Sun's coming! Save your skin

by Jennifer Rothacker - May. 23, 2010 12:00 AM
McClatchy Newspapers

As the heat and sun settle in for summer, the calls to protect your skin from damaging rays intensify. But with so many choices of sunscreens, sunglasses, hats and even sun-protective clothing, it might seem easier to hide out in a dark closet.

Go ahead, break out the bathing suit. We have the skin-care basics from two experts in the field: doctors
Nancy Thomas, associate professor at the University of North Carolina's Department of Dermatology Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Kelly Nelson, assistant professor at Duke University Medical Center's Department of Dermatology.


Who needs protection?

Everybody, both doctors agree. The sun can damage your skin throughout your life, from immediate harm, such as sunburns, to longer-term effects, such as age spots and cancer. Although dark-skinned people are slightly less sensitive to the sun, they, too, can fall victim to its damaging rays. A tan means skin damage. Use a spray-on tanner to get your glow.

UVB, UVA, SPF?

UVB rays are ultraviolet rays that penetrate the upper layers of the skin. They cause the more immediate sunburn effect.

UVA rays penetrate deeper and contribute to aging the skin.

SPF is a measuring system for how long a product protects the skin against the sun.

What to use

Look for the words "Broad-spectrum sunscreen" or "protects against UVA and UVB rays." From there, you basically have two types of sunscreens to choose from: chemical-based and physical blockers.

Chemical-based sunscreens are plentiful, easy to put on and effective. There is concern about parabens, preservatives that some scientists feel may have estrogen-mimicking properties. For small children, it may be prudent to seek out paraben-free sunscreens. There are organic sunscreens, but reviews of those aren't overly positive.

Physical blockers include the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which physically reflect the sun off your face. They have no problematic chemicals, but they can be more bulky to deal with.

SPF choices

The FDA recommends a 15 SPF or higher, but both doctors say to go with at least a 30, if not a 45. Higher is better, because most people put their sunscreen on too thinly, which makes a 30 SPF turn into something like a 10 SPF.

If you're going to be active and sweat a lot, or plan to be in the water, get a waterproof version.

Rules for using

The longtime rule still stands: about 2 ounces, or the equivalent of a shot glass. (Few of us actually accomplish this.)

If you're going to be active and get sweaty or wet, reapply about every two hours.

Put your sunscreen on about 20 minutes before going outside.

Antioxidants

The most popular antioxidants that are used for skin care products are the vitamins A, C and E.

Scientific tests have shown that they help to improve the condition of the skin and reduce additional damage occurring that causes the aging effect that we are seeking to eliminate.

The damage to the skin is caused by free radicals and antioxidants help to fight off these free radicals and thereby improve the condition of the skin.

Antioxidants are in no way harmful to the skin and not only can they protect the skin from damage but they have been to shown to actually reverse some of the damage that has already occurred to the skin of many people.

This has an anti aging effect and the publicity that has surrounded the discovery of this information has resulted in antioxidants being included in almost all skin care products to meet the demands of the consumer.

Sun damaged skin in particular has been shown to improve in condition when antioxidants have been applied directly to the affected area.

There are various different sources of antioxidants and some of the more popular ones are grape seed extract and green tea extract.

Grape seed extract has shown to reduce inflammation of the skin and in addition it helps to strengthen the capillary walls. It is a popular inclusion in many skin care products due to these properties.

Green tea on the other hand has shown to reduce the size of pre-cancerous skin lesions in various tests due to the active ingredient catechins.

With the use of these naturally occurring antioxidants the damage that is caused to the skin by the free radicals that degrade the collagen and elastin is reduced and the positive effect that they have in assisting the skin to renew damaged cells has the desired anti aging effect that people are looking for.

Human Growth Hormone

HGH is a hot topic and has been for quite some time as more and more people are looking for ways to retain or reclaim their youth.

There are many products on the market now that are catering to people who have read about the advantages that HGH can give them in their anti aging quest.

So what is HGH?

It stands for human growth hormone and is the hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. This is the gland that is also responsible for the production of estrogen and testosterone.

HGH is important for healthy cell growth and for muscle building and bone development.
HGH, along with the liver and other tissues in the body stimulates the production of IGF-I which is insulin-like growth factor I.
Correct levels of HGH will help children to develop at an acceptable rate and when this isn't happening doctors will sometimes prescribe HGH supplements to make up for the deficit.

It has often been used by sportspeople and particularly bodybuilders seeking additional muscles mass.

After the age of 30 or so the production of HGH peaks and the ability for the body to maintain the same levels of healthy cell growth diminishes.
This reduction in the supply of HGH affects many areas of the body's development and as a result the aging process begins to increase with various factors being affected.

Hair loss becomes more prevalent and nails and bones become more brittle.
The skin begins to become thinner and loses its elasticity which causes it to become loose.

Muscle mass is harder to maintain and begins to decrease and along with the reduction in muscle mass there is a tendency to store more fat.

These are all areas of aging that we want to stop and the more we can lessen the effect that this drop in Human Growth Hormone production can have on the body the younger we will look for longer.

Obviously people have looked towards Human Growth Hormone therapy as a way to reduce the symptoms that are inevitable.

The general procedure is for HGH to be injected beneath the skin. Another option is to ingest HGH releasers that help the body to produce more of its own HGH by combining with amino acids and vitamins.

Many people now market natural products that are available at reasonable rates that are designed to assist the body in creating more of its own HGH.

Simply Stay Younger

Simply Stay Younger

It's not all that hard to live longer if you follow the simple steps that are required.

It seems obvious but the majority of people will never do what is required to live longer.

By simply staying hydrated every day, drinking sufficient water so you never feel thirsty you can add years to your life with better health and reduce chance of illness and disease.

By simply exercising a few times a week moderately and on a regular basis you can also add many years to your life.

You can add years to your life by choosing to eat the correct foods and getting in the habit of having a good diet more often than not.

By having a relaxed and happy lifestyle you can also add years to your life.

These are all simple things that you should make as lifestyle choices that will not only help you to live longer but they will also help you to enjoy your life more along the way with increased energy and all the potential for success that it brings with it.

Generally people who are more positive will not only enjoy a longer and happier life but they will be more successful at what they do. This will help them to become more financially secure too which will also help to maintain a higher standard of health.

Even small changes in any of the areas mentioned above can help to make other changes more easily and the effect that these small changes will have over the course of a lifetime can bring big benefits in your later years.

By making a decision to change one small aspect of your life today you will be on the way to a longer and more fruitful life. Once you get the process in motion there will be no stopping you.

Benefits of Plastic Surgery

Benefits of Plastic Surgery

For most people plastic surgery won't be an option in their anti aging quest.

For those who want to live longer they might not see any benefits in plastic surgery simply because it appears to be only a change of the external picture of the person.

It's true that changes that will affect your inner self will have a greater affect on your ability to live longer than an external makeover whether in the form of plastic surgery or more simply by less intrusive forms of 'upgrade' such as makeup, hair color and styling and so on.

