Aging Skin Products

As you get older so does your skin. As we age many factors come together to influence how our skin ages. For example, everything from nutrition, to environmental factors, to toxins, to stress can effect how our skin ages. Finding the right product to aid in your fight to keep your skin appearing youthful can be difficult - many products boast that they have the secret to help your skin keep its young and wrinkle free appearance but may not deliver on their promise. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will have a better idea of what types of products you are interested in that may help in keeping your skin look young and fresh.

There are a large number of options for products that will fight against aging. Since a review of every product is just not possible, here is a basic overview of a few basic types of products.

1) Injectable fillers: these are products that are available from a dermatologist that are injected directly into areas of the skin that appear to be aging due to wrinkles.

2) Topical creams and serums: these can come directly from a dermatologist or as over-the-counter products.

Overview: Injectable fillers are a relatively fast solution and effective anti aging skin product. They are injected by a dermatologist directly into the skin and work by plumping up the skin which makes the wrinkle appear diminished.

Pros: Fillers can be injected in an appointment to a dermatologist with immediate results. This is a very fast method of dealing with aging skin and wrinkles. These methods are also pretty long lasting given how quickly they are implemented. Each filler is different from the next, with some lasting about 6 months and others lasting about 3 years. Since a filler only requires one visit to the doctor, this method also has very little upkeep. Once the visit is over, the patient is all set until the filler needs to be injected again months or even years later.

Cons: Fillers are most appropriate for the treatment of wrinkles, so other aging skin concerns might not benefit from their use. Fillers also only treat the appearance of aging skin and do nothing to actually improve the skin in and of itself. This means that the skin does not reap any actual benefits from the filler - the results are purely aesthetic.

Overview: In your search for anti-aging topicals, it is important to avoid the inflated promises that you can look ten years younger within weeks or even days. There is no miracle topical product that will turn back the clock on your skin so anyone who promises such a thing is likely telling you more of what you want to hear than the truth. With that being said, topicals can be very effective in treating aging skin over a period of time. The key to their effectiveness is regular use over a period of time.

Pros: Topicals are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased over-the-counter by anyone. Topicals can be quite effective, not only at improving the appearance of aging skin, but also at actually improving the health of the skin itself. This means that a person's skin has the possibility of getting better over time rather than staying the same as it would with a filler. Topicals can also treat a wide variety of skin concerns such as wrinkles and discoloration. Discoloration, in the form of age spots, are very treatable by many over-the-counter products.

Cons: Topicals require repeated use over a long period of time (2 months or more). Accordingly, this method requires a good amount of maintenance. In addition, most products will not give you results for at least a few weeks so it can be difficult to tell if a product is working until you have already invested a good amount of time.

Vitamin C: The benefits of Vitamin C are very well know. This is one of the best natural anti aging skin products available. The only problem with vitamin C is that once it is introduced to air and light it also begins to oxidize, which decreases its effectiveness. When looking for a product with Vitamin C, make sure it comes in a dark bottle and that you keep it closed when not in use.

Vitamin E: Vitamin E is another natural aging skin product that is essential to youthful skin. It is an antioxidant which means it can help protect the skin from environmental damage. In particular, it neutralizes free radicals which are known to cause skin damage and quicken the aging process.

Copper peptides: Copper peptides are a recent addition to the anti-aging skin care line up. These products are known to help heal wounds by helping the skin regenerate. Accordingly, they can help with aging skin care by fostering new skin growth.

Retinols: Also known as Vitamin A, retinols are typically prescribed for the treatment of acne. However, it has become clear over the years that retinols are also very useful in treating skin concerns that come with aging.

Phytochemicals: Phytochemicals are another type of ingredient that one should look for in an anti-aging product. Phytochemicals are special chemicals such as beta-carotene that can be extracted from plants. The effects of these chemicals is relatively new, so there is little actual scientific confirmation of their effectiveness in the form of clinical studies. However, when looking for a good anti-aging skin product, you may want to look for one containing these chemicals.

Summary: Look for products that have a combination of active ingredients. Most of these products can be used with one another so having a product with multiple active ingredients is great. If you are unsure about combining ingredients, it is always a good idea to check with any pharmacist before using - they are very knowledgeable about what ingredients can and cannot be used together.

A healthy diet with an intake of all essential vitamins is very important for a healthy body and to slow the process of aging. Vitamins from the B group are an important component to healthy skin. These vitamins have several effects including: supporting and increasing the rate of metabolism, maintaining healthy skin and muscle tone, enhancing the immune and nervous system, and promoting cell growth and division. These processes can all have an effect on how well you age, especially the promotion of cell growth and division. With proper amounts of Vitamin B, your body will have an easier time replacing cells which have been damaged or have died.