Premature Aging Caused by Ozone, Exhaust, Construction Debris
Courtesy Photo
Surely by now you've stopped tanning and smoking, right?
They're definitely Enemies Number One and Two when it comes to maintaining youthful, healthy skin, but you should also be aware of some other nasty foes. StyleList spoke to dermatologists about these other aging sources.
Pollution
Unless you live in a hermetically sealed bubble, your skin will be exposed to air filled with things like car exhaust and particles from construction and street repair. New York City dermatologist Anne Chapas says all these impurities can be absorbed into the skin's surface, causing inflammation and a breakdown of collagen and elastin, both of which help keep skin plump and wrinkle-free.
Before you vow never to leave your home again, Chapas swears there is hope: Antioxidants to the rescue! They can help counter all this damage since they gobble up the free radicals caused by pollutants. Chapas likes antioxidants idebinone (found in Prevage products) and coffeeberry (the star ingredient in the RevaléSkin line), as well as the Aveeno Ultra Calming line, which is spiked with anti-inflammatory feverfew extract.
The Environment
We're not going to get Al Gore-preachy on you, but the environment certainly plays a role in aging skin. Dermatologist Dennis Gross points to info from NASA, which says that 2010 will see increased levels of UV rays, which Gross explains will lead to more ground-level ozone -- or smog -- which is a potent skin-damaging free radical. In response, Gross created Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Daily Sunscreen Towelettes, which provide the usual UVA/UVB protection, plus defense against environmental aggressors with a combo of ingredients including vitamin C, green tea, and lycopene.
They're definitely Enemies Number One and Two when it comes to maintaining youthful, healthy skin, but you should also be aware of some other nasty foes. StyleList spoke to dermatologists about these other aging sources.
Pollution
Unless you live in a hermetically sealed bubble, your skin will be exposed to air filled with things like car exhaust and particles from construction and street repair. New York City dermatologist Anne Chapas says all these impurities can be absorbed into the skin's surface, causing inflammation and a breakdown of collagen and elastin, both of which help keep skin plump and wrinkle-free.
Before you vow never to leave your home again, Chapas swears there is hope: Antioxidants to the rescue! They can help counter all this damage since they gobble up the free radicals caused by pollutants. Chapas likes antioxidants idebinone (found in Prevage products) and coffeeberry (the star ingredient in the RevaléSkin line), as well as the Aveeno Ultra Calming line, which is spiked with anti-inflammatory feverfew extract.
The Environment
We're not going to get Al Gore-preachy on you, but the environment certainly plays a role in aging skin. Dermatologist Dennis Gross points to info from NASA, which says that 2010 will see increased levels of UV rays, which Gross explains will lead to more ground-level ozone -- or smog -- which is a potent skin-damaging free radical. In response, Gross created Powerful Sun Protection SPF 30 Daily Sunscreen Towelettes, which provide the usual UVA/UVB protection, plus defense against environmental aggressors with a combo of ingredients including vitamin C, green tea, and lycopene.
Courtesy Photo
Sun and Smoking (We Couldn't Resist)
We had to include a few parting words from our skin experts on some easy and effective ways to get and maintain a gorgeous complexion. Chapas says that it's the toxins in cigarettes, not the nicotine, that we need to worry about. Toxins emitted by smoke destroy collagen and turn the skin a yellow hue. Oh, and there are also those pucker lines you get from sucking on the sticks to think about.
Courtesy Photo
Dermatologist Amy Lewis suggests some interesting anti-UV measures. She says to use a topical antioxidant vitamin C (like SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF serum) along with your sunscreen because it may actually suppress the growth of cancer cells due to sun damage. Also try Neova Total DNA repair lotion (spiked with antioxidant copper peptides), which can help repair past sun damage and enhance collagen regeneration.
Lewis's strangest and most compelling suggestion is to try Sun:Soul Therapeutic Sun Wear, which she says uses the sun as a skin-repairing laser. It sounds crazy, but Lewis says the clothing blocks out all unwanted rays but allows wavelengths of blue light (which fights acne and redness) or yellow/green light (to treat brown spots and sun damage) to pass through.
How cool is that?
Lewis's strangest and most compelling suggestion is to try Sun:Soul Therapeutic Sun Wear, which she says uses the sun as a skin-repairing laser. It sounds crazy, but Lewis says the clothing blocks out all unwanted rays but allows wavelengths of blue light (which fights acne and redness) or yellow/green light (to treat brown spots and sun damage) to pass through.
How cool is that?
Finally, Gross reminds us yet again to get in the habit of wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, even in the winter and when you're not planning to spend a lot of time outdoors. He suggests you find a sunscreen or application method that you like, so you'll actually use it (try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock SPF 70, which is superlight and leaves skin soft and matte, not greasy, so you can wear it alone or follow with makeup, no problem).
All skin eventually ages, but there's no need to hurry it along.
In related news, read about the latest sunglasses from Ray-Ban.
In related news, read about the latest sunglasses from Ray-Ban.
Filed under: Beauty, Skin & Body
Tags: amy lewis, AmyLewis, anne chapas, AnneChapas, aveeno, coffeeberry, dennis gross, DennisGross, dgskincare, feverfew, idebinone, neova, Neutrogena, prevage, revaleskin, skinceuticals, UVAUVB rays, UvauvbRays, vitamin c, VitaminC
Tags: amy lewis, AmyLewis, anne chapas, AnneChapas, aveeno, coffeeberry, dennis gross, DennisGross, dgskincare, feverfew, idebinone, neova, Neutrogena, prevage, revaleskin, skinceuticals, UVAUVB rays, UvauvbRays, vitamin c, VitaminC
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ennui, 6-03-2010, 7:50AM
a cure for aging?...being a republican.
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