One thing that many people don't seem to understand is the fact that plastic surgery can also have a huge impact on the inner self.

Plastic surgery can give a person newfound confidence with the way they look. It can be enough to inspire them onto greater goals where they decide to make lifestyle changes that will help them to live longer.

It can remove the stress and anxiety than can be associated with having to live with a part of yourself that you aren't happy with.

Anything that can make a person feel and act more positively, provided it doesn't harm their health in any way can also have a positive effect on their lifespan.

Fortunately with the major progress that has been made over the years with plastic surgery you can expect better results and the techniques that are used allow for less time for recover and more options to get what you desire.

A lot of this surgery is more affordable and even though it shouldn't be of any concern what other people think, plastic surgery is more acceptable with the general public as a greater proportion of people are getting plastic surgery now than ever before.

If you have done your research and know what you want then provided you get a good surgeon it can do wonders for you in many different ways.

Restrict Your Calories

Restrict Your Calories

There is no doubt about the fact that far too many people eat far too much food.

The statistics on obesity and diabetes confirm that but a walk in public will soon make you aware of the fact that there are many people who are overweight and the consequence of that is a reduction in their lifespan.

Most people eat too much, even those who think they have a reasonable diet. By reducing our food intake many factors change that will help to increase life expectancy.

Imagine the reduction in the workload of the digestive system if we ate 40% less food which just happens to be the figure that has been determined as the excess food consumed by the average person in the western world.

Other body parts would also have less work to do including the liver, and the arteries would become less clogged allowing the heart to do less work.

We would age slower as every part of the body would be functioning more easily and the net effect of that would be an extension of life.

Tests in laboratories with rats and other animals have shown tremendous improvements in many areas of their health, energy and memory when they have been fed a diet with restricted calories.

These signs of aging such as energy and memory loss can all be improved just as they were for the laboratory animals with changes to our diet.

Even small changes can have a large effect over time.

Replacing foods that are high in calories, such as anything containing sugar, or foods that are full of fat such as fried food and takeaways, with more nutritious foods will not only lower your calorie intake but will be more satisfying where you won't feel hungry as often and that will help to stop the habit of overeating.

Dump the Baggage

Dump the Baggage

Imagine carting a big bundle of baggage around with you day and night for the rest of your life when there is nothing worthwhile in it and you have the choice to leave it on the sidewalk at any time and move on without it.

Consider the benefits to your health if you didn't have to cart that 'weight' around all the time. You wouldn't be so tired would you?

Throughout the world a big portion of the people have the burden of unwanted baggage that they just can't seem to offload.

It is unfortunate because by hanging on to that baggage they are not only shortening their life but they are not enjoying the life they have nearly as much as they could.

Emotional turmoil is very destructive for your health; for your mental health and for your physical well-being.

If you want to live a long time and enjoy the journey then you need to travel light and emotional baggage always weighs heavy on those who choose to keep it.

Do you want to look back when you are old and think of how stupid you were to waste all that mind time on something that never had a solution? Something that didn't matter anyway?

How will you feel if you realize that you could have had another number of years of fulfilling life if you had dumped the baggage way back then?

If you are currently hanging on to any baggage then today is the day to get rid of it and move on. If you can't do that without help - then get some help as soon as you can.

You will live healthier. You will live happier. You will live longer.

What could be better than turning a negative into something positive where you decided today that baggage was the reason why you decided to make the changes that will help you to make the most of the life that you are about to extend for more years than you were heading?

Action for Health

Action for Health

There can be no improvement in your health and no expectation of living to 100 if you don't take action.

You know that eating the right food will make you healthier and if you are healthier you will be less inclined to succumb to illness and disease.

You know that you will be more likely to live longer if you don't become ill or diseased.

You know that smoking makes you ill and for many people it is an early death sentence. You know that the sun can cause skin cancer and skin cancer can result in death.

We all know many things that we intend to do something about but more often than not, after the initial inspiration to improve our lives or increase the length of our life we fall back into the same old habits where we eat the wrong food, go without sufficient water from one day to the next even though we know we are feeling lethargic most of the time, smoke cigarettes, get too little sleep or eat too much food and many other vices that we know are wrong.

So what does it take to get started in the right direction and make the changes that can totally transform your life? Action - that's all you need. Just a little action to get started doing one thing that will take you in the right direction to better health and a longer life.

Once the initial step has been taken and you begin on that path more positive steps will follow.

Where you are today is a direct result of your beliefs and actions. If you change your beliefs and take action you can change your life.

The action that needs to be taken is often so small that there is no pain - you won't feel that you are missing out on anything and the upside of this is there are so many more things in life that you WILL be able to enjoy with better health.

Take action today and feel pleased that you did when you look back in the distant future.

The Air that We Breathe

The Air that We Breathe

The quality of the air that you breathe will affect your health and in doing so have a direct bearing on your lifespan.

Everyone knows of the damage that cigarette smoking can do to a person's health and similarly by breathing in the second hand smoke from other smokers.

If you are a smoker then quitting smoking will help to reduce the damage that has already been done from the smoking and will certainly help to extend your life. If you are living or working in an environment where there are other people smoking then you need to decide what you can do to ensure that you are breathing fresh air all the time.

You should do all you can to encourage other members of the household to quit smoking or if not make them smoke outside so they aren't polluting your living space and effectively reducing your life.

If you are working in an environment where there are pollutants in the air then you should consider looking for a different job that won't kill you as one that has bad air will do.

Even living in or near to major cities will probably mean that you will be breathing air that is full of pollutants for much of your life and a change to a location where there is no pollution will do wonders for your health as well as helping you to live longer.

If some of these suggestions aren't possible at the present then you will have to make the most of your current situation until you can make changes and you should at least get out and about in the weekends to places that are more environmentally friendly where you can breathe some fresh air and restore a little health to your body.

Walking, exercising or just sitting amongst trees will help to improve your well-being and the more you can do that the better.

Sugar Your Life Away

Sugar Your Life Away

Sugar is one of the biggest causes of ageing.

It is the problems that the consumption of sugar causes that are shortening the life expectancy of a vast number of people in the Western world.

Excessive sugar consumption causes insulin resistance which in turn causes diabetes. Diabetes, apart from having a restricting affect on a person's lifestyle can also reduce life expectancy and bring with it many other health problems such as loss of eyesight, heart disease and arterial problems amongst other things.

Obviously these problems are going to reduce life expectancy so the need to reduce the consumption of refined sugars that are found in low value foods such as breads, cakes, biscuits, sweets and other such products is necessary.

When you consume excessive amounts of sugar the body stores the extra as fat and the weight gain that this causes places more demands on the organs of the body.

Many products are labeled as sugar free but they contain sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose and these ingredients when included in any of the products you buy will still cause problems with the burden they will place on the liver thereby accelerating the aging process.

