4 minute read
What can you learn from an expert on preventing wrinkles and protecting yourself from premature aging? Dr. Harris gives you insight and tips that you can put to use right now!
Have you ever wanted to buy a skincare product but really wished you could ask an expert if it was the real deal or if you were just wasting your money? Or perhaps you heard an anti-wrinkle tip and wondered if it was legit? Today our very own expert, Dr. Harris, gives us expert tips and information on skincare and preventing wrinkles.
Her background as a primary care physician and her medical knowledge and expertise in medical aesthetics makes her the perfect person to clear up the confusion and provide actionable advice on keeping wrinkles at bay.
Expert Advice on Skincare Routine & Products
What does our expert have to say on skincare products and routines?
What are the most effective skincare ingredients for preventing wrinkles?
There are two main ingredients for the prevention of wrinkles. The number one thing you can do to prevent wrinkles is to wear a daily SPF 50+ mineral sunscreen containing zinc or titanium oxide, which are the safest kinds of sunscreen available. It should be reapplied every 2–4 hours depending on sun exposure.
The other very important ingredient is retinol. Retinol works by helping the skin speed up cell turnover in the top layers of skin. These layers are where sun damage lies and so can help reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the look of sun damage, and build collagen.
How does daily sunscreen use impact long-term wrinkle prevention?
The majority of skin damage is due to exposure to light (sunlight or blue light). The long-term use of sunscreen on a daily basis will be the most effective way to prevent all signs of aging. Your future self will thank you for every day you use sunscreen!
Is there an ideal age to start using anti-aging products?
Anti-aging products can encompass a wide variety of items. Retinols should be started in the teen years if there is acne present and will have anti-aging effects, but generally, it is okay to start in your mid-20s. Patients across all age groups will see a benefit from the right kind of retinol used in the correct way. A good-quality moisturizer is something I consider an anti-aging treatment and should also be used starting in the teen years.
How important is moisturizing for preventing wrinkles, and what type works best?
Moisturizing is super important in the desert like we have here in Prescott, Arizona eespecially! Dry skin buildup can block the penetration of other skincare items, making them less effective, so having a good-quality moisturizer to help with skin care absorption and to maintain a healthy skin barrier is important. Also, dry skin makes us look much older! Youthful skin has that glow of moisture, so even just rehydrating the skin can make a big difference in the way you look!
Expert Help for Wrinkle Prevention
This section talks about wrinkle prevention and lifestyle factors that you can control in your efforts to reduce wrinkles and stop premature aging.
How does sleep quality and position (e.g. sleeping on your side) affect wrinkle development?
There are several studies linking sleep quality and its effects on aging. One study from 2013 found that poor sleepers had increased signs of intrinsic aging like fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and dehydration, slower recovery from skin barrier dysfunction, and other visible signs of aging. Getting your 7–8 hours of uninterrupted sleep is important for health in more ways than one!
What role does hydration (drinking water) play in skin aging?
Looking again at studies, patients who are well hydrated (generally drinking about half your body weight in ounces per day of water) increase deep skin hydration and even elasticity, which is important for skin quality as we age. Keeping proper hydration also helps decrease skin roughness and makes the skin look and feel softer. Even mild dehydration can cause the skin to look dry and dull. Drinking water is a cheap and easy way to look your best.
How do smoking and alcohol consumption contribute to premature wrinkles?
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your skin (not to mention other areas of your body). Because smoking decreases blood flow to lots of areas of the body, including the skin, you can see irreversible damage to the surface of the skin in the form of deeper lines and wrinkles that are extremely difficult to impossible to repair later in life. If you need one more reason to quit, this is it! They did a study in twins which proved that your face in particular suffers the negative aging effects of smoking.
Alcohol consumption also affects the blood vessels in many areas of the body, and the skin is no exception. Damage to the blood vessels can cause rosacea or redness that is very difficult to treat. Alcohol also works to dehydrate the body, and as we know, this makes our skin look worse!
Diet & Nutrition
How are foods aging you? Our expert talks about the food-aging connection.
Are there specific foods or nutrients that help prevent wrinkles?
