Skin Health and Skin Rejuvenation with New Youth it’s possible! 

First, the bad news – what happens to skin with aging and why?

To answer the “why,” it’s easiest to think of the skin as a product of the underlying cells. If the cells are healthy, so will be the skin. These cells are affected by the numerous hazards of life: ultraviolet light of the sun, smoking, a poor diet, and general poor life habits. 

These result in the following skin problems:

1. Thin and fragile skin
2. Wrinkled skin
3. Sagging skin
4. Age spots
5. Pigmentation spots
6. Skin cancer
7. Pale, yellow color
8. Loss of clarity   

Everyday Exposures Damage the Skin

For an excellent demonstration of this, simply look at the inside of your arm as compared the outside. Look at any part of your body not exposed to excess sunlight and compare it to the areas that get sunlight. Compare a smoker’s face to that of a non-smoker. The difference is usually dramatic, demonstrated in identical twins, one of whom gets exposed to excessive sunlight or smokes cigarettes. The fact is that skin cancers rarely occur in unexposed areas of the body, and that includes the dreaded melanoma.

There are a few select exclusive skincare or Cosmeceutical brands with regimens of products that are developed specifically to address the foundation of the problem, the cells. Think of a child’s cells like grapes and an adult’s cells like raisins. The damage causes the cell contents to “leak out,” along with other adverse effects such as mutations in our DNA, the blueprint for our body’s function. We eventually become mutants of our former selves. Systemically this results in chronic diseases, rapid aging, and even cancer.  

A Healthy Lifestyle Means Healthy Skin 

It would require volumes to address this subject. The bottom line is that healthy habits result in better health. We recommend eating minimal simple carbohydrates; sugars, potatoes, pasta, white bread, and most things white, lean meats, skinless fish, and lots of bright-colored vegetables. Our skin usually reflects our underlying health. When eating bread, make sure it is whole grain. It has more fiber and nutrients. Generally, 1/3 of your plate should be lean protein and 2/3 vegetables and/or fruits. Regarding vegetables, consume the various colors, “eat the rainbow,” to take advantage of all of the different nutrients for longevity.  

Stay away from the low-fat diets. Usually, this means that they are high in simple carbohydrates. Stay away from all trans-fats and keep saturated fats to a minimum. Fats do not make you fat. Unsaturated fats are necessary. Inadequate Omega-3 fat intake, a type of unsaturated fat, results in chronic diseases as w ell as dementia. The proper ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio is about 1to 1. In the USA, the ratio is more like 20 to 1, causing many of our chronic diseases, inflammation, and dementia.  

Everyone knows that exercising is necessary. I look upon taking nutrients as supplements are essential to assure total nutrient intake, including supplemental Omega-3 fats and whole food vitamins.

Focus on the Skin by Treating the Cells 

For the skin specifically, products developed over the past 20 years address the foundation of aging – the cells. These Cosmeceuticals may have ingredients from the Orient to Russia and Brazil to repair certain adverse aspects of metabolism that result in aged cells. They should include numerous anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories, anti-glycation agents (a cause of sagging skin), pigmentation stabilizers, and much more. The trend is toward cosmeceuticals. Meaning they are almost prescription strength, and geared toward skin treatment and not just skincare. However, over-the-counter products can often exceed prescription creams if designed with synergistic ingredients.  

Skin Care Results Take Time and Persistence 

Remember that your skin problems took many years to develop, so do not expect the repair to occur overnight. Products that are simply “peel and bleach” can give you visible results in a few days, but they are not anti-aging. I have seen several patients who have used only glycolic acid peels alone and who have developed skin cancers at unusually young ages. Peels remove our protective layers, so we would expect more sun exposure and thus more free radicals. Make sure you also use the anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory creams or serums to counteract these exposures.  

Let us not forget to always use sunblocks as a routine in your regimen. My preference is one containing either zinc and/or titanium as they are actual mechanical blocks. If exposed to lots of sun, use these every few hours or so for adequate protection.

These pointers about lifestyle and skin repair will make a favorable difference in your appearance as well as your general health, so get started toward better health and happiness.

Author Info

E. Ronald Finger MD, FACS