Another problem that sugar causes due to the process whereby the glucose binds to other proteins rendering them less flexible is with the wrinkling of the skin. Yes, most people don't realize that sugar consumption will make their skin wrinkle faster as the process of glycosylation affects the collagen. Not only will it affect the collagen in the skin, it will also affect anywhere else in the body where there is collagen and that includes the arteries, lungs and tendons.

The affect that it has by making the arteries less flexible is increased hypertension and all of the problems that are associated with that health problem.

Caring for your Skin

Caring for your Skin

Exfoliating your skin will remove the dead skin cells that get blocked in the pores. These dead cells can often fool people into believing that their skin is dry and will give a dry appearance if they aren't removed.

Once the skin has been exfoliated and a good moisturizer applied the complexion will look alive and give the skin a refreshed look that will help you to look younger.

Finding the correct exfoliating products and moisturizers can take some time until you find ones that are compatible with your skin type.

Get advice from people who understand the various requirements of the different skin types and then test small samples of these products to see how they react with your skin. If you have sensitive skin then you will need to be particularly careful with the products that you choose.

Once you find products that are suitable and use them on a daily basis you will find that the condition of your skin can improve quite considerably and this will make you look healthier and younger.

Regular skin treatment will also help to keep your skin in top condition for a lot longer so you will tend to age slower than you would if you didn't use these products regularly.

The sooner you start using good face care products the better your skin will cope with the environment and that will auger well for your future youthful appearance. Consider skin care products as your insurance against the ravages of time and they are one of the best investments that you can make aside from maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

By caring for your skin when you are younger you will save a lot of money on more expensive treatments to repair damage and aging later in life and there is nothing better than care and maintenance to ward off the signs of old age.

Enjoying Life

Enjoying Life

Some people get all too concerned about aging and some to the extent that it becomes and obsession.

What is the net result of this? Well you might look a little younger but you still need to enjoy life along the way.

Most of the ways that you can use to make yourself look younger such as stopping smoking, or limiting your exposure to the sun, or fitness training and maintaining good health and nutrition will not only make you look better but they will also make you feel better and get more out of life.

Your energy levels should increase and you will have more time to do more of the things that you like.

You should enjoy your life all the more while looking better as an added bonus. If you do anything other than in moderation then you will negate the positive effects that are available to you.

Even over training can make you look older and leave you susceptible to injury.

Finding a balance in all that you do will keep you young in mind and body and that is why yoga is so effective at helping you to stay young.

I recall reading a book on a husband and wife team who focused their life on longevity. This book detailed all that they did with their extreme exercise and nutritional regime. While their steps might (or might not) add to their life expectancy they certainly didn't look very young for their age. In fact their 'extreme' lifestyle made them look considerably older than the average person of the same age so it just goes to show you that more is not always better when it comes to anti aging programs.

Enjoyment and happiness will show on your face and the more you smile the more beautiful you will become, and besides, smiling does wonders for your face muscles.

Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating

You've often heard the saying 'you are what you eat' and there is a lot of truth in that statement.

The choices of foods that you eat will go a long way in determining the condition of your body and skin and naturally this will reflect on your appearance and the age others assume you to be.

You can't hope to look young and healthy if you live on a diet of burgers, fries and soda drinks. Your skin will be lacking the essential nutrients that are necessary for it to look in top condition.

You will probably be overweight and while there are many (far too many) young people who are overweight it is a state that many people associate with aging.

The condition of your skin is affected by the food and drink that you consume and it is essential that you get all the necessary nutrients required and in the correct balance to maintain optimum health. If there are any aspects of this lacking in your diet then the imbalance can affect your skin making it appear lifeless and dry. A lack of essential elements in your diet can also cause blotches and discoloration on your skin and that is something that many people experience with aging so it will also make you look aged.

Your skin will lose its elasticity and will begin to sag sooner than necessary and this in turn will make you look older than you should.

A lack of the correct nutrition will also affect the condition of your hair and nails. Your hair will go gray sooner and that will make you look older unless you have it colored and your nails will become brittle and be harder to maintain in good healthy condition.

What goes on inside your body is shown to the entire world on the outside so you had better watch your nutrition if you want to look younger for longer.

The Power of the Mind

The Power of the Mind

Studies by Scientists at Yale University in America have shown that one of the most powerful methods of increasing your life expectancy is through the power of your mind.

Simple by thinking positively you can add years to your life expectancy. How many years?

Well surprisingly enough they have determined that you can add up to eight years to your life due to the fact that you will be happier, have a more fulfilling life and make better choices throughout your life due to your positive attitude. We are often taught that you will get what you expect and people with a positive attitude tend to think they will live longer and in fact they actually do.

It has also been proven that the stress caused by negative attitudes that result in constant or long term worry will reduce your life expectancy. When you consider the benefits of worry, or lack thereof, you will wonder why we ever worry in the first place. 90% of what you worry about will never come to fruition and most of the other 10% you can't do anything about anyway so you should look at your attitude honestly and make a concerted effort to let matters 'float on by' without causing you to worry and you will live longer by doing so.

Meditation is an excellent method of helping you to break the bad habit of worry and also for reducing other forms of stress.

Add as much fun and laughter to your life as this will also help to enhance your immune system thereby slowing down the aging process.

Laughter helps to release pain relieving and muscle relaxing endorphins and that reduces the amount of stress hormones cortisol and adrenalin in the body. Anything that you can do to reduce or eliminate stress will help you to live longer.

Even refraining from watching the news on television or reading about it in the newspapers or on the Internet can help you to live longer because much of the news that we hear everyday is negative. A study was done on newsreaders that showed they died younger than comparable people who were in alternate professions and it was suggested that the cause of this was the fact they were constantly reading negative news reports on a daily basis.

Be positive and live longer and the best way to start is by laughing and smiling right now and understanding that whatever you are currently worrying about right now can't be changed by simply worrying.

Resistance Training

Resistance Training

Resistance training is the best form of exercise you can do for the anti aging process.

Contrary to what many people mistakenly believe resistance training is suitable for people of all ages. Even elderly people can get a lot of benefit from resistance training although as expected they will be using a lot less resistance than their younger counterparts.

Resistance training helps to increase muscle mass. Women often show concern when this is mentioned fearing that they will look like the female equivalent of Arnold Schwazzenegger but there is no fear of that happening. The average women will never be able to add bulk muscle without extreme weight lifting and considerable supplementation of specific muscle building products. The women who compete in the professional bodybuilding competitions use steroids to get their extreme muscles mass.

The amount of muscle mass that the average women will gain from resistance training will be sufficient to tone the body and reduce the percentage of fat in the body that will benefit overall health and give a more youthful appearance.

Men will be able to gain more muscle mass and they will also benefit from the fat loss associated with more muscles but they too have no fear of gaining excess muscle.

When working out with weights and other resistance training machines all the muscles of the face are also constantly being tensed and relaxed and this helps to tone and lift the muscles of the face having the effect of a mild face lift. Obviously this will have an anti aging effect as the face 'lifts' and looks more youthful.