Foods that are rich in antioxidants are the most effective in preventing and treating all skin concerns. Sun exposure and environmental factors create oxidation in the skin, which is what shows up as signs of aging, brown spots, redness and irritation, fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of collagen and elastin. Antioxidant-rich foods include dark-skinned berries, leafy greens, nuts, spices, and dark chocolate. So not only do these foods make you look better with regular consumption, they are also excellent for overall health!
How does sugar intake or diet in general affect skin elasticity and aging?
Processed foods and sugar in general are terrible for the body and can show up as accelerated aging in the skin when consumed in excess. High amounts of sugar in the blood can cause organ damage all over the body. In the skin, we see a process called glycation where sugar actually binds to collagen and elastin and causes damage to those fibers. This results in the creation of Advanced Glycation End Products, also called AGEs, which negatively affect the look of skin. AGEs accumulate naturally as you age and are also produced when certain foods are cooked at high temperatures.
Patients who have thickened skin and deeper lines and wrinkles may have this process going on. It is very difficult to treat and can take many deep laser treatments along with daily skincare routines at home with medical-grade skincare products. So if you want to save yourself the trouble, work on cutting out sugar and processed food from your diet as much as possible. I tell patients to do the best they can—nobody is perfect, but working towards a healthier whole foods diet with plenty of water and antioxidants is always the key!
Professional Treatments for Wrinkles
What treatments can you do to reverse, reduce, and slow down wrinkles?
What professional treatments do you recommend for wrinkle prevention (e.g. microneedling, laser, Botox)?
The number one in-office prevention for wrinkles is Botox or Dysport, particularly in the upper 1/3 of the face (forehead, between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet). Lines in those areas are caused by repeated movement (smiling, frowning, raising the brows), and the only treatments that stop the movement are neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport. The less movement, the better as far as movement goes. The goal in starting Botox or Dysport in your 30s for prevention is to prevent lines at rest or etched-in lines. Those take further intervention like laser or microneedling to repair once they are there.
How often should someone get facials or skin treatments to stay ahead of wrinkles?
The best recommendations to prevent lines and wrinkles on the face are a regimen of Botox or Dysport every 3–4 months, skincare and sunscreen on a daily basis. Facials in general feel great but don’t produce a visible change in the skin, but light peels or DiamondGlow facials once a month will help visibly reduce the signs of aging like lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, and redness.
Wrinkle Prevention Myths & Misconceptions
Dr. Harris sorts out myth and reality when it comes to preventing wrinkles.
What are the biggest myths about wrinkle prevention you encounter?
I think the biggest myth about Botox and Dysport is that it is unsafe. Even though the medication is a neurotoxin, both are FDA-approved and very well studied. Botox is used in millions of medical and cosmetic procedures a year and is even FDA-approved for children under age 18 for medical conditions.
There are no studies that show any negative long-term effects of neurotoxins, and they are considered very safe for regular use. The other myth is that you need to be frozen. Neuromodulators can be utilized in different ways to achieve a very natural look with movement but still have excellent wrinkle prevention. Just remember that it’s important to use a skilled and experienced practitioner.
Are expensive creams really more effective than affordable options?
The issue with over-the-counter creams and serums is that there is no standardization of the ingredients. With medical-grade skincare, they are backed by studies, oftentimes high-quality clinical trials to prove safety and efficacy, and that is not the case with over-the-counter products. We know the quality is better, and generally the packaging makes a difference too.
The bottles for the skincare we use are airtight and preserve any active ingredients for much longer. Also, you usually need to use less of the medical-grade products to see a visible difference, so the cost may not be as high as you think! When patients come in on over-the-counter skincare, I will ask if they think it is effective, and many times the answer is no. So you may need to pay more for the products we carry in office, but you can buy with confidence knowing they are backed by science and you will see a clinical difference with regular use.
If you want to get personalized help with your skin concerns, consider booking a consultation. Dr. Harris and her team of experts can provide you with more detailed and direct tips and advice when they can see your skin and talk with you about your goals. Call 928-277-7414 or click here to book a consultation
