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How Our Faces Age

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If you’ve observed that your face seems to be the poster child for how your body is aging—the herald of the passing years—well, you’re right. Unfortunately, our skin ages from both the outside and inside, and nowhere is this natural process more evident than on your face.

As soon as we pass from adolescence into our adult years, glands near the skin’s surface that secrete sweat and oil slow down production. As skin retains less moisture, it looks dry and crepe-y. Fine lines eventually begin to appear.

Meanwhile, cell turnover also slows down. Old cells hang around on the surface longer, making your complexion look dull. The turnover process continues to slow down over time; fresh new skin cells take longer and longer to emerge.

Undesirable developments are happening below the surface as well. Collagen and elastin fibers, which form a network of support for our skin, break down. Skin and fat deposits eventually sag, causing deeper creases and hollows. Repeated muscle action causes dynamic wrinkles, such as the lines across the forehead and between the eyebrows.

So what’s a young-at-heart person to do? The first thing to do is slow down the aging process as much as possible. You should already be following these basics:

• Wear sunscreen every day
• Avoid smoke and other pollutants
• Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water
• Get enough sleep and reduce stress

The next step is to understand the options for rejuvenation, knowing that most only address one aspect of aging. Basic moisturizers may help your skin look and feel softer, but most don’t penetrate very deeply and can’t impact other parts of the process. Prescription-strength creams and lotions are great for speeding up cell turnover, but they don’t replace lost collagen and elastin.

Even the ultimate remedy, today’s modern facelift, has its limits. As it lifts sagging skin back into a more youthful position and dramatically reduces wrinkles and creases, it can