Energy levels will also build over time as the effects of the resistance training exercises help to improve the functioning of the body and the skin will also look better and 'younger' as the exercise stimulates blood flow and improves circulation to the skin.

Anti Aging Pills

Anti Aging Pills

People often ask whether anti aging pills actually work and if so how do they work.

There are a lot more options on the market these days simply because there is such a huge demand for any type of anti aging product and the research that has been done in recent years has helped to create many products that are able to actually make a difference to our appearance and our lifespan.

Most of the anti aging pills work by helping to stimulate the body to produce more of it's own anti aging properties.

Supplements that contain antioxidants and omega 3 oils will provide the body with additional protection against free radicals that cause aging but many other supplements such as those that are associated with human growth hormone actually stimulate the body to produce more of its own human growth hormone rather than supplying it with additional human growth hormone.

Other anti aging products will help to boost collagen production which will help to ward off the aging affect that a lack of collagen will cause to the skin. As we age the production of collagen diminishes and this causes the aging affect where the skin loses its tone. Supplements that can stimulate the production of collagen will have a very positive affect on the way we look.

Even the natural products that are sold for anti aging will usually work towards helping the body to produce more of it's own anti aging properties and this is often more effective as there are limitations as to what can be sold over the counter without a prescription and the quantities that are required for specific anti aging ingredients to work will usually be too large and most often too expensive.

When you are buying a product at the local health store that has the letters HGH written across don't assume that you are actually buying human growth hormone. You will be buying a human growth hormone stimulant.

Natural Skin Products

Natural Skin Products

The range of products that are available for skin care and therefore helping you to look ever younger is increasing all the time and none more so than the manufacture of natural skin care products.

People are seeing the benefits of using natural products on their skin and those who are searching for the fountain of youth tend to want the natural products in preference to other products on the market.

Often people will find that the natural products are better for sensitive skin although this is not something that you should just assume to be the case.

There are many naturally occurring ingredients that can be very harsh on the skin and small sample tests are required to see whether you have any skin reactions.

Where there are sun spots and age spots then more often than not natural products will not be sufficient to eliminate these and other more effective techniques such as laser treatments will have more positive results to help with aging skin.

Many people find that the best results are achieved when they keep an open mind and look at all the available treatments and use a combination of several to get the desired outcome.

The progress that has been made in recent years for skin care and the help that is available for people looking to rejuvenate their skin has been quite outstanding and ever increasing numbers of people, both men and women are taking advantage of the chance they have to look younger for longer.

Costs for many of these procedures have gone down and that has allowed them to become more affordable to more people.

People are not only living longer but they are looking better too thanks to all the opportunities they have available. Also - people are becoming better educated with all aspects of their well-being and as they make positive changes to their lifestyles they look and feel healthier and get a whole lot more out of life.

Photofacials

Photofacials

Where the skin is in a state of disrepair and laser treatment isn't sufficient to fix the problems then it might be necessary to consider having a photo facial.

Photo facials have the ability to make a more positive impact on the repair of deep seated skin problems that laser can't often treat such as scarring, rosacea, broken capillaries and pigmentation problems that haven't responded to laser treatment.

By delivering the treatment through the use of varying levels of wavelengths a photo facial can penetrate deeper into the skin and fix problems that other treatments can't help.

The more treatments you get the better the results will be and it is generally recommended that a course of treatments will be necessary for optimum improvements to the skin.

The treatments don't take long at all - usually about 30 minutes and you can return to work immediately afterwards. It is necessary to wear a sunscreen after treatment when venturing outside but that is a habit that you should have already if you intend to look your best as you age.

For some people with sensitive skin there can be a drying of the skin after treatment and commonly there can be redness that will go away after a short time.

The rejuvenating effect that photo facials can have may surprise some people as the results are often better than expected and the changes are fast compared with other alternative methods.

You will need to do some research before booking your treatment as it is only as good as the person doing it so recommendations from other happy customers are your best bet for a good result.

The initial consultation should include a thorough checkup of your skin and a discussion of any factors that concern you such as sensitivities that could affect the final outcome.

Surgery and Alternatives

Surgery and Alternatives

Surgical procedures have advanced considerably in recent years and the results that can be gained from anti aging surgery are very effective and becoming a lot more common with each passing year.

From fat removal with liposuction to brow lifts and chin lifts there is a lot that can be done to make a person look many years younger than their age.

With the latest in equipment, scarring is kept to a minimum and surgery has been simplified with the associated reduction in recovery time.

There are many more areas where surgery is being offered to ensure that the signs of aging are kept at bay even to the extent that many people are even getting knee lifts so the skin surrounding the knees doesn't look baggy as it can with age.

All these surgical procedures, while being affected by the condition of the patient and factors such as skin sensitivities, are only as good as the surgeon performing the surgery.

A good operation can produce quite stunning results for anti aging however mediocre surgery can give a result that is worse than not having had surgery at all so it is well worth spending as much time as possible talking to the surgeon and his/her patients to determine whether they will deliver the desired results that you are after.

There are many surgeons to choose from and those with the good reputations will be known to all so even where you will probably need to spend more money for their services the investment over the long-term for your looks and self esteem will be well worthwhile.

It is one area that you just can't afford to take any risks as the horror stories for botched surgery are widespread.

You can never do too much research when it comes to something as important as cosmetic surgery.

Hair Removal

Hair Removal

For men in particular hair loss isn't the only problem facing them when trying to look young.

It seems that the less hair they get on their head is compensated for by growing in various other places where it isn't welcomed.

Hair begins to sprout from the ears and nostrils and eyebrows tend to get long hairs that look like spider legs reaching across the wrinkles of the face.

Hair seems to start growing in abundance down the back and to make matters worse it starts turning gray.

It is hard to look young with a forest of gray hair covering your chest and back and coming out of your ears.

The fashion these days is for less body hair and even the young guys are getting waxed to remove body hair.

This is great for older men seeking to look younger because a body wax or the use of depilatory creams can take years off your life by removing all that gray hair and leaving the body smooth again.

Creams or laser treatment can help to address the problem of hair growing out of the ears which is a sure sign of aging and it is simple enough to trim the eyebrows to keep them looking tidy.

Permanent solutions are available with laser treatment but there are also less expensive alternatives for hair removal that will do an excellent job if you don't mind using them on a regular basis to maintain 'the look'

If you have been exercising and have maintained a toned body then the removal of body hair can help to emphasize your physique even further.

Using a good quality fake tan or having a spray tan applied to your body will only help to enhance it more and the combination of all these factors can help you to look considerably younger than your true age.

Stress

Stress

What do most people do when they are stressed? They frown. And when you frown a lot and for a long time those frown lines and the associated wrinkles on your brow become permanent fixtures on your face and the wrinkles make you look older.

Have you ever noticed how people with very little stress in their life look a lot younger than others of the same age?

It is not only the effect that the stress has on the lines of your face but also the way that it affects your health as a whole and that can age you considerably.

Stress can deplete you of nutrients in the body and this will have a negative affect on your skin, nails and hair.

