Snow White: My First Signs on Face

Q:

I am a 25-year-old princess. (Yes, I live in a castle.) I am going through a difficult time in my life. I almost died because of food poisoning. After I cheated on my boy friend, people call me a slut. (He is just not right for me!--having a pale face and spending more time with his horse than with me!) Recently, I noticed a few light wrinkles on my face when I looked in the Magic Mirror. I am panic! What should I do now?

-- Snow White

A:

Dear Snow White,

I understand you are stressed out now. That's probably how your first signs come from--the stress. It seems to happen overnight. Fine lines and wrinkles seen in the morning start to persist throughout the entire day. Most commonly, the earliest signs of aging appear in the late 30s or early 40s, but excessive sun exposure, skin color, smoking, pressure and genetics all factor into how our skin ages. If you are interested in slowing down the aging process, read on.

First things first: minimize sun exposure

Since the majority of the signs of “aging” such as wrinkles, brown spots, red spots and dull skin are due to sun exposure (or tanning salons) rather than true aging, the most important first step in a rejuvenation regimen is a good sun protection plan.  In addition to broad-spectrum (covers both UVA and UVB light) sunscreen of at least SPF 30. In addition, you should learn what Princess Kate Middleton does, wearing a giant hat to cover your skin.

The next step: Anti-aging skin care products

In general, some of the best most scientifically-studied anti-aging ingredients include retinoids, glycolic acids, and anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and idebenone.  Prescription-strength retinoids (tretinoin, tazarotene) are the strongest, most effective anti-aging products available.  

Beyond anti-aging creams: a visit to the doctor’s office

The most effective treatments are available at the doctor’s office. The best treatment will depend on the specific issue. Sun spots do well with light or laser treatments and chemical peels. Broken capillaries and facial redness respond to a series of laser treatments. Grooves between the nose and corner of the lips (nasolabial folds) or lip and chin (marionette lines) become less noticeable with dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid. Wrinkles on the upper third of the face respond beautifully to botulinum toxin (otherwise known at Botox or Dysport). When wrinkles are new, only small amounts of botulinum toxin are needed to deliver a soft, natural-looking result without the over done “frozen” look.

Bottom line:  Keep looking as young as you feel

In my practice, the best way to preserve a youthful look is to combine a good sun-protection program and skin care products. But most importantly, you have to keep a healthy life. Stop drinking over night and stop cheating on more men might be a good start!

Sincerely,

Dr. Coffeerainy