Anti-Aging and Skincare

Aging is a natural human process and can’t be stopped. However, the majority of the aging signs we get as we age are easily preventable or manageable. Read on to find out what you can do for your skin.

Types of aging:

• Intrinsic aging, controlled by our genes. There’s nothing we can do to control that.
• Extrinsic aging, influenced by our environment and habits. There’s a lot we can do to reduce this. Up next are some great practices.

Measures we can take to reduce premature aging;

1. Daily sunscreen (SPF 30+)

It’s estimated that 90% of premature aging is caused by UV rays as they break down collagen and elastin which is responsible for our skin’s youthfulness. Slathering adequate broad spectrum sunscreen daily will go a very long way to help prevent this and give your skin the chance to recover.

There are several black skin friendly sunscreens (leaves no white cast) out there such as Neutrogena Hydroboost, Black Girl Sunscreen and Krave Beauty The Beet Shield.

Wearing makeup is no excuse to skip it either. Liquid sunscreens can be reapplied over makeup with a beauty blender. There are also several makeup brands that include SPF in their products, but this shouldn’t be used to replace an actual sunscreen.

2. Gentle Skincare

In our efforts to take care of our skin we often apply products harshly or use strong, irritating products that break down our skin barrier.

• Apply skincare products gently
• Stay away from strong products (unless dermatologist approved)
• Avoid products that sting, tingle or generally irritate
• Always ensure that skin is hydrated/moisturized

3. Avoid making extreme facial expressions such as smiling broadly and creasing your eyebrows or forehead.

These stretch the skin and over time, leave permanent lines. Also wear sunglasses to prevent squint lines when in the sun.

4. Restorative Skincare

Some ingredients and procedures reverse aging signs and boost skin’s youthfulness. They include:

• A retinoid to increase cell turnover
• Vitamin C to fight sun damage
• AHAs to increase cell turnover
• Humectants (eg. glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera) to attract moisture and plump the skin
• Chemical peels (Only by a dermatologist)
• Dermabrasion (Only by a dermatologist)
• Laser resurfacing (Only by a dermatologist)

Still concerned about aging? Whatsapp our dermatologist to get skin-specific treatments.

Eunice Asare for Bare the Community.