Though aging is inevitable, some people find it difficult to deal with the changes that come with getting older. While dreading some wrinkles and sagging isn’t uncommon, there’s so much more to aging gracefully.
Staying healthy and feeling your best is important at any age. Here are the top 5 healthy aging tips according to Dr. Stacy Chimento, a leading anti-aging expert from our Bay Harbor Islands’ office. These tips will not only make you look and feel youthful, it will also keep your skin healthy and age well.
1. Apply and Re-Apply Sunscreen!
Sunscreen use is the cardinal rule for healthy skin. This is a healthy habit that should start early in childhood to prevent elastosis and aging of the skin. Excessive sun damages the skin and creates free radicals that promote aging and skin cancer.
2. Eat those Veggies!
Increasing your consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables along with a balanced diet will provide the best nutrition for skin health. Having a diet rich in antioxidants helps to promote healthy collagen, fight free radicals, sun damage and improves inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, acne and rosacea.
3. Slather on the Retinoids!
Retinoids are topical vitamins that are often used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles by boosting the production of collagen. They can promote cellular turnover to refresh the skin from old damaged skin, improve acne, oil production, fade dark spots and acne marks.
4. Go Cold Turkey!
Avoid smoking, including vaping. Cigarette smoke and vaping smoke contain harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, which displaces oxygen in the skin. The nicotine component reduces healthy blood flow, creating a dry and dull appearance of the skin. It can interfere with vitamin C, which is an important antioxidant in reducing free radical formation.
5. Hydrate!
Is your skin looking thirsty? The skin should always be in a good PH balance. Dehydrated skin is more prone to inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, rashes, etc.
“Many of my acne patients are scared to use moisturizers as they are afraid they will ‘break out’ or make them oilier. If the skin is too dry, then it will make more oil as a response. I love products that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides as they improve texture and restore the lipid barrier of the skin,” explains Dr. Chimento. One great way to hydrate your skin is by getting a Hydrafacial treatment. Although the face is the most common area for a Hydrafacial, this treatment can also be used on the neck and décolletage areas.