5 signs of skin aging and non-invasive treatments

You can't reverse the clock. Movies stars and famous public figures often have a host of help - inherited good genes, truckloads of expensive creams and serums,regular botox shots, plastic surgeons on call to maintain great looking sign. The truth is no one can really escape the harsh reality of ageing skin.


Ageing skin is characterised by at least 5 signs.

Pigmantations, blotches and age spots appearing. Pigmentation is when patches of skin are darker than the surrounding skin. Sometimes also known as freckles, it appears when an excess of melanin (gives you your natural skin colour) forms deposits in the skin due to long period of ultra violet rays exposure. Age spots or liver spots are relatively common form of hyper pigmentation, occurring when melanocites cells over produced due to sun damage. Melasma spots, often as a result of hormonal changes (pregnancy) look like liver spots but larger in size.

Avoid excessive sun exposure. Use sunscreen and apply vitamin C rich creams. Remeber to slip, slop, slap when you go outdoors. Wear a broad brimmed hat to protect your face.

Hydroquinone a popular active chemical and plant based kojic acid found in most skin whitening products bleach skin by disrupting reactions that lead to the forming of melanin. Because of potential cancer causing properties, these are not encouraged and banned in Japan.

Fine lines and wrinkles are grooves in aging skin. The skin is made up of 3 layers: epidermis (topmost), dermis (middle), subcutaneous fat (innermost). As we age, skin cells divide more slowly and dermis starts to thin. Habitual facial expressions such as laugh lines or frowns and over- exposure to the sun's harmful rays can damage skin elasticity and exacerbates wrinkles formation.

Hydrate daily with moisturizers, stay out of the sun or use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.

Vitamin A (or retinol) accelerate skin cells turnover while peptides ( a form of amino acids) pump up fine lines. Keratolytic ingredients and lactic acid rejuvenates skin by encouraging dead skin cells removal.

Fat cells start to deteriorate while elastin and collagen fibers loosens as we age. Our skin no longer springs back when pressed but instead sags and forms furrows.

Consume foods rich in antioxidants (berries, teas) and omega 3 fatty acids( flaxseed, fish oil, cod liver oil) normalise skin lipids, keeps the skin supple and prevents dehydration.

Antioxidants like vitamin C stimulate collagen production and are effective in combating free radicals arising from stress, sun exposure, unhealthy diet and pollution.

Ability to retain moisture diminishes as sweat and oil-producing glands start to shrink resulting in dry and scaly looking skin. Wound healing ability also weaken as the skin ages.

As usual, moisturise daily and drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Use Alpha hydroxy (AHA) or lactic acid primers to slough off dead skin to allow better cream absorption.

Hyaluronic acid, labelled as the key to the fountain of youth cushions, lubricates and pump up the face, giving it a healthy, youthful appearance.

Dullness is caused by natural aging and the slowing of skin's renewal process. Young skin allows light to enter the skin and reflects evenly back to the eye, creating a glow.

Exfoliate regularly with AHAs or go for mircodermabrasion treatments.