Are You Too Young for Anti-Aging Products?

Are you Too Young for Anti-aging Products? When Should You Start and Why?

Many people look for anti-aging tips in an effort to look younger as they age.  Anti-aging products including creams, serums and other remedies promise to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but are you too young to be using these products?

Anti-Aging Products May Not be Helpful to Those in Their 20’s and 30’s

There are a number of reasons why younger women in their 20’s and 30’s shouldn’t be using anti-aging products. Because these products are cosmetics and not drugs, they are not regulated by the FDA.  Next, using anti-aging products in your 20’s is somewhat redundant. Many of the anti-aging products claim that they increase cell turnover and and/or repair collagen breakdown.  However, in your 20’s, your skin is capable of repairing itself so these products aren’t necessary. These anti-aging products may actually irritate your skin and make it more sensitive to the sun. Additionally, many of anti-aging products can cause breakouts in younger people.  Using anti-aging products in your 20’s and 30’s may actually do more harm than good.

Anti-Aging tips for Your skin

If you want to look younger, the best anti-aging tips when you’re in your 20’s and 30’s is to protect your skin from environmental damage and make healthy lifestyle choices, including:

1. Stop smoking  – smoking  interferes with your body’s ability to produce new collagen and constricts the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to your ski which can lead to pre-mature wrinkling

2. Wear sunscreen (SPF30 or higher that protects against UVA and UVB rays) – applying sunscreen to exposed skin every day (yes, even when it’s cloudy!) will help to protect your skin from sun damage

3. Limit sun exposure during peak sun hours – try to avoid being outside during peak hours (10a.m. – 3p.m.), especially during the summer months

4. Avoid tanning beds – damage from ultraviolet rays can make your skin look damaged and discoloured and also damage collagen and elastin. Use self-tanning lotions instead to get a bronzed, golden color

5. Wear sunglasses – protect your eyes and surrounding skin from the damaging effects of the sun

6. Limit alcohol consumption – drinking too much alcohol dehydrates your skin and dilates your blood vessels

7. Skip the fad diets – when your weight goes up and down all of the time it can make your skin stretch and sag which will make you look older before your time

Following these anti-aging tips will help to protect your skin and help you look younger as you age.

Do You Feel that the Anti-Aging Tips Aren’t Enough?

If you’re in your 20’s and 30’s and are following the anti-aging tips above but are still concerned about your skin and want to look younger, Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at New York’s Mt. Sinai Medical Center suggest that you add an anti-oxidant day cream to your skincare regimen.  These anti-oxidant products contain vitamin C, vitamin E, green tea, niacinamide and alpha lipoic acid which may help to minimize damage caused by environmental factors such as sun and air pollution damage.

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Robin Ashinoff, MD, the chief of dermatologic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, states that another option is to add a retinoid, either prescription or over-the-counter, to the anti-aging tips mentioned above.