Problem Areas of Your Body and How to Make them Look Younger

As you age, your skin naturally becomes more fragile. The outer layer of your skin, which is called the epidermis, starts to thin even though the number of cell layers remains constant. On top of that, the number of pigmented cells, or melanocytes, begins to decrease, and the melanocytes that are left begins to enlarge. For these reasons, aging skin will appear thinner, paler, and clearer. The aging process is inevitable, but there are ways you can conceal or slow that process down. Here are some common problem areas associated with aging and some of the things you can do to make them look younger.

 

Double chin

A double chin is a layer of fat that sags down from around the neck. There are several causes of a double chin: age, genetics, and excess weight. In the past, there were few methods of improving the look of one’s neck other than surgery. Today, less invasive techniques exist. Ulthera is a skin-lifting procedure that utilizes ultrasound to encourage collagen growth under the skin. It has been shown that one treatment alone can radically improve the contours of sagging double chins. Still, the neck lift remains the best option for permanently eliminating the issue. Performed by a plastic surgeon, a necklift improves the appearance of your neck by removing or altering excess skin and fat.

 

Wrinkles

As we age, the elastin fibers in our skin begin to wear out. This is what causes wrinkles. There are a number of anti-wrinkle creams that are both affordable and effective. The best creams will include retinol, a form of vitamin A and a wrinkle smoother that reduces lines quickly. Retinol is an essential vitamin for skin health, and it will encourage collagen growth and can help unclog pores. Many women don’t get enough of the desired results from using anti-wrinkle creams, so they enlist the help of a facelift to smooth away wrinkles and tighten the skin on the face. As we look at the history of facelifts, it is easy to see that these procedures have improved with technological advancements and today they are fare less invasive, with quicker recovery times.

 

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that appear blue or red, and you’ll typically find them on your legs as you age. They are caused by weakened valves in the veins and sometimes referred to as “spiderweb” veins because of their web-like appearance. There are some over the counter creams that will help the circulation within your legs and possibly reduce the visibility of these veins. Smaller varicose veins can be treated with lasers, which cause the veins to collapse and disappear. Larger varicose veins will need to be treated with sclerotherapy. This method involves injecting the veins with a solution that causes the veins to collapse and disappear.

 

Baggy Eyelids

As the skin begins to the thin around the eyes, it may also start to sag. Applying a moisturizer will help the skin keep its volume. As you get older, this skin will become more saggy, so if you start to experience this type of drooping early in life, you might consider a procedure to help keep the skin tight in that area. Baggy eyelids can be treated with an intense pulse light, which smooths out the skin. Usually, this procedure costs around $800, and should always be performed by a board certified plastic surgeon who can safely eliminate the extra skin, while making your face look natural.

 

Age Spots

Age spots are caused by the exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation over one’s lifetime. Even if you protect yourself in the sun, you might still see these spots pop up as you get older. The best way to get rid of them is through laser treatment. Usually, one or two treatments are needed, at $400 to $700 per treatment, after which you should see major reduction in the spots, and hopefully a more even skin tone. These spots are typically found on the arms and legs, but you can also get them on your face, and other areas that have had high exposure to ultraviolet rays over the years.

 

While the tips listed above might dramatically improve problems you might have with your skin, the best way to look young is to save yourself from the preventable causes of aging. Protect your skin from sun exposure by wearing sunscreen and avoiding sun tanning. If you’re a smoker, quit smoking immediately. Eat a healthy diet full of antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, in addition to vitamins A and B. As you age, you’ll notice differences in your skin and body, some of these can be remedied, and others cannot. There are plenty of products and procedures available to help you look younger, however, nothing keeps you looking young like a healthy, happy lifestyle.

