What Causes Skin To Age?

Growing a year older can come with fine lines and wrinkles. But there may be an even more significant factor in aging: sun damage. Photoaging, or the cumulative effects of sun damage, is responsible for up to 90% of people’s wrinkles and early signs of aging. Can this sun damage be reversed without surgery? Are there personalized skincare options?

How does sun damage work?

When skin gets exposed to the sun, the UVA rays damage collagen. In response, the skin increases elastin production to try to rebuild areas of damage. However, this overproduction can cause skin to be rebuilt incorrectly. The result is skin that appears wrinkled and weathered.

Ingredients to fight sun damage

Some products contain ingredients to help reverse photoaging. For example, vitamins C and E help to lighten dark spots and even out skin tone. Other products, such as retinol, increase the rate at which the skin cells turn over, leading to a brighter, more youthful skin tone.

What you eat matters, too

Research has shown that beta-carotene helps to reverse the wrinkles of sun damage. The antioxidant can make skin feel more supple and smooth. Incorporate beta-carotene-rich foods into a daily diet, including carrots, spinach, and cantaloupe. Alternatively, people can look for supplements that contain the ingredient.

Additional treatment options

Some people opt for dermatology treatments to make skin appear more youthful. Some of the most common of these include microdermabrasion, micro-needling, and chemical peels. All of these options work to increase collagen production and reveal a younger layer of skin beneath the surface. However, these options can be costly and time-consuming. There is a more cost-effective solution that can bring significant results.

What products are best for me?

Wandering through the skincare aisle can be overwhelming. How can a person know which products will work? Fortunately, there are personalized skincare options. These customized products contain only the ingredients that will be most beneficial for the individual’s concerns. For example, someone may be concerned about both reducing wrinkles and improve hydration. With personalized skincare, people can invest in one product that aims to achieve both these goals.

Finding your formula

Patients interested in customized skincare can consult with a pharmacist who is skilled in dermatology compounding. Compounding is a process in which the pharmacist creates a customized formula so that patients achieve desired results. These experts create products that contain specific ingredients a person needs. Speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more about customized skincare and dermatology compounding.