Skin Care and Anti-Aging Basics

The basics of keeping your skin looking radiant.

Skin is one of the most robust organs present on human body as it is able to tolerate or adjust to any type of weather or condition. At the same time, it can be considered as the most sensitive part because this is the foremost organ that undergoes changes as one gets old. Hence, it is very much essential to take proper skin care so that it retains its texture, glow and radiance.

There are several factors that influence the way your skin ages. All these factors can be broadly categorized into primary factors and secondary factors. Primary factors are those conditions that contribute mainly to skin changes due to prolonged exposure. These include diet, lifestyle, personal habits, prolonged exposure to sun, heredity and also the normal process of aging. Secondary factors are those that get associated with primary factors and intensity the process of aging. Some examples of secondary factors include increased stress levels, obesity, smoking and irregular sleeping patterns. Smoking generates highly active and unstable free radicals that can cause significant damage to the skin.

Under the influence of both the primary and secondary factors, skin undergoes several changes as a result of aging.

1. Once the skin starts to age, the most prominent change that one can observe is the roughness of the skin. Skin appears smooth and healthy only when the cells inside the skin are healthy and growing. As a result of aging, cells present in the upper layer of the skin appear shriveled and unhealthy resulting in rough skin texture.

2. Aging causes development of skin lesions.

3. The skin starts to lose its elasticity and appears loose. Elasticity of the skin is a result of two important protein fibers present in the skin. These include elastin and collagen. During the process of aging, these protein fibers breakdown causing the skin to sag and stretch.

4. Skin tends to become more fragile and transparent with age.

All the above changes appear on the outer surface of the skin. However, there are also changes or signs of aging that appear inside the subcutaneous layer of the skin. Some of these include increased bone and cartilage loss and disappearance of fat tissue below the skin thereby resulting in a skeletal appearance of the individual.

Aging is a biological process that is not possible. However, it is possible to delay the process by providing proper nourishment to the skin. Also, one needs to follow proper skin care measures so as to keep the skin healthy. Most importantly, one should avoid over-exposure to the sun and use proper sunscreen lotions and moisturizers when exposing the skin to the sun.

Another useful aging skin care method is the use of good quality anti-aging and anti-wrinkle creams manufactured by companies such as LifeCell. LifeCell creams are made of ingredients that are extremely beneficial to the skin and can assist in delaying the process of aging by several years. In fact, there are thousands of customers who had used LifeCell Skin creams and are satisfied with the results.

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Five Steps to Reversing Sugar Related Skin Aging

Want to know the truth about how sugar causes your skin to age faster? Then find out the answer right here in this article.

If you’re a big fan of sugar coated cereals and candies, you might be surprised to learn that your own body engages in some sugar coating of its own, through a process called glycation.

During glycation the sugar molecules absorbed into your blood stream during the digestion process coat protein molecules throughout your body, according to the respected New York and Miami dermatologist Dr. Frederic Brandt.

The newly sweetened protein molecules have been given the name "Advanced Glycation End Products" which morphs very neatly into the anagram AGEs, and could not be better named. Why?

Some of the most important protein molecules in your body are those which make up your collagen and elastin. These two substances are found in the lower layers of your skin, and are what give your skin’s surface its firmness and resiliency.

The greater the amount of sugar you consume, the more AGEs your body will produce. And by the time you reach thirty-five or so, your skin will begin to show the effects in the form of a duller complexion and wrinkling. You will look prematurely old, and the glycation process will only speed up going forward.

Are you destined to be a victim of AGEs?

Not if you’re willing to take the steps necessary to reverse the glycation process. The steps themselves are quite simple, but finding the will power to implement them may take some effort!

Step 1

You probably know what Step 1 is: start replacing the processed sugars in your diet with the natural ones found in vegetables and fruits, which have a much less drastic effect on your blood sugar levels. If you simply can’t live without your refined sugar, limit your consumption of it to no more than 10% of your daily caloric intake.

For someone consuming 1600 calories per day, this means no more than ten teaspoons of refined sugar, including the sugars found in processed foods. But limiting your sugar intake in this manner will not only benefit your skin; it will help you lose weight and reduce your risk of diabetes as well.

You can easily determine how many teaspoons of sugar a single serving of processed food contains by learning to read the nutritional labels on the packages. Just divide the total grams of carbohydrate by 4, and you’ll have your answer.

You may be amazed to learn just how many forms of refined sugars are being added to processed foods. The most common is high fructose corn syrup, but maltose, dextrose, molasses, and maple syrup, are all used as sweeteners and are all guilty of glycation.

Step 2

In addition to limiting your refined sugar intake, you should be sure to supplement your diet with 1 mg each of Vitamins B1 and B6 every day. A New Your dermatologist, Dr. David Goldberg, cites a number of studies which indicate that these two vitamins are very effective in reducing the effects of glycation.

You will get some of them in your food, but the best way to ensure you have them in adequate amounts is to take them as supplemental vitamins. Your body will metabolize only what it needs, and eliminate the remainder, so you are in no danger of developing toxin levels of either of them.

Step 3

You can also fight the production of AGEs from the outside, by limiting your exposure to sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when UV rays are at their strongest. The British Journal of Dermatology has published a study showing that the collagen in skin left unprotected from the sun will develop a higher level of AGEs than protected skin.

Using a moisturizer rated SPF 30 and wearing a hat with a brim wide enough o shade your entire face and neck are two methods you can employ if you must be out in the sun during peak daylight hours.

Step 4

Fight glycation with the help of dietary and topical antioxidants. All the vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids are all powerful antioxidants and nutrients you can get them by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in as many colors as you can find.

Cold water fish like salmon and sardines have the omega 3 fatty acids, and adding nuts to your salads or sipping green tea through out the day will also help you fight glycation. But if you know you aren’t getting enough antioxidants in your diet, you can once again turn to supplements.

So now you know not only about glycation and AGEs, but also about what you can do to reverse the glycation process and restore your skin to a more youthful appearance.

Step 5

Start using antioxidant enriched anti aging wrinkle creams, which will feed your skin directly. A combination of good diet, sun protection, and a quality wrinkle cream is a powerful AGE fighter indeed!

So think about your favorite sweets, and decide the few minutes’ pleasure they provide is a fair exchange for wrinkles that will stay with you for years. If your answer is no, start taking the steps to eliminate AGEs, and wrinkles, from your life right now!

Find out all about the breakthrough Athena 7 minute lift wrinkle cream which works, and works in less than 7 minutes.

Read real life testimonials on Athena 7 minute lift cream all at Marcus Ryan’s wrinkle cream review site. Plus find out how to get these breakthrough anti aging creams as free trials. So go for it and look younger right now!