Stopping Aging Before it Begins

20s and 30s are the New Face of Cosmetic Surgery
With almost everyone intent on slowing the aging process, increasing numbers of young people, both male and female, are opting for treatment. The idea is to actually stop aging before it even begins, therefore the trend is one of preventive plastic surgery. Julius W. Few, M.D. an assistant professor of plastic surgery at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine located in Chicago believes this trend is sure to continue.

Young people in their 20s and 30s are opting for Botox injections to slow or stop wrinkles, choosing to get these injections at the first sign of wrinkles. Botox stops the muscles from contracting by blocking the transmissions of signals from the nerves to muscles.

Some cosmetic surgeons believe that by starting this early will result in less work being needed later on. Dr. Few believes that using Botox or other similar anti-aging treatment to control wrinkles early on may prevent the development of deeper creases as the person ages.

In addition to Botox and other dermal fillers, the younger generation is also big on microdermasion and laser skin resurfacing so as to remove the outer signs of aging caused from environmental factors. It is a well known fact that sun exposure causes the skin to age, so by resurfacing, it is hoped that this effect is minimized.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) statistics for 2006 had 102,068 persons aged 19-34 opting for laser skin resurfacing and 9,156 of those 18 and younger also getting this procedure done.

Statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for 2006, shows that the number of Botox injections for persons aged 19 to 34 was 505,363 and 7,915 for persons aged 18 and younger. For other soft tissue fillers such as Restylane the numbers were 260,988 for the 19 to 34 age group and 5,423 for those aged 18 and under.

Another top anti-aging procedure for the 19 – 34 age group was microdermabrasion with 249,877.

Vice president of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) believes in starting patients young, guiding them towards proper skin maintenance as a first step. Others in the industry also believe that proper protection from the sun and caring for the skin is the best way to help minimize the amount of work that may be needed as persons reach their 50s and 60s.
by carefair.com

How Young is Too Young to Use Anti-Aging Products?

With the sales of anti-aging products continuing to climb, the skin care and anti-aging industries are churning out more creams, serums and lotions than we can count. So why are teens so interested in using the same anti-aging products when they already possess plump, radiant, smooth skin that’s free of fine lines and wrinkles?

For one thing, being a teenager involves caring about personal appearance - as well as being more appealing to the opposite sex. It’s hard for young girls to resist magazines ads, commercials and billboards advertising beauty products that are guaranteed to maintain a youthful and sexy complexion, while snagging the perfect dream guy. With celebrities dishing out their anti-aging beauty secrets, many girls (and guys) want to get a head start to make sure they, too, can look young forever. Even though this may seem like a harmless and even positive change from a parent’s point of view, be cautious of the anti-aging products you allow your teen to buy.

The main items a teenager’s daily skin care routine should consist of are: cleanser, toner, moisturizer and the typical acne or blemish treatments. The use of sunscreen or skin care products containing SPF is vital, as this age group is the most prone to developing skin cancer in later years. The signs of aging and skin damage related to UV rays don’t present itself until much later on in life, so it’s crucial that teenagers make sure they keep their skin protected at all times.

Other than these key items, teen skin doesn’t need much else. However, there are a few anti-aging products that are completely harmless for teens to use:

· Eye Cream: Like adults, teens can suffer from under eye puffiness, irritation and even fine lines. When using an anti-aging eye cream, be sure to read the label and take note of the ingredients. Gentle, natural ingredients are ideal. Make sure the product isn’t formulated for mature skin, as this skin type tends to require higher concentrations and may contain chemicals that are too harsh for young skin.

· Firming Cream/Lotion: Usually meant for sagging, dull skin, teens can also benefit from using firming creams and lotions. There are a number of trusted brands that can be found in the drugstore that won’t irritate or harm a teenager’s skin.

· Microdermabrasion: Whether it’s done professionally or using an at-home kit, microdermabrasion has grown to become popular with people of all ages. Gently exfoliating the top layers of the skin to reveal healthier skin cells, even tone and smooth rough, damaged skin does not pose a threat to teens. If done at home, carefully read the directions and do a patch test first.