Hair can start thinning in times of stress and fall out and often the hair loss becomes permanent. With a change in your chemical makeup due to the stress your hair can suddenly turn gray too.

Nails can become brittle and lose their condition.

Skin can become dry, flaky and other skin irritations and problems can occur, some of them causing permanent damage to the skin.

Blood pressure can rise and diets can change due to the increased need to boost energy levels. Often the choices of these energy boosters are not the best and energizing drinks or high carbohydrate foods are chosen for an instant lift. These soon turn into a weight problem where the percentage of fat in the body increases and the metabolism slows down.

If things continue along this path diabetes is something that will be an issue.

That is just a quick summary of some of the things that stress can cause to happen and it becomes very clear when reading that why stress is detrimental for anyone trying to look and stay young.

One problem quickly leads to another and before long there are more problems to contend with that increase the stress levels even more.

To stay young you need to lead a stress free life and when there is no way to avoid stress you need ways to cope with it so it has the least impact on your life.

Teeth

Teeth

While you can spend a lot of money on your teeth they are one of the main areas where you can improve to make yourself look a lot younger.

Age affects the teeth in many ways including chips, gaps opening, missing teeth and discoloration from smokes, coffee, tea, red wine and some of the foods that we eat.

Improving the condition of your teeth will help to make you look years younger as they are one of the main focal points that people will notice when they first meet you.

Discoloration isn't all that hard to remove with the use of laser whitening and having clear white teeth can transform your look.

There are other less expensive ways of whitening your teeth including various different home kits where you can do it yourself. Don't expect to get the same results as quick as you will get from your dentist as the home kits have weaker solutions that take a lot longer to work. They also have mouth guards to hold the solution that are designed to suit the average person and as such they won't work as well as a guard that has been created specifically for your mouth by your dentist.

A fitted guard from your dentist will allow you to wear it at night while keeping the whitening gel in place and by having your teeth in this gel for extended periods of time you will get more benefits as lot sooner.

Laser whitening is an even faster process for whitening your teeth and it is relatively cost effective considering the improvement that can be made to your teeth.

If you have chipped teeth or missing teeth then you can spend thousands of dollars getting your teeth capped. If you can afford this then well and good because you will be able to have nice straight white teeth even if they are in disrepair and that can make you look considerably younger.

Many people consider this is a better investment for their looks than a face lift.

Middle Age and Stomach Fat

Middle Age and Stomach Fat

Some people believe that it is inevitable to get a little fat around the middle as they age. One thing that seems to be universally accepted is the fact that having a fat stomach can make you look older than your years.

As people associate a fat stomach with aging you must accept that many people will assume you are older than you would like them to believe if you gain fat around your waist.

Obviously the reverse will be the result of any efforts to lost fat and trim the waistline.

Even all the advertisements that are promoting the latest and greatest abdominal workout machines emphasize the fact that a trim waist will not only make you look better and healthier but you will also look younger.

The percentage of people who have 6 pack abs increases considerably as you look towards the younger age groups simply because it is harder for older people to reduce the necessary levels of fat for the abdominal definition to be seen.

So it goes without saying that if you can manage to get toned abs people are going to think you are younger than they would without that same definition.

Now the problem is - How can you get toned abdominal muscles? In reality the problem is how can you see the muscle definition as all the exercise in the world to build up your abdominals will be of no benefit if they are covered in a layer of fat?

It is well worth doing the exercises to build up and strengthen your abdominals as it will assist many areas of your strength and well-being by having a strong 'core' however, unless you eliminate fat no one will know except you.

So your main goal that will make you look fitter healthier and younger is to reduce body fat. It comes off all areas of the body at the same time and when you reduce the percentage enough your abdominal definition will be revealed for all to see.

Environment

Environment

Working in it will have a considerable affect on the condition of your skin and other aspects of your health that will determine how well you will age.

Living in a harsh environment will place additional stress on your skin and as the sun and the weather causes damage it also tends to age a person faster than someone who is protected from the elements.

Living in a sunny climate might feel good but it can also be very aging with the damage that the sun can do to the skin. There is all the more reason to remain hydrated at all times and use sun screens and moisturizers to protect the skin against aging.

Eating foods that are high in antioxidants will help to maintain good skin condition and also to elevate all others aspects of your health so you are not only looking as best as possible but you will be feeling more energized, fit and youthful at the same time.

You will need to learn how to manage your environment if you expect to stay young and usually the same basic principles of good health management apply although they will need to be adapted for your needs.

People who live in colder climates and spend more time indoors will usually have smoother, softer skin but on the other hand those people who live in more temperate climates will tend to get outdoors more and exercise more often even if it is only walking in the park.

So the extra exercise will improve their health and help them to stay young but the damage that they can get from the sun can have a negative affect on their aging.

There are pros and cons for most environments but at the end of the day the person who looks youngest will be the one that manages the environment the best and takes care of their main image of youth - the skin.

Finances

Finances

How can finances affect aging?

Surprising enough there are several ways that being financial stable can help with your aging.

Let's start with stress. For many people financial struggles dominate their life and they live from one day to another in a state of financial stress. Stress is a killer and the longer a person has to deal with stress the more that stress is going to show on their face with worry and frown lines. Stress will affect the state of a person health too.

You can't hope to look fresh and young when stress is tormenting your body with the extra demands that is places on your nutrition and the affect that it can have on your digestive system.

When people are struggling with their finances they often have to make choices with the food that they buy whereby cheaper less nutritious food is chosen simply because that is all that the budget allows.

Often health care is lacking due to finances and this can result in problems getting left until they have already done their damage.

Some people smoke more cigarettes in times of stress and as that is one of the biggest factors for aging, you can begin to see how finances are a big factor in maintaining your 'looks'.

Skin care products can be expensive as can supplements and often these get missed off the shopping list when finances are tight. Even the environment where a person might have to live will be dictated by finances and that in itself can affect how they will age.

Unfortunately there are so many things that are affected by money that the opportunity to look and feel younger is also affected in one way or another by finances too.

Fortunately there are many things that can have a very positive affect on the aging process that won't cost a dime like meditation, yoga, a walk in the park and so on.

You just have to make the most of your circumstances and be aware of the affect that any area of your lifestyle might be having on you.

Grape Seed Antioxida

Grape Seed Antioxidant

It is clear from scientific research that antioxidants can have a big influence on the rate that we age and tests have also shown that one of the best sources of antioxidants is from grape seed extract.

The various different types of antioxidants all have varying degrees of health benefits for the specific areas that they help.

Some antioxidants will help reduce the percentage of fat in our body by speeding up the metabolism and helping to burn fat while others will help to protect us against cancer and various other diseases.

Obviously having a combination of foods containing the different antioxidants will be the best way to improve health and assist in remaining younger.

Grape seed however seems to be the antioxidant that has shown to deliver better results than other sources and it is this antioxidant that the cosmetic industry has been adding to many of it's products to target those people who have been following the news and research that has shown it to have excellent anti aging properties.

