Sponsored by The Dermatology Clinic & Cosmetic Center

Often, people take the time to care for their face, but what about the rest of the body?  Signs of aging don’t stop below the face. Starting early with a good skin care regimen, including all of the skin from head to toe, can keep your whole body luminous and youthful.

First, let’s find out how the skin ages. Skin aging is caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic aging is an inevitable, genetically influenced process that we all will experience. Extrinsic aging can be influenced by lifestyle choices such as sun exposure, cigarette smoking, pollution, skin care and nutrition.

Prevention is key. To keep the skin looking youthful, and slow extrinsic aging, one can reduce sun exposure. We recommend wearing sunscreen every day with a broad spectrum SPF of at least 30 on all exposed skin. Make sure to apply sunscreen to the neck, chest, forearms and hands daily. EltaMD makes several sunscreen options and is one favorite brand that our dermatologists recommend. If you’re outside for a prolonged period of time, reapply at least every two hours. Rather than getting a tan from a tanning bed or sun exposure, opt for a sunless tan instead.

Already noticing signs of aging? Here’s what you can do.

— Brown spots.  Sun damage can show up in the form of pigmented spots anywhere on the body. Some skin care products can help to gradually minimize the appearance of sun damage. ZO Skin Health Brightalive is a medical grade brightening cream that is great to use every day. Another, more powerful option is a prescription cream containing hydroquinone prescribed by a board certified dermatologist. For the quickest results, the BBL HERO treatment can treat sun damage and broken blood vessels in just 2-3 treatments and can be performed anywhere on the body.

— Dry skin. As we age, our skin cells do not retain hydration as well as they did in our youth, and skin can look dull. Drinking more water is not enough to increase the hydration in the skin. During summer, look for a lotion since lotions are the most lightweight. During winter, choose an ointment for extreme dryness or a cream for moderate dryness. Cetaphil, CeraVe and Vanicream are all dermatologist trusted brands. If the dryness just won’t budge, look for a sugar-based scrub to remove dead cells but always follow with a cream or ointment

— Sagging skin. Sagging skin starts to show up on the neck, upper arms, stomach or above the knees. A topical product like Nectifirm Advanced from Revision Skincare increases collagen production and can help to gradually minimize the appearance of sagging skin. For a more dramatic improvement, the Morpheus8 treatment utilizes radiofrequency microneedling to stimulate collagen and elastin growth deep within the skin, leaving you with a more lifted and tightened result. Morpheus8 can be done anywhere on the body to improve the overall skin texture.

— Lines and wrinkles. Lines and wrinkles can show up anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the neck and décolleté. This area of the body contains fewer sebaceous glands and is often left unprotected from sun exposure. Silicone pads are an easy option to temporarily reduce the appearance of lines overnight. SilcSkin makes Décolleté Pads for the chest or the Collete Pads for the neck. Injectable treatments like Botox can treat horizontal lines along the neck and filler can be used in some places to fill in deeper lines.

— Regular skin checks. Healthy-looking skin is pointless if it isn’t truly healthy. Make sure to see a board certified dermatologist regularly for your skin cancer screening. If you’re over the age of 50, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends an annual checkup. About 9,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer every day in our country and skin cancer can hide on hard to see places of the body.

One of The Dermatology Clinic’s board certified dermatologists can help you create a plan to give you the skin you desire. To schedule an appointment, click here or call 225-769-7546.