Aging Skin - KOTA Territory News

Aging Skin

Wrinkles

• Sun exposure is the No. 1 cause of aging skin. How wrinkled you become depends largely on how much sun you have been exposed to in your lifetime.
• Sunscreen, particularly a broad-spectrum sunscreen (that protects the skin from both UVA and UVB rays) with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, is one of the most effective skin rejuvenators.

Age Spots

• Age spots are flat, brown areas called lentigines.
• They are caused bythe sun and usually appear on the face, hands, back and feet.
• Many people have a hereditary predisposition to age spots, and excessive sun exposure should be avoided.
• Treatments include: Topical prescription medications, freezing with liquid nitrogen, laser therapies and chemical peels.

Cosmetic Skin Treatments

• Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) – available without a prescription, AHAs are naturally occurring acids derived from fruit acids and dairy products and are applied to the skin in low concentrations to reduce wrinkling.
• Retinoids – the synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, retinoids were the first anti-oxidants to be widely used in cosmetics to reduce wrinkling and age spots.
• Chemical Peels – a chemical solution is applied to the skin to remove the aged, discolored, and/or irregular outer layers.
• Soft-Tissue Augmentation – fillers are injected or surgically placed into the skin to reduce wrinkles, furrows, and hollows in the face. · Microdermabrasion – a procedure in which special instruments abrade and rub off top layers of the skin, smoothing the skin's surface.
• Non – Ablative Skin Rejuvenation – new treatments for aging skin thatwork by delivering ulses of light to affected areas without creating a surface wound and with minimal down time.
• Botulinum Toxin – carefully injected into the skin by dermatologists in very low doses, botulinum toxin paralyzes the affected muscle to soften frown lines, crow's feet, and other wrinkles.