Grape seed extract helps to strengthen blood vessels and in doing so stops them from becoming weakened and damaged. This helps with the circulation of the blood and the removal of toxins from the body.

The active ingredient that is mostly responsible for this is OPC or oligomeric procyanidin that was first discovered by a French Chemist.

The active ingredients that are present in grape seed extract can actually reverse damage that has already been done by free radicals and in doing so reverse some of the aging process of the body.

It's no wonder that grape seed extract has attracted so much attention.

With twenty times more strength than Vitamin C and fifty times more than Vitamin A the medical profession is even using it for the treatment of people who have suffered from heart disease to aid in their recovery.

There is a lot more research that will be going into the properties of grape seed extract and its benefits for anti aging

Anti Aging Antioxidants

Anti Aging Antioxidants

The cells of the body have been shown to divide for a specific number of times for each individual in their lifetime. By the time a person leaves their teenage years behind almost half of their cell division quota has been used up.

This causes the physical changes in the body that are represented by aging and anything that we can do to slow down this process of cell division will increase life expectancy.

As we continue to age and move towards our early forties almost another half of the remaining cells are used up leaving only 25 - 30 percent available for the rest of our lives.

Obviously when the final allotment of cells are used up the outcome is death.

So what can we do to slow this down and extend our years? The main cause of the speed by which the cells will degenerate is from free radicals and fortunately scientific research has determined that this rate can be slowed with the introduction of more antioxidants which reduces the free radicals. The more free radicals we have the faster the rate the body ages.

What are free radicals? They are the harmful substances that are the result of oxidation and occur naturally in the body. It is only when they attack the healthy cells in the body that they cause a problem however they are unable to distinguish between which cells are good and which ones are bad.

It is the destruction of healthy cells that causes the aging process and if more pronounced they can cause other more serious disorders and diseases.

By reducing these free radicals with the help of antioxidants the body clock is slowed down and we are able to look and feel younger for longer.

While the body is unable to produce its own antioxidants without help we must get a sufficient supply in the foods that we eat as it is the distinct function of antioxidants to act on these free radicals and maintain the necessary balance to maintain optimum health.

The best sources of antioxidants are found in foods such as berries, broccoli, carrots, garlic, red grapes, soy, spinach, tea, tomatoes and whole grains.

By adding these to your diet on a regular basis you should be getting sufficient in your body to maintain a healthy balance and reduce the aging process.

Hair Style and Color

Hair Style and Color

What does gray hair say about a person?

To most people they associate gray hair with aging and even though many people start going gray at a very early age it is generally older people who have graying hair.

From a lack of specific nutrients to genetic factors there are several reasons why a person's hair starts turning gray but there is one thing for certain - coloring your hair can make you look considerably younger.

Even if you haven't gone gray simply changing the color of your hair can transform your looks and make you look a lot younger.

It is commonplace for men to color their hair these days and frosting or adding highlights can give a man an altogether different look.

Specific hair styles can make you look younger too and keeping up with current trends helps to make a person look 'modern' and young.

Adding 'life' to your hair also adds life to your whole persona and that makes people associate you with a younger age group.

Get advice and recommendations from a good hairdresser who is up with the current trends and who also knows how to apply those trends to your age group so you actually look younger rather than just looking like you are old and trying to look young.

There are some very effective products on the market that can help you if you have thinning hair or if you are losing hair. The best solutions for hair loss are prescription products such as Propecia but there are also many natural hair stimulants that are very effective for some people.

Some of the better shampoos are designed to add body to your hair and some can also stimulate the blood supply to the scalp that will reduce hair loss and in some circumstances stimulate new growth.

If there are no answers to your hair loss then you can style your hair accordingly to make it look less obvious and for men it is trendy now to have a shaven head so that is something to consider.

You should always make the most of any situation.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an excellent form of exercise that offers many benefits for people seeking to look and stay younger.

It is a very powerful form of stress management and that in itself can have a positive effect on your youthful look as stress can change the choices we make in food and drinks and also cause wrinkles from frowning.

Tai Chi is a low impact form exercise and is suitable for older people. The exercises help to build strength in the muscles and that is very important as people age and lose muscles mass through a lack of use.

Tai Chi also helps people to become more balanced and to be steadier on their feet which reduce the chances of falls as people age.

Posture is another area that is improved through the exercises that are performed in Tai Chi and this helps people to look younger as the ability to stand tall rather than stooped as many older people become will give the impression of being somewhat younger.

The strength that you can build through the exercises will improve many areas of health and that will slow the aging process and improve the chances of living a longer life and having the ability to enjoy that life better.

Many Tai Chi instructors will adapt programs to suit the various age groups and levels of fitness and there are moves underway in many areas of the country to encourage more elderly people to start doing Tai Chi as it has been shown to improve the quality of life for elderly people.

It can also help to reduce the impact that old injuries can have on pain management and the enjoyment that can be lost when injuries affect sleep and other areas of aging.

The social interaction of joining in with others to do Tai Chi helps people to stay alert and coordinated and the positive attitude that this brings with it enhances their life keeping them younger for longer.

Yoga

Yoga

Yoga is one of the most effective ways to make you look and feel younger and can add years to your life with better health, strength and flexibility.

Yoga is suitable for all ages and all health conditions and almost everyone will get some positive benefits from doing yoga on a regular basis.

Yoga is one of the most effective methods of reducing stress, along with meditation and anything that will reduce the effects that stress can have on your mind and body will make you look and feel younger.

There are various different types of yoga and you can choose the one that suits your needs the most from the simplest exercises that will help you to relax to the advanced exercises that will help you get a toned body and help to wind back the years.

Yoga helps to improve your blood circulation and that will make your skin condition look and be healthier. Even certain inverted exercises will increase the blood flow to the scalp and this can assist with the reduction of hair loss in some people.

Increased flexibility will help to reduce muscular and joint pain and a reduction in pain can help with a reduction of frown lines that are common with people who suffer from constant pain.

Yoga helps the digestive system and this will help to get the maximum benefits from the food that you eat and in doing so improve overall health and nutrition which will be reflected in good skin condition.

By bringing about a balance in both mind and body yoga can do more for the aging process than a hospital full of surgeons. You should consider trying it as it can be done freely at home without the cost of gym fees; it is convenient and scaleable according to your fitness levels.

Meditation

Meditation

Meditation along with yoga is one of the most effective ways of relaxing and eliminating or coping with stress.

Meditation can help to rejuvenate the mind and the body and the balance that it can bring to your life can increase energy levels, eliminate insomnia and help give you a more positive attitude and outlook on life.

People who practice meditation on a regular basis are calmer and more relaxed and the health benefits that it brings can add years to your life.

Meditation can help people to break bad habits and those habits are often associated with things that affect aging and make people look older than they should. Problems such as over eating, smoking and other negative addictions can be eliminated with meditation.

Meditation will stimulate healthy circulation and that in turn will help improve the condition of the skin making it look healthier and younger.

