5 Tips for Young-Looking Skin as You Grow Older

By Suzanne J. Friedler, M.D. F.A.A.D

Oh, the benefits the years bring: experience, wisdom, patience…but wrinkles? Age spots? In our field, decades of research have brought major anti-aging advances that can help people enjoy the plusses of getting older while still looking younger.

Thanks to breakthroughs in understanding our skin’s underlying processes and the cumulative roles that time and lifestyle play in aging, today’s skin care specialists have a robust portfolio of options to address both prevention and restoration.

At this point, we have a comprehensive understanding of what causes our skin to age – from wrinkles and sagging to the appearance of “age spots.” And we can provide a wide range of interventions, from minimally invasive procedures to face lifts.”

The public has taken note, with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reporting increased demand for everything from surgery to injections like ‘Botox’ and fillers – with numbers topping out at over fifteen million in 2019 alone. Today’s anti-aging choices really include all ages and budgets.

Less extensive treatments such as specialized facials can start at under two hundred dollars, according to the ASPS, with more intensive interventions costing more. Individuals can customize a plan that factors in their budget, their desired outcome, and the involvement required, such as recovery time and touch-ups. .

With that in mind, I offer the following suggestions to grow older without looking older.

1. Put a stop to “dynamic wrinkles”:

   “Dynamic wrinkles” are caused by repeated muscle movements – for example, the smiles of a life well lived. Muscle relaxers such as Botox are a great fix for dynamic wrinkles. These injections can reduce their appearance, as well as limit further formation.

2. Harness your skin’s own power:

   Another reason we see wrinkles over time is that our skin settles into furrows as it gradually loses the collagen that provides its underlying framework. There’s been an explosion of treatments to jumpstart the skin’s own collagen production. Microdermabrasion, microneedling, lasers, radiofrequency, ultrasound – treatments such as the Fraxel laser, Ulthera ultrasound, and Thermage radiofrequency – these all act as triggers for our skin to produce new collagen. And the Intensif Microneedle, for example, offers a combined approach, pairing microneedling with radiofrequency stimulation.

3. Add back what time has taken:

   Fillers are another great way to address the loss of support that leads to wrinkles. Radiesse and Sculptra injections, for example, can add volume and boost collagen. And hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are also very effective, replacing a key ingredient that helps our skin retain moisture and stay firm. Juvederm and Restylane both have a menu of tailored HA options for fine and deep wrinkles, as well as loss of volume.

4. Banish “age spots”:

   Years of sun exposure can result in what are permanent spots, basically patches of tan that do not fade. Laser treatments can eliminate the melanocyte clusters that cause age spots. And specialized exfoliation, such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels, can remove spots and support skin regeneration.

5. Practice prejuvenation – practice “safe sun”:

   It’s never too early – or too late – to adopt “safe sun” practices. Ultraviolet radiation is a key culprit in skin aging, speeding up the loss of collagen that causes wrinkles and disrupting skin tone and texture. Many people actually see their sun exposure increase as they get older, due to retirement lifestyle changes, for example. The good news is that adopting sun-safe practices – sunscreen, protective clothing, and seeking shade – can not only prevent additional damage but may allow one’s skin to repair.”

Today is a golden age for aging, offering choices so that people can enjoy growing older without looking older.

Suzanne J. Friedler, M.D. F.A.A.D., is a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, with expertise in many areas of medical and cosmetic dermatology. She has been with Advanced Dermatology PC since 2002.

Advanced Dermatology P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (New York & New Jersey) is one of the leading dermatology centers in the nation, offering highly experienced physicians in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology as well as plastic surgery and state-of-the-art medical technologies. www.advanceddermatologypc.com.