1. Sun Protection

More than anything else, sun protection will help to prevent the
aging of your skin, The sun is largely responsible for
wrinkling, blotchy pig entation (Lentigines, also called “liver
spots”), thinning of the skin, broken blood vessels
(telangectasias), dryness, texture changes, uneven color and
some sun related skin diseases that make the skin look older.
Daily use of sunscreen products with at least an SPF of 15 along
with protective clothing such as full-brimmed hats, long sleeved
blouses and shirts, and slacks instead of shorts will greatly
reduce the aging of the skin and the possibility of skin cancer.
Sunglasses will also protect the eyelids from aging and will
help reduce crows feet by reducing the squinting which comes
from sun exposure without eye protection.

2. Avoid Smoking

Melasma has been considered to arise from pregnancy, oral
contraceptives, endocrine dysfunction, genetic factors,
medications, nutritional deficiency, hepatic dysfunction, and
other factors. The majority of cases appear related to pregnancy
or oral contraceptives. The infrequency of melasma in
postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement suggests that
estrogen alone is not the cause. In more recent experience,
combination treatment using estrogen plus progestational agents
is being used in postmenopausal women, and melasma is being
observed in some of these older women who did not have melasma
during their pregnancies. Sun exposure would appear to be a
stimulating factor in predisposed individuals. Although a few
cases within families have been describe, melasma should not be
considered a heritable disorder.

3. Fitness

With age, extra weight can accumulate in areas under the chin,
the neck or cheeks, giving the skin an older look. Other areas
of skin such as the abdomen, thighs, buttocks and calves look
older if they are carrying excess fat. A combination of balanced
nutrition and exercise can greatly improve the appearance of the
skin. Drinking enough water is also important. Improved muscle
tone and improved circulation also help to keep that younger
looking skin we would all like to maintain. Some excess fat can
be removed by liposuction; however, it is much better not to
accumulate that excess weight in the first place.

4. Smile!

Your face tends to conform to the position or expression that
you carry most of the time. If you often frown or scowl you skin
is more likely to develop lines or wrinkles between the eyes,
down turning lines at the corners of the mouth, or other lines
or furrows that conform to the frowning facial expression. a
smiling, pleasant, relaxed expression is goof for your face and
will help keep you looking younger.

5. Sleeping Positions

Sleeping on your face can cause sleep wrinkles. Sleeping in the
same position most of the night for years can permanently crease
your skin. With a small pillow under the lumbar (lower) spine,
it is possible to sleep on your back comfortably without causing
wrinkles on your face.

6. Skin Care

Consistent skin care is important in maintaining younger looking
skin. In recent years, several products appear to cause an
improvement in aged skin. Although Retin-A? has received a lot
of publicity and does seem to improve the appearance of skin
over a period of time, it can cause skin irritation, sun
sensitivity, peeling, and requires a medical prescription. Alpha
hydroxy acids also appear to achieve remarkable results in
giving the skin a younger look and lacks most of the irritating
side effects seen with prescription products.

7. Moles

As young children, most people have few, if any moles. Most
moles appear as we grow older. We may look older than we are if
we have numerous or unsightly moles, especially on the face.
Moles can be easily removed by a skilled dermatologist or
plastic surgeon. This can greatly improve the appearance of the
skin and give it a younger, smoother look.

8. Blood Vessels

As we age, extra blood vessels appear on the skin. Three types
of blood vessels are most common.

1. Telangectasias are blood vessel lines and blotches that occur
on the face, neck, and upper chest. These are caused from sun
damage, flushing or blushing, some skin diseases such as adult
acne (acne rosacea) and excessive use of cortisone-type skin
creams. Other activities which greatly increase the blood flow
to the face such as vigorous exercise, hot spicy foods and
drinks, alcohol, hottubs, etc. may aggravate this problem. It
may be possible to prevent telangectasias due to flushing by
using a cold damp towel on the face during vigorous exercise,
during use of hot tubs or at other times when there is marked
facial flushing. Sun protection with sunscreen products and a
hat can also help to prevent this problem. Telangectasias are
best removed with Krypton, KTP, copper vapor, continuous wave
dye, or flash lamp pulsed dye lasers.

2. Cherry angiomas are small bright red, mole-like spots on the
skin. These spots are easily removed with laser, electrocautery,
or surgery. Getting rid of these lesions will remove one of the
tell-tale signs of aging.

3. Spider and varicose veins appear on the legs with age. These
are most often caused by heredity, hormones, and pregnancies.
Sclerotherapy (injections) and new simple surgical techniques
can easily remove most of these vessels giving the legs a
younger look.

9. Brown Blotches

Brown blotches occur on the skin with age. These include
freckles, liver spots (lentigines), and uneven pigmentation
(melasma) which usually occurs in women because of a combination
of sun exposure and estrogen type hormones either naturally or
in birth control pills. The Phaze 13 Pigment Gel, or NuCelle?
Mandelic Serum 10-15%, and prescription medications can both
help. Laser treatment, dermabrasion (skin sanding), chemical
peels, and liquid nitrogen freezing can also improve these
pigmented blotches. These procedures are performed by
dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

10. Other Skin Blemishes Show Your Age www.pharmaskincare.com
info@pharmaskincare.com Waxy scaling yellow, brown bumps
(seborrheic keratoses) and fleshy tags (skin tags) occur with
age and make the skin look older. Enlarged oil glands and small
cysts commonly appear on the face with age. These small skin
lesions are easily removed by a dermatologist using simple
office surgical procedures, liquid nitrogen freezing or lasers.
A clear complexion without all of these little distractions,
gives a much younger look to the skin.

At some point you had acne, now you are left with embarrassing,
ugly scars. There are ways to diminish and reduce the appearance
of the acne scars. The severity of the scars will determine what
you will need to do to diminish them. I would recommend seeking
advice from a dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to determine
the best course of action.

For very mild scarring you can try a few at home procedures and
products to help reduce the appearance of the scars. At home
dermabrasion and chemical peels can help diminish some scarring
especially if you also use retinol or alpha hydroxyl acid
lotions or creams. For sensitive skin you may not want to apply
retinol or alpha hydroxyl products right after dermabrasion or
peels because it can cause redness and irritation. Other
products you can try are scar reducing creams like Mederma or
Rosehip seed oil which is said to be great at reducing scar
tissue. Aloe Vera juice and gels and lavender oils are also said
to work well on reducing scars.

Professional treatments for scarring include Laser Resurfacing
which involves the use of a laser to remove skin so new skin can
form in its place. Laser resurfacing can cause uneven skin tones
in people with darker skin. It is still being studied but shows
a lot of promise. After treatment you may experience redness and
swelling which may last for several weeks.

Dermabrasion has been around for decades. Originally sandpaper
was used to remove damaged skin. Now a machine rotates to remove
the damaged skin, the skin is numbed or frozen first. After the
procedure your skin is raw and scabs will form. After the scabs
heal your skin will be reddish for several weeks.

Augmentation is a procedure where material like collagen or your
own fat will be injected under the scar to bring it to the
surface. The treatments last for about six months but they are
working on more permanent solutions.

Subcision is a technique that detaches the scar from deeper
tissue and allows a pool of blood to form under the scar. The
blood clots and helps form connective tissue under the scar to
level it with the rest of the skin surface. Subcision is usually
combined with either dermabrasion or laser resurfacing.

The depth and shape of your scars will determine what treatment
your doctor will recommend.