Caring for Mature Skin

Do you really know the common symptoms associated with mature skin?

The most common skin conditions associated with mature skin are: wrinkles, age spots, and leathery skin. However, these symptoms are not the symptoms of aging skin, but rather the consequence of sun exposure. Changes that are attributable to aging include: increased dryness, decreased sweating, and changes in hair growth and facial contours.

Despite popular belief, dry skin does not cause wrinkles, though it can make them appear worse. Most moisturizers simply make existing wrinkles look better temporarily. Lubricating the skin plumps it up and makes light bounce off it better, creating the optical illusion of smoother skin.

One common mistake is the assumption that if moisturizers can "fix" wrinkles temporarily, they can also prevent them. Moisturizers only plump up the outer layer of skin. You can moisturize your mature skin until it glows, but gravity, aging, and sun exposure will do their work anyway.

However, that does not mean that there is no hope for the mature skin. The step that one can take is to start using sunscreen all the time. This is the best defense against time.

There are a few therapeutic substances that act on wrinkles and age spots, actually improving the skin condition and appearance. These work by affecting the skin's physical structures so the changes caused by normal aging and sun damage will be somewhat reversed, leading to fewer wrinkles.

Retin-A and alpha hydroxy acids are the two best known topical substances studied for their effect on wrinkles. One thing that should be carefully looked at before a particular substance is used, is the possible side effects. Retin-A can cause skin to become red and irritated, as well as extremely sensitive to the sun.

Most alpha hydroxy acids can be irritating to sensitive skin, and if the acid percentage is too high, they can cause burns or hyperpigmentation. There are ways to avoid these problems, though. Do not apply an AHA product with an acid percentage over 10%, unless it is recommended by a doctor. The pH level should also remain above a 3, to help counteract the acidity. As for sensitive skins, there is an alpha hydroxy acid that does not irritate, and is actually stronger than most AHA's at lower percentage levels. This AHA is known as Mandelic Acid. Mandelic Acid can also help with adult-onset acne, rosecea, melasma, and liver or age spots.

Also, new research has shown that vitamin C may be beneficial in restoring skin's vitality. Vitamin C serums have shown to improve the overall tone and texture of aging skin.

Lentigines (age spots) and ephelides (freckles) are tan, brown or black spots that appear over time on sun exposed areas of skin. These spots are common on the backs of the hand, face and legs. Those who tan extensively will also have them over the shoulders, back, chest and many other areas of skin. Lentigines are superficial collections of skin pigment called melanin which have accumulated within the top layer of skin called the epidermis. Ephelides are common in lighter type skin in individuals who sunburn easily. Lentigines usually appear later in life and can occur in all skin types.

Lentigines are caused by prolonged and repeated sun exposure or sun burns and usually appear later in adult life. Ephelides occur even in children after brief periods of sun exposure. Both types of pigmented spots only rarely occur in non sun exposed areas. Sun avoidance and the use of good sun screen protection can help lessen the appearance of both lentigines and freckles.

Pigmented skin spots can be treated with freezing, acids, skin sanding, electric needle and any other methods which cause a superficial destruction of the skin. These methods frequently leave white spots and occasionally scars. Lasers are much more precise and less damaging to the skin because light is used to selectively remove the pigment without damaging the normal surrounding skin. There is also less pain and less healing time required to recover from laser treatment than with non-laser treatments.

Bleaching creams (hydroquinone) can be useful for people with fair skin, though hydroquinone can sometimes irritate and temporarily redden the skin. Other topical treatments include the use of vitamin C products and alpha-hydroxi acid products. These may help speed up the process of fading the spots, and the use of mandelic acid can do it without irritation.

Preserving youthful skin is easier than trying to repair mature skin that has been abused for decades. The Natural Skin Care Therapies available at Pinewood Natural Health Centre are an elegant way to restore and maintain that younger look, gently and naturally for many years.

Our natural products are grown organically and are selected for their beautifying and therapeutic properties. Natural ingredients are potent and give beautiful lasting results for a clear, balanced, revitalized and glowing complexion. We address a variety of mature skin concerns including: premature aging and wrinkling, sun damage, acne, and loss of vitality, tone and radiance. The cure comes from nature with treatments and products that impart health and beauty to your skin.

At Pinewood Natural Health Centre, we help you achieve beautiful and healthy skin by making the correct medical diagnosis for your skin type and by prescribing perfectly the products you must apply at home to ensure a proper care for your mature skin. Come to Pinewood Natural Health Centre and experience what nature has offered to maintain your health and beauty.

Come to Pinewood Natural Health Centre and experience what mature skin treatments we have that can help improve your skin, and maintain your youthful look -areas surrounding: Mississauga, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, Markham, call our Toronto Clinic: (416) 656-8100, for Pickering, Whitby, or Oshawa,call our Pickering Clinic: (905) 427-0057.