Anti-aging skin strategies for 2020

Sunscreen and skin protection

We have entered the first year of the 2020’s decade.

Many are expectant, including myself, for a year of “ticking off” some of those long awaited desires on our dream boards. I find myself already at work pressing forward to achieve the new year’s resolutions.

Exercise, weight loss and muscle gain goals are set for 2020 after all the Christmas pudding and mince pies over the festive season; that caused the waistline to miraculously increase.

I am a firm believer in setting the direction for the year by writing down goals and I usually sit on New Year’s Day annually updating my dream board.

I believe in achieving ones optimal potential physically (through healthy nutrition, exercise, fashion, skin care and aesthetic enhancements); in my occupation (striving for excellence through keeping up to date with the latest techniques and regularly updating my skills) and spiritually and emotionally (through personal development and biblical meditation).

Some of us were privileged to have a beach holiday and have returned to our daily routine with bronze tans, but what effect does sun-exposure have on our skin?

With January being SunSmart skin cancer awareness month, I thought to focus on some anti-aging  skin strategies in this blog.

When it comes to sun-damaged skin or “photo-aging”, have you heard of the saying “Your skin never forgets”, but is this statement true? A lot of the damage caused is irreversible, but one can certainly reduce the detrimental effects on your “birthday suits”.

Most of us start out with skin “as smooth as a baby’s bottom” but the sun causes spots and wrinkles and suntan which are all signs of damage to our skins. The sun rays bring out melanin (our tans) as an attempt to protect our skins.

Some of the effects of sun damage include:

  1. Of course, sunburn.
  2. Deepening of wrinkles including crow’s feet and laugh lines and sagging of our skins beyond our years.
  3. Rosacea – red discoloration and bumps in the skin associated with damage to the blood vessels.
  4. Atypical moles.
  5. Age spots – discoloured areas which become bigger and darker with age.
  6. Actinic cheilitis – dry, split scaling spots on the lips.
  7. Actinic keratosis – rough patches, raised bumps or wart like lesions that vary in colour

In general, if any of these skin lesions develop an irregular border, uneven surface, change colour, bleed or become darker, contact your doctor.

 

Girl using sunbed

So, what about sunbeds, is this a safer way to catch a tan?

Generally, the harmful effects of exposure to UV radiation, whether natural (sunlight) or artificial (sunbeds, tancans) is similar and it is therefore wise to exclude the sunbed from your anti-aging skin strategies for 2020.  So, I guess no more tancan for me.

According to the World Health Organisation, people should definitely not use artificial tanning devices if they:

  • Have pale skin (type I,II) that normally struggle to tan and get sunburn easily.
  • Have large numbers of moles
  • Tend to freckle.
  • Have a history of frequent childhood sunburn.
  • Have pre-malignant or malignant skin lesions.
  • Have sun damaged skin.
  • Are wearing cosmetics. This may enhance their sensitivity to UV exposure.
  • Are taking certain medications.

So, as a male in my 40’s (don’t tell anyone) what anti-aging skin strategies can I employ to protect and repair the damage already done:

  1. Sun protection and avoidance of sun exposure
  2. Look for shade: the days of lying in the sun for hours trying to catch a tan are over.
  3. Take out those hats and caps and cover up in style
  4. Put on sunscreen to sun exposed areas every day before going outdoors. A sunscreen with factor 30 SPF or preferably higher is recommended;
  5. No more sunbed or tancan;
  6. Correct skincare products. Ask your medical aesthetician for advice regarding an appropriate and effective skincare range that matches your budget. This should at least include a foam cleanser as well as a moisturizer;
  7. Skin resurfacing treatments including chemical peels to remove dead skin cells, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, dull complexion and bring back the youthful glow to the skin; Microneedling and mesotherapy for scars, fine lines and deep wrinkles, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, dull complexion, sagging skin, spider veins and broken capillaries and uneven skin tone;
  8. Non-surgical facial rejuvenation include neurotoxins such as Botulinum toxin to soften those lines; Fillers to fill in any area of volume loss or for facial contouring and skin rejuvenation, and thread lifts;
  9. Avoid repetitive facial expressions that can result in worsening of wrinkling.
  10. Get enough sleep;
  11. Healthy lifestyle including stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, balanced nutrition with sufficient protein intake, are all essential for maintenance of skin volume and youthfulness. Some studies have shown that lots of sugar and other refined carbohydrates can accelerate ageing. So that cake not only can cause the waist line to expand but also the jawline to sag.
  12. Invasive plastic surgery

So, let’s enter 2020 with our hats, caps and sunscreen, lather on that self-tanning lotion, and make protecting and rejuvenation our skin part of our New Years resolutions. Let’s make 2020 a year of self-care!