Before investing in any anti-aging product, consult with a dermatologist and address any concerns you or your teen may have. As long as you stress the use of sunscreen daily as well as a healthy skin care regimen, your teen’s skin will be perfectly prepped for the long term so keep them away from anti-wrinkles creams, serums, peels, and other products designed specifically for mature skin.
by carefair.com

Aging Gracefully with Oily Skin

If you have ever searched the drugstore shelves for a skin care product that will diminish wrinkles while effectively battling potential acne breakouts, you know that these products are few and far between. The truth is that anti-aging products for oily skin are not exactly a big market. Part of the reason is that oily skin does not always tend to show those fine lines as early as drier skin might. The other is that many of the ingredients that are used to treat wrinkles are apt to cause breakouts as well. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can successfully win the battle against aging even if your skin tends to be on the oily side.

The first step in finding a good anti-aging product for oily skin is to determine exactly how oily your skin type is. If you suffer from frequent acne breakouts, your skin may run on the very oily side, meaning that you will have to exercise additional caution before putting any new product on your face. However, if your pimples are few and far between, you may be able to get away with one of the standard anti-aging products on the market without causing any additional problems with your complexion. This will most certainly make it easier for you to find an effective anti-aging product for your oily skin.

Hope for the Acne-Prone

Even if you do tend to lean to the very oily side of skin care, there are products out there that may work effectively on your skin. The problem is that you may be experiencing dry skin on the surface, while the inner layers are still fairly oily. This means that you may need to find a way to moisturize that drier top layer of skin without adding to the oil problem below. Your best bet is to find a moisturizer for your face that does not contain any wax, oil or lipids. This way you can keep your top layer of skin hydrated effectively without the worry of adding oil or clogging pores.

There are other factors that can come into play when fighting the effects of aging with oily skin. First, keep in mind that harsh cleaning will dry the skin out and lead to lines and wrinkles much earlier. Do not wash your face more than twice a day and avoid harsh soaps that will lead to excessive dryness. UV rays can also wreak havoc with your skin, leading it to age much sooner than necessary. Always wear sunscreen when you are outdoors, and make sure it is one that will work well for oily skin. It is also a good idea to limit hot showers to once a day, and avoid wearing more makeup than necessary. All of these habits will reduce dryness while treating oily skin.

Wrinkles and pimples don’t have to show up on your face at the same time. By exercising some precautions in the area of skin care, you can fight the effects of aging while keeping your oily skin in check.
by carefair.com

Beauty and Skin Care for the Woman on the Go

Being “Miss Busybody” is one thing, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect your skin care. Whether you’re the stay-at-home mom who has to be everywhere at once, the top executive with endless meetings or the multitasking college student burning the midnight oil, there are helpful tips for staying beautiful on the go.

Time management is essential in any routine so the best way to accommodate your skin care regimen into your daily hustle and bustle is to save yourself time by planning ahead. Lay out your makeup items and skin care products you know you’ll need the night before. Display your products on your bathroom sink and arrange them in the order that you’ll be using them so you don’t skip anything. By already having your morning skin care and makeup items set up, all you have to do is wake up instead of wasting minutes looking for your favorite beauty item. It also helps to coordinate your makeup colors with the next day’s outfit ahead of time as well so you know that your look will be complete.

Use simple skin care and makeup items that don’t take forever to apply. Practice your makeup application until you feel so confident that you can do it in your sleep.

Showering at night saves you tons of time in the morning, so all you have left to do is cleanse, tone and moisturize. Learn to multitask effectively by using products like 2-in-1 cleansers that also exfoliate or tone. This frees up a few steps out of your morning skin care regimen. To help set your makeup more effectively, allow your moisturizer to sit on your face for at least five minutes prior to application. This helps makeup set better. While you’re waiting for your skin to completely absorb the moisturizer, start working on your hair and/or brush your teeth. By the time you get your tresses tamed and your smile bright, you’ll be all set to go for makeup.

Skip time-consuming eyeliner and opt for a light coat of mascara and stick to one shade of eye shadow. Dab on some lipstick or gloss. When it comes to foundation, one of the quickest ways to apply it in a hurry is to dot your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Then use a clean sponge to smoothly blend. Check in a mirror using a bright light to make sure there are no streaks or other problems spots. If foundation takes too long, go without and sport the natural look. The most radiant skin happens when your skin isn’t covered with layers of foundation, powder and concealer. If you don’t have the skin to pull off the “au naturale” look, then remember that less is more.
by carefair.com