Categories: age spots, anti-wrinkle, baggy eyelids, body, collagen growth, double chin, encourage collagen, plastic surgeon, problem areas, varicose veins, wrinkle creams, younger

How to Stay Healthy With These Skin-Loving Superfoods

Naturally, expensive creams and serums can do wonders for your skin’s health. However, you shouldn’t forget the power of your diet – there are a number of superfoods that offer incredibly powerful nutrients. Your diet is the foundation of your skin’s health, so this is where you should put in the effort. Simply eating well, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of exercise can really improve your skin and help you to fight those wrinkles for a little longer.

Fighting wrinkles

Laughing, pollution and bad lifestyle habits can all increase the risk of wrinkles. Soy can be a great way to fight them though. Research suggests that oestrogen-like chemicals known as isoflavones can keep the skin supple, and soy is a rich source of them. After just 12 weeks, women who had taken a 40mg supplement of isoflavone aglycone can keep crow’s feet at bay, by keeping the skin more supple. You can use soy in a number of ways, from adding it to stir fries to eating edamame beans. Aim for one or two servings every day.

Healthy glow

Sunbathing and relying on self tanners to achieve a healthy glow will become a thing of the past with the addition of vegetables containing carotenoids. They give plants their distinctive red, yellow and orange colours, which can be a great indicator as to the effect they will have on your diet. Add more peppers, carrots and pumpkins to your diet to really get the effects from them. You can also add in apricots, sweet potatoes, broccoli and leafy green vegetables to get the same effect.

Reduce puffy eyes

Puffy eyes are never flattering and if you have noticed that yours are getting bigger, you may want to reduce the amount of salt in your diet. There is also an association between a bloated belly and salt, not just the swelling in your face. Aim for foods which have a daily dose of potassium in them, such as sweet potatoes, avocados and bananas, as well as cooked lentils. Try to get this from your diet only though, not through supplements.

Whiter Teeth

Keeping your teeth healthy and white can knock years off your real age, as really makes a difference to your appearance. Highly acidic foods such as fizzy drinks, sugary snacks, citrus foods and coffee can all stain your teeth and make them vulnerable to damage. Eating a piece of cheese after such indulgences can keep your teeth untarnished, as it will help to neutralise the acids that can damage your teeth. Cheese is high in fat, so you should just treat yourself to a dice-sized piece after your meal – just four of these add up to around half an ounce. If you don’t have any cheese available, you can wash your mouth around with a swig of water instead for the same effect minus the calories.

Age spots

Age spots or brown spots are irksome and arrive with age and sun damage. Your first preventative measure should be sunscreen and avoiding sitting out in the sun for hours on end, but your diet can help here too. You need to look for foods which contain lycopene, as this protects the skin from the inside out and improves your natural SPF. Tomatoes are a great source of this, as are pink grapefruits and watermelon. Green tea can also help here, so try having a cup a day to really get the benefits. Naturally, you shouldn’t replace sunscreen with just these foods, but combined they can do wonders for keeping your skin in good health.

Categories: age spots, anti ageing, diet, foods, Healthy, healthy glow, Puffy Eyes, skin, superfoods, sweet potatoes, teeth

How to Look as Young as the Empress of Ancient China

These days, anti-ageing seems to be all gadgets, scientific ingredients and laser treatments, but as looking young is an age-old pursuit, perhaps it would be better to look to the past. 2000 years ago, the Empress of China was on top of anti-ageing wellness, as a youthful appearance was responsible for a large part of her power. She handed down her rejuvenating programme to the princesses who followed, and many of these beauty secrets still live on today.

 

1. Keeping your face toned with facial exercises

To keep those facial muscles tight and toned, repeat these exercises twice a day for five reps. Firstly, raise your eyebrows as high as possible and then relax. Then, try to move your nose from side to side. Puff out you cheeks as much as you can, and then relax. Next, open your mouth as wide as possible and then stick your tongue out as far as it will go and hold for five seconds. Finally, gently stroke your face with a circular motion, and then pinch along the contours of your face with your thumb and first finger on both of your hands.

