As we age, it can be hard to decipher just when it is time to get serious about skin care. What signs should you look for that will indicate that it is time to add an anti wrinkle regimen to your morning and/or nightly routine? Well, here are five of the signs that indicate it is time to take your beauty sleep seriously and begin using an anti aging cream to stop these signs of aging in their tracks.
1. A Dull Complexion
If your skin has lost some of its rosy color, has a yellow tint or looks somewhat dark, your skin is considered dull. Dullness can be chronic, meaning it is a sign of aging or it can be periodic. Periodic dullness can occur due to lack of sleep and low energy.
Dull skin is caused by various factors including uneven pores, dark spots, rough spots, wrinkles, sagging and color changes caused by UV rays.
2. Dark Circles/Puffy Wrinkled Skin under Eye
Dark circles occur because of changes in the color of the skin around the eyes. This is especially true in relation to the inner eye area that is close to the nose. Shading caused by sagging and puffy wrinkled skin under the eye can also create dark circles.
The skin around our eyes is the thinnest skin in our bodies. For this reason, when something affects the blood flow around the eyes the color of the skin changes. When you are tired or stressed, the blood around your eyes moves slower. This slower pace happens because your sympathetic nerves automatically constrict when you are stressed or tired, which hinders the circulation around your eyes.
3. Dry, Loose Skin
If you notice that your skin is dry and no longer supple, there are things you can do to stop these signs of aging in its tracks. According to dermatologist Audrey Kunin, who is an author, educator and clinician, you can do this by using a topical anti aging cream that contains retinol and buffered glycolic acid. If your skin is dry, she says that you can rehydrate it by drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are rich in vitamins as well.
4. Fine Lines
Our environment and the natural aging process cause us to lose collagen. Not only that, as we age our skin’s collagen production begins to decline; thus decreasing our skin’s elasticity and reducing the volume of our skin. This reduction in volume is the reason fine lines form.
5. Crow’s Feet and Marionette Lines
Crow’s feet are the wrinkles located on the outside of the eyes. Marionette lines are the lines from the base of the nose to the outside edges of the top lip. These lines appear as the skin around the mouth and chin begins to sag, and the fatty tissues in the cheek deflate and descend.
Repeated motions cause crow’s feet and marionette lines to form. Motions such as squinting, smiling and even sipping an iced latte through a straw can add years to your face.
Prevention
If you do not have any of the signs of aging listed above, firstly, good for you! Secondly, prevention is the key to keeping your skin looking vibrant and youthful. Physicians recommend using an anti aging cream enriched with retinoid (aka, Renova and Retin A), as well as antioxidants like vitamins C, D and E. Always use sunscreen (with an SPF of no less than 30).
+Dr.Cheryl Lee is a dermatologist who has dedicated her career to research and treatment of skin ailments. She writes regularly at her blog cherylleemd.com