The mind has a huge influence over the way we look and meditation will help to address any issues that are on the mind that can be affecting stress levels and decisions that are made on a daily basis that are detrimental to healthy living.

One of the benefits of meditation is the fact that once learned is can be practiced almost anywhere and the more that it is practiced the more effective it becomes.

By making meditation a regular part of your lifestyle you can expect to look better and feel better for longer while enjoying more aspects of your life.

It is not difficult to learn how to do meditation and it is also inexpensive. Unfortunately there are still many people who don't understand how powerful meditation can be for making changes to their life and those changes can be highly beneficial for helping to stay, look and feel young.

Wrinkles and Wrinkle Creams

Wrinkles and Wrinkle Creams

Do wrinkle creams work?

Wouldn't it be nice if you could just rub on some wrinkle cream like they do on those infomercials and all your wrinkles would disappear?

Well unfortunately it isn't as simple as that and even those that do have some positive effect on your wrinkles can only do so much.

You are never going to get the same positive results that you would with say Botox treatment however using good quality wrinkle creams on a regular basis will help to keep your skin in better condition and that will help you to remain younger looking.

Collagen is the support structure that helps the skin to retain a youthful appearance and remain firm. Most of the best wrinkle products on the market will have ingredients in them that will help to stimulate the production of collagen in the body. The more collagen that is present the better the tone and condition of the skin and this will help to slow down and sometimes reverse the aging process.

These products aren't as good as medical procedures but they do have their benefits in low costs and the convenience of use.

With many people reluctant to use any form of medical procedure they can certainly help to make considerable improvements if the right product is chosen for your skin type.

No doubt you will read the many glowing testimonials that are available to help sell almost any product on the market but there have been many tests done that have shown that there is no correlation between the benefits that these anti wrinkle products deliver and the prices that you have to pay.

Just because you are paying a high price doesn't mean the product is any better. Try small samples of products that you believe will help you and look at the results with an open mind to see whether they are worthwhile or not. They can certainly help you but no two people will get the same results and your results are all that matter.

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The Aging Effect of Hyper pigmentation

The Aging Effect of Hyper pigmentation

Hyper pigmentation of the skin can make you look older than your years and there are two main causes of this condition where the pigment changes and areas of color appear as freckles and spots on various parts of the face and the body.

The first and obvious cause is the sun - that villain of the skin that causes more aging problems than anything else. The sun will not only affect the face but also other areas that are prone to more exposure such as the hands and upper areas of the chest. Good SPF sunscreens will help a lot and also by keeping out of the sun when it is at its most damaging around the hours either side of midday will help to reduce hyper pigmentation.

The other main cause of hyper pigmentation is not quite as easy to eliminate as that is due to hormonal changes within the body. This can be caused by any number of factors including pregnancy and birth control pills.

By using skin bleaching products the discoloration caused by hyper pigmentation can be made to fade somewhat and for some people this is sufficient for it to go unnoticed. For others where these bleaching products aren't as effective or the changes in pigment have been too extensive there is still the opportunity to reduce or eliminate it through the use of laser skin treatments.

Your hands are areas that can make you look older as they are highly visual and will also show the effects of the lifestyle that you have lead so getting laser treatment to improve the condition of the skin on your hands, along with your face can do wonders for your desire to look younger.

The laser treatment also has other positive effects on your skin such as the stimulation of collagen which is necessary for healthy skin.

Dress Sense and Fashion

Dress Sense and Fashion

If you are wearing your parents clothing or clothes that you have had around since last the fashion trend changed then you are instantly going to 'date' yourself into an older generation.

You have to get with the times or you can't help but expect for others to think you are older than you are.

Clothing can transform a person and while you can spend a fortune on the latest top fashions it is not necessary to do so to get current with your fashion.

There are many cheaper options that follow the latest trends and will look just as good for a fraction of the price.

If you can afford to spend a little money on some good fashion advice then it will be money well spent if it delivers the results that can make you look younger.

Take a look around at what other people are wearing and look more towards people who are a little younger than you, but not too young that you fall into a fashion zone that looks ridiculous.

Observe what trendy people are wearing and try to find people who have a similar complexion to you and are a similar size and shape.

Ask other people whether they like the look of that person and if so copy what you see and what you like. The celebrities tend to dictate the trends so you should look for someone similar to you, however be sure that they aren't one of the celebrities that appear in the worst dressed list each year.

By observing other people you will soon become familiar with what people are wearing and by shopping in the places where fashion trends are current you can feel more assured that you will buying what is right for the times.

Just a few appropriately selected items can update your wardrobe without breaking the bank and make you look years younger.

There's nothing like a clothing makeover for a quick anti aging result.

Hydration

Hydration

Keeping hydrated is one of the most important factors in maintaining good healthy skin that will make you look younger and reduce the problems that many people face with their skin as they age.

It is not sufficient to expect applications of moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated - it must come from within first and foremost and then the moisturizers will add additional support to maintaining good skin condition.

To remain hydrated you need to drink sufficient water throughout the day. Tea, coffee and other beverages are not a substitute for water and many of these drinks can actually cause dehydration.

If you are feeling thirsty then you are already becoming dehydrated. You need to drink water on a regular basis so you don't become thirsty and just because you might have heard that you need to drink 8 glasses of water per day you should be aware that drinking all the water at one time is in no way the correct method of remaining hydrated.

Also - drinking excessive amounts of water can be detrimental to your health as it can flush out too many nutrients from your body that are necessary to maintain a healthy youthful appearance.

Water is also a very good source of energy just as a lack of it will cause fatigue. When you have boundless energy you can't help but look younger and you will certainly feel younger which, at the end of the day, is the more important of the two.

Your skin will become lifeless and tired looking when dehydrated and you will be more susceptible to skin damage and wrinkles. All other aspects of your health will be struggling when there is a lack of water and accordingly there will be other areas of aging that will be affected.

What could be easier for someone looking to stay young than drinking water? Pick up a glass now and have a drink and have a water bottle with you at all times to make sure you get enough. Make drinking water a habit and your body will thank you for it by helping you to stay young.

Nutrition

Nutrition

Good nutrition is the key to remaining and looking younger. If your body is getting all of its nutritional needs met and you lead a balanced lifestyle with a minimum of stress and regular exercise then you can expect to look better than the majority of people who don't manage any of those aspects of their life very well.

While there are many good skin care products available on the market the key to good skin is in good nutrition. What is under the skin is far more important than the creams you put on the outside.

Of course you need to remember than a good sunscreen is very important for protecting the skin against damage and the inevitable aging that exposure to the sun causes.

Many skin ailments are caused by a nutritional imbalance and once they are addressed the condition of the skin can improve considerably.

When all of the skins nutritional requirements are met then the added affect that using good quality skin care products can do for you will ensure that you will look as young as possible for as long as possible.

It will also be a lot easier for you to select skin care products because they won't be required to address as many skin issues that you would have if there were deficiencies that already needed help.