 

2. Skin-supple supplements straight from the sea

As you age, your skin starts to lose elastin and collagen, which is why it becomes saggier. However, the empress passed down a skin-beautifying recipe to her princesses which contained sea cucumber. This is actually an animal, rather than a vegetable, which contains essential amino acids that are the building blocks of collagen and elastin. You can find sea cucumber dried in Chinese food stores (for use in soups) or else in supplement form. Remember to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

 

3. Get rid of age spots

In traditional Chinese practice, age spots and unwanted skin pigment are wellness problems that need to be treated from the inside out. This means taking supplements, herbs and foods to take care of the wellbeing of your kidneys, as Chinese medicine regards these skin spots as a reflection of a kidney imbalance. Therefore you should try eating black beans, sesame seeds, mulberries, anchovies, sardines Chinese yam, Asian cornelian fruit, and goji or lycium berry. Helpful supplements include alpha-lipoic acid, acetyl-L-carnitine, and quercetin.

Categories: age spots, ancient china, anti ageing, chinese, empress, face, nbsp, sea cucumber, skin, Supplements, young

Sucking Lemons: How Lemon Water Can Benefit You

While you may think you need berry blast smoothies or protein shakes, your number one drink for overall wellness is something a lot more simple; lemon water. Though it doesn’t sound as beneficial as your usual health beverage, starting every morning with a glass of warm lemon water is actually a ritual in Ayurveda or Yogic traditions, and current research on the nutritional elements found in lemons suggests that there are numerous health benefits to doing so.

 

You might be shocked and appalled at the suggestion of replacing your morning cup of tea or coffee with something so lack-lustre as lemon water, but starting you day this way can help kick-start digestion, which is great for weight control and overall health. The water doesn’t always have to be warm, but it should be purified. All you need to do us add half a fresh lemon to a large glass of water – which, at the very least, will make the ol’ H20 a little less boring. However, there are five health benefits of drinking lemon water that elevate drinking it for reasons beyond just taste, so why not give it a try?

 

1. It’s good for your immune system: As lemons are packed with the well-known antioxidant vitamin C, they can reduce your risk of respiratory infection. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is known for its supportive role in healthy immune function, as it demonstrates anti-inflammatory properties, which is why lemon water can be used as a complementary wellness therapy for those whose wellbeing is affected by asthma. Plus, vitamin C helps your body to absorb iron more easily, which makes a major difference to your immune function. You’ll also find saponins in lemons, which further work to keep that cold and flu at bay.

 

2. It helps to alkalise your body: As lemons are tart, you’d be forgiven for thinking they were acidic. However, lemons are actually one of the more alkalising foods for your body, even though they contain both citric and ascorbic acid. These weak acids are easily metabolised from your body, which enables the mineral content of the lemons to help alkalise your blood.

 

3. It aids your digestion: Lemon has traditionally used as a digestive tonic and their citrus flavonol content is thought to be the reason why. It is believed that including lemon in your diet stimulates and purifies your liver, which supports digestive hydrochloric acid in your stomach and further aids digestion. Plus, lemon’s vitamin C super status, as we’ve previously seen, may have a part to play in reducing your risk of peptic ulcers caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.

 

4. It gives you gorgeous skin: As the antioxidants found in lemons combat the damage of free radicals, drinking lemon water can give you clearer skin. UV exposure and environmental toxins cause free radical damage, which is responsible for many symptoms of ageing and skin damage. However, you can offset this damage and minimise your wrinkles, scars and age spots by consuming antioxidants. Moreover, you can directly apply lemon juice to scars and age spots to help reduce their appearance. Plus, as lemon water is believed to help purge toxins from your blood, it helps to keep your skin clear of blemishes.

 

5. It promotes healing: As well as aiding your immune system, ascorbic acid promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. Plus, the anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C make it an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

Categories: age spots, anti-inflammatory, ascorbic acid, drinking lemon, essential nutrient, Health Benefits, immune function, immune system, inflammatory properties, lemon water, vitamin c