September is National Healthy Aging month! No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to start practicing healthy skin care to prevent or slow down the signs of aging.
Here to break down some tips specifically regarding healthy aging for skin is Dr. Jessica Borowicz.
Habits of Healthy Skin Aging
Some of the lifestyle habits that help with other aspects of aging are also important for your skin.
“This includes eating a healthy diet full of vegetables and healthy fats, drinking enough water, and getting enough sleep.”
1. Eating a healthy diet
What you put into your body definitely plays a role in what the outside of your body looks like, especially your skin.
With it being the first line of defense for the rest of your body, making sure you’re fueling yourself with ample nutrition is crucial. This means eating healthy foods rich in nutrients and healthy fats will go a long way in protecting your skin, maintaining its function, and slowing down aging.
2. Drinking enough water
Most people do not drink enough water. While you may not feel thirsty right now, your body probably wants more water to make sure its functioning at the best level it can—including your skin’s function.
The more you drink water, the more your body will naturally be thirsty for it. Start by increasing your water intake by 8oz a day until you’ve reached half a gallon of water per day (trust us, it will feel like nothing once you’re used to it).
Another tip is to drink teas and other water-heavy beverages (not soda or sugary juices) if you have a hard time drinking plain water.
3. Sleeping well
Sleep is the time of day where your body recovers, and it’s especially important for your skin’s ability to restore itself overnight.
By not getting enough sleep, your skin isn’t able to fully recover from the day before. Repeat this over time, and your skin may start to age prematurely.
It’s best to get between 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night as an adult.
Slowing Down Aging
In addition, there are many things you can do to help slow down the aging process for your skin. First, address any sun damage.
1. Sun Damage Treatments
“As we age, our time in the sun from years past can show, and you’ll want to target dark spots and even out your complexion with lasers, chemical peels, or products.”
Sun damage can make you look more aged, even if the skin beneath is healthy. Make sure to work with a dermatologist to understand which sun damage treatment will work well with your unique skin type and dark spot severity.
2. Wear SPF
We’ve all heard we should wear SPF, and yet many of us skip it or don’t apply it properly, therefore losing out on its protection.
“You also must wear SPF to protect your skin from further damage, and of course to prevent skin cancer.”
Sunscreen application can be confusing at times, with many of our questions about it going unanswered. A quick few rules you can use to ensure you’re applying it properly are:
- Apply about 1 oz to your face
- 2 oz to the rest of your body
- Reapply every 2 hours when in the sun
3. Skin Cancer Exams
“You should always get a yearly skin cancer exam, especially as you get older as skin cancer becomes more common as we age.”
One in five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. The best way to make sure you catch it early (and therefore beat it), is by getting your skin checked by a professional. It’s hard to notice certain skin ailments that may look normal to the untrained eye.
Only a professional can truly rule out any harm on a regular basis.
Reverse The Signs of Aging
In the end, we can’t all be perfect at preventing aging by practicing healthy skin habits. For that, experts have developed treatments to assist in reversing those signs of aging to help you moving forward.
“Botox and fillers to soften lines and restore facial shape are some of our most popular anti-aging treatments.”
However, different types of anti-aging skin treatments will aid different people. Which means seeing a qualified dermatologist here at The Derm to help you assess which is best for you will result in the most effective treatment to meet your goals.
We are here to help you at all stages of life, so come in to see us at The Derm by booking an appointment right here!
