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4 Ways to Prevent Signs of Aging

Advertisers sell skincare products by promising “youthful, vibrant results”. But it often takes drastic measures and lots of time and money to reverse any visible and invisible damage to your skin. The best solution is prevention, so your Knoxville Dermatology team pulled our top 4 ways to prevent the signs of aging.

First and foremost – limit direct exposure to the sun! The sun’s rays can damage your skin’s DNA, causing cells to deteriorate and shrink. This makes skin look haggard and lifeless, the opposite of youthful and vibrant. Try to avoid the sun’s peak hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If it is unavoidable, then cover your exposed skin with a sunscreen of at least an SPF of 30. Wearing hats and long-sleeves helps, but the sun’s rays are powerful! It’s better to lather sunscreen on your face, neck, arms and hands (the parts of your body that show signs of aging first) daily to prevent any damage.

Smokers, this one’s for you. The toxic chemicals in smoke cause wrinkles to occur sooner and run deeper in your skin, particularly your face. Smokers also tend to squint more to avoid getting smoke in their eyes. That excessive squinting causes crow’s feet and bags to form around your eyes. So let’s make 2015 the year to put down that pack and invest in some quality skincare.

Alcohol poses another threat for young looking skin. Excessive drinking deprives your skin of necessary nutrients. Instead, those nutrients get derailed to fight off your hangover and filter the alcohol from your blood stream. Drinking excessively can also lead to poor diet choices, which leads us to our next point.

What goes inside, shows on the outside. Your skin, like the rest of your body, needs to be fed proper nutrients in order to perform at its best and look healthy. Skin already has to battle natural exposure to the sun and constantly repair and regenerate itself (fun fact: you lose almost a million skill cells in a day). Don’t make it fight against itself from within too! A diet rich with vitamins and antioxidants is important for healthy looking skin. Also drink the daily recommended amount of water each day to keep your skin and other organs running smoothly. (Before any diet changes, please consult your doctor.)

Beautiful skin is possible at any age, and these tips will help you achieve your timeless glow!

Fight the Signs of Aging

As we age, taking preventative steps to stay healthy and strong becomes more important than treating symptoms as they occur. This is especially true for our skin. There are so many things we can do to keep our skin looking youthful.

What we put into our bodies and everything in the environment impacts our skin. A healthy, well-balanced diet will keep you glowing. Making sure skin is protected from the environment with sunscreen and layers helps too.

Foods that are particularly good for your skin include seafood, citrus fruits, red and green veggies, and nuts. The zinc and omega-3 fatty acids in fatty fish like salmon reduce dryness and inflammation — problems common in the dry winter months. Vitamin C in citrus fruits and green vegetables aids in the production of collagen — the protein that keeps skin supple and firm. Nuts, especially almonds, contain Vitamin E that helps to combat the harsh effects of UV rays from the sun. Vitamin E also helps keep in moisture, relieving dryness and making skin look younger.

As always, we recommend applying sunscreen every day. Even in the cold winter months, you are being exposed to dangerous UV rays from the sun. To double your efforts, choose a moisturizer for your dry skin that contains sunscreen to protect your skin. It’s one less step and worth it!

If you have any questions about anti-aging or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Erase It All With Retinol

Knoxville Dermatology Group - Retinol

There are plenty of anti-aging creams, serums—you name it—on the market today. So how do you know what works and what is all talk? Luckily, we have the answers from our board-certified physicians at Knoxville Dermatology Group.

Retinol is the number one anti-aging ingredient, and is prescribed the most by dermatologists. It is based on Vitamin A derivatives that unclog pores and boost collagen to reduce fine lines. In addition, it can speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin, sometimes in as little as four weeks.

The top three prescription-strength retinols are tretinoin (brands include Atralin, Avita, Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Renova), tazarotene (Avage, Tazorac), and adapalene (Differin). There are also over-the-counter retinols for those of you whose skin cannot handle the strength of prescription retinols.

In addition to softer lines and skin, retinols also banish acne and clear up your skin. Talk about a skincare double whammy! Use it once a day (or once every other day until your skin is used to it) at nighttime because retinol is photosensitive. Because of this, apply sunscreen with SPF30+ every morning after your usual skincare routine.

Have you tried a retinol yet? Ask us about it today at 865-690-9467.

Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.

Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin: 50 and over

It is never too late to slow the progression of aging and prevent further damage. In your 50s and above, cell turnover is very slow and the skin has trouble holding moisture. Dryness is a top problem in aging skin, as it magnifies lines and wrinkles. We have a few tips for taking care of your skin in your 50s and older.

It is important to keep up with the same skincare routine that you had in your 30s and 40s, although now you might be introduced to more permanent damage. Spider veins, hyperpigmentation and skin cancer are common skin woes that occur as you age. These need professional care and sometimes need lasers or surgery.

Hormonal changes are also a culprit in the skin’s aging process. Menopause can cause loss of skin elasticity and increase in the dullness of skin for women. There are many creams, serums and other products to help reduce the appearance of aging. Talk to your local dermatologist about what is best for your skin.

Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Visit with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential. Schedule an appointment with Knoxville Dermatology Group today at 865-690-9467.