Good nutrition helps reduce skin discoloration and can also help to reduce the incidence of sun spots from appearing. Without these skin problems to contend with you won't need to select products that will be necessary to conceal the problems and it will allow you more freedom in the selection of products that you buy where you can focus on ones that will create a more youthful appearance.

Quite apart from the way that your skin will look, having optimum nutrition at all times will make you feel younger and you will benefit from all the associated aspects that that brings with it.

Medication

Medication

Various forms of medication can affect the condition of the skin making it look puffy, lifeless, and dry or various other states depending on the type of medication and the quantities that are being taken.

While there is often nothing that can be done to reduce or eliminate the need for medications improving your overall levels of health can often help to reduce medication requirements in some people.

Even taking sleeping pills in an effort to cope with insomnia can affect the condition of the skin particularly if they have been used for long periods of time. Obviously there are more effective methods to cope with these types of problems where yoga and meditation will work better than sleeping pills without the side effects that will affect aging.

Taking pills for headaches that are related to over indulging in alcohol consumption will affect the skin when remaining hydrated is a better solution and drinking in moderation will stop you having to cope with the consequences in the first place.

Over time, many forms of medication will affect the aging process and anywhere that you can eliminate medication while maintaining good health will help to keep the skin looking better and slow down the aging process.

You will need to look at this in a sensible manner as coping with any form of pain can place a huge drain in the body and make a person look older and tired so in such circumstances the right medication that reduces pain can actually make you look younger.

Each situation needs to be viewed by the way that it will affect your individual requirements and managed accordingly.

Anything other than good natural products can be expected to have some affect on the condition of your health and ultimately your skin which determines how old others believe you to be and how young you will feel in yourself.

Weight Loss

Weight Loss

Losing weight can often help people to look considerably younger particularly if the weight loss has been associated with a good fitness program.

To effectively lose weight a good diet needs to be followed and any form of fitness training will make the progress a lot quicker.

One of the benefits of losing weight using good diet and exercise is the improvement that you can expect in the condition of your skin and as the skin is the biggest display of aging it is inevitable that you will look younger.

The exercise will firm the muscles under the skin and the diet will be supplying better nutrients to the skin and help increase healthy circulation which is essential if you want to look good.

With sufficient water in the diet the skin will remain hydrated and not become dry and lifeless.

As all levels of health are improved the changes that come about can have a very positive effect on aging and even small changes in the right direction towards the reduction of body fat will have a big affect on how old others believe you to be.

You should always do everything in moderation as sudden weight loss can have a negative affect on the way you look as skin can become baggy when body weight is lost too fast.

If you lose weight gradually and use some form of resistance training to help with this weight loss you will also give your skin the chance to adapt and become firmer.

Certain areas of the body can be very aging when there is a little too much body fat in that region. Having flabby triceps or too much fat around the waist will make most people look older as will a double chin.

While it is not possible to spot reduce fat, by reducing the percentage of body fat as a whole those areas will improve and targeting them with specific exercises will help to tone the muscles in that area improving them even further.

Tanning

Tanning

Most people associate a nice tan with a healthy and youthful look however tanning can be one of the fastest ways to age a person. The sun can do considerable damage to the skin and tanning should only be done in moderation and with a suitable SPF sun protection cream applied at all times.

Fortunately with the demand for the tanned look and the fact that many more people are now aware of the effects that the sun can have and the health problems that are associated with over exposure to the sun the cosmetics manufacturers are constantly developing better self tanning lotions and sprays that will give the same 'healthy' tanned look to the skin without the negative side effects of sun damage.

No longer do you have to worry about looking like a carrot with the orange coloration of the early self tanning products as the new tanning lotions and sprays can give a natural and even tan over the whole body where others wouldn't be able to tell whether it is fake or not.

By using good skin exfoliators and moisturizers before application of the tans the results should be even and streak free.

There are spray tan clinics all over the country now where you can easily transform the color of your skin with a nice even tan and none of the hassles that go with applying it yourself.

Most of the best tanning products also have SPF in them to help protect against the sun so this is another reason why they are well worth considering for a safe and easy solution to your tanning requirements.

It's no wonder than so many more people are using self tans these days and the combination of the added glow that you will have on your skin and the lack of skin damage from less time being spent exposed to the sun will help considerably with the anti aging process.

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Botox

Botox

Botox has become very popular because it is so effective in reducing and often eliminating the visible effects of aging.

By having Botox injections in the upper areas of the face frown lines between the eyebrows can disappear and fine lines (crows feet) at the sides of the eyes can also be eliminated.

Botox has also shown to have positive affects at lifting the brow when injected in the right place by an experienced skin care professional.

It can have results that are as good as cosmetic surgery although they will be temporary and depending on the patient they will last anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Botox acts by paralyzing the muscles where it is injected and this stops them from pulling the skin causing the lines that are visible.

Even though Botox treatments are only temporary they tend to last longer the more times they are applied to a specific area and some people can get very long lasting results.

What makes Botox all the more popular is it is relatively cost effective when compared to other methods and the procedure takes very little time and can be done in a lunch break with no disruption to everyday work.

By intercepting the messages that are sent to the brain Botox stops the muscles from reacting in situations where, for instances, glare is encountered and one would tend to frown. This allows the skin to remain wrinkle free and smooth.

The sooner Botox treatments are started the less chance there will be for wrinkle and frown lines appearing and many people are getting treatments at a younger age to ensure that they retain their youthful appearance for as long as possible.

Often the first treatment will not give the desired results and a 'top up' treatment will be required to make sure that it works as expected.

Botox Alternatives

Botox Alternatives

There are a number of products on the market that have been getting good reports for their ability to deliver the same results as Botox. While this will depend entirely on how they react with you there is a possibility that they will go some way towards helping to reduce wrinkles.

It is unlikely that you will get results as good as can be achieved with Botox but there are still many people who are reluctant to use Botox and these alternatives might be sufficient for what is needed.

The fact that Botox became so popular due to the success of the treatment spurred the cosmetics industry into action looking for alternatives that they could cash in with.

These Botox alternatives are classed as line relaxers and the anti aging affect that they deliver is a result of the ingredients in their formulas that soften the lines on the face that are caused by frowning and smiling.

The ingredients that are most commonly used in these products are peptides and neuro-peptides. As peptides are naturally occurring in the body many people are happier to use these than Botox. These peptides act on the muscles that cause the lines on the face and help to make the skin smoother.

Other products use GABA which is the body's natural muscle relaxant. Reports are mixed as to whether this has any positive affect on the reduction of wrinkles and if at all it would only target the smaller lines and certainly not offer anywhere near the benefits that can be gained from Botox treatment.

As it is not possible to affect the underlying muscles in the area where this product is applied the manufacturers claim that the anti-aging affect that it will deliver is due to a combination of factors including the GABA and the other ingredients that they include in their formulas.

While it might appear to be a more cost effective solution to your problem of wrinkles you will need to take into account the fact that Botox will have a greater impact at reducing lines and will last for several months at a time with most people.