surface of your face and help close pores. This has the added benefit of making your skin appear tighter and smoother. When choosing a toner, look for one made specifically for mature skin.
Weekly exfoliation of your skin helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines in addition to allowing your skin to better absorb ingredients from creams and masks. Bi-weekly exfoliation may be needed for oily skin. A weekly mask or steam treatment can reduce wrinkles, dryness, acne, and oil. You may need to use two masks if parts of your face are dry and wrinkled while other parts are oily and contain acne.
Other Ways to Improve Your Skin Health
In addition to all the other damage it does, smoking also causes pucker lines around the mouth and premature crow’s feet around the eyes. Unfortunately, it also slows the production of elastin and collagen. That’s why you see so many smokers with deep lines and leathery looking skin. So if you’re still smoking, try hard to quit for the sake of your health and your skin.
To prevent damage to the skin and possible skin cancer, don’t leave the house without applying sunscreen and wearing sunglasses that block UV rays. And lastly, keep in mind that lean proteins, grains, and fruits containing Vitamin A, B3, C, and E are especially important for the health of your skin.
Laser skin treatments, injectables and dermal fillers are all excellent options for keeping your skin looking young and healthy – and even reversing many types of skin damage. At Dermatology Associates, we offer these and other treatments that can help keep your skin looking its very best, regardless of your age. To learn more, just give us a call or click here to schedule an appointment.
Dermatology Associates offers a full spectrum of leading edge medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services from offices in Savannah and Vidalia.
