An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

It was Benjamin Franklin who first said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And nowhere perhaps is this more true than in the case of the proper care and maintenance of skin.

When you are young, the skin is thick and pliable, retains more moisture, and heals from — and is more resistant to — everyday scratches, scrapes, and bruises. All these traits of strength and suppleness are due to the presence of two important proteins: collagen and elastin.

As we age these proteins diminish and so do the benefits they impart to our skin. This is why older skin is not only thinner and less pliable, but also drier, and contains fine lines, wrinkles, folds, and sags. It is important to not only take care of our skin when we’re older, but to begin when we’re young and maintain this care throughout life. How we take care of our skin today will make a big difference in the condition it is in tomorrow.

Genetics and Diet: Aging From Within

In addition to the gradual loss of collagen and elastin playing a major role in the aging of skin, the type of skin you inherit from your parents is also a factor in how your skin ages. It ages from within, based on this biological clock, dictated by the genes in your DNA. For this reason some people have skin that can take more sun than others. But if we’re knowledgeable of this we can diminish, if not eliminate, the role our genes play in how our skin ages.

The skin also ages from within based on eating a well-rounded diet and drinking enough water throughout the day. Diets that contain excessive amounts of salt, sugar, and alcohol are counter-productive.

Lifestyle: Aging From the Outside In

The skin is the largest organ of the body. And because of its location as the external surface of our body the elements to which it is exposed also affect how and how much it ages. The sun’s rays are important for producing Vitamin D, but only in moderation. Overexposure to the sun is the most common reason for premature aging and damage of the skin. Smoking is also a major cause of skin damage, especially around the mouth.

External aging is what happens to your skin from outside forces such as length of exposure to the sun’s damaging rays, personal hygiene habits, and illness brought on by bad lifestyle choices like smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Skin Care: Within Our Control

Because the choices an individual makes play such an important role in how our skin ages, that gives us control. When you are outside you should monitor the amount of time spent in the sun. When in the sun, you should wear sunblock to block UV rays. You should moisturize regularly. You also have the choice to not smoke, to drink moderately, and to eat a healthy diet.

Older skin is just like younger skin in that sense. In addition to daily maintenance, it also needs a daily supply of healthy nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Important components of a healthy diet for healthy skin include foods and supplements that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like fish and flax. Foods that are rich in antioxidants and unprocessed or minimally processed like nuts, fruits and vegetables are also important.

It’s recommended that you drink no less than eight cups of water each day. Aging skin tends to lose moisture and retain less, so proper hydration is essential to skin health. Water is not only essential to life, it is also a fountain of youth of sorts for aging skin when consumed in the proper amount.

Medicated Skin Care Products

On top of the essential and simple preventative skin care tips listed above medicated skin care products can also keep your skin looking and feeling young. Skin care products whose ingredients include beta carotene, magnesium, hyaluronic acid, or vitamins A, C, and E, can hydrate, nourish, and revitalize skin. Retin-A creams that contain a retinoid topical form of Vitamin A promote healthy skin and cell replenishment. The Willliams Center carries a full line of products that have been chosen by Dr. Williams. He recommends prescription strength products as they have been found to be the most effective.

Surgical and Non-Surgical Options

At the Williams Center we also provide a number of cosmetic procedures that can help to keep the skin looking and feeling younger longer. These include non-surgical procedures like BOTOX, Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse, Perlane,Voluma and Sculptra as well laser and chemical peels and micro-needling treatments. A  skin rejuvenation program has also been designed by Dr. Williams to stimulate and promote the production of collagen.

Daily Hygiene Keeps Older Skin Healthy

You should be especially mindful of proper skin hygiene when you are younger as this will keep your skin looking and feeling younger longer. Use gentle soaps and deep penetrating moisturizers. Wash away soaps with lukewarm water, as hot water can dry skin and strip away the skin’s natural oils. Exfoliate the skin at least once a week to remove dead skin cells and the buildup of external toxins.

Most importantly, be kind to your skin. With proper skin care, older skin need not succumb quickly to the ravages of time and nature.

Discuss this and other options and procedures with Dr. Edwin F. Williams of the Williams Center. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. If you want to consult with an experienced New York plastic surgeon, call the Williams Center at 1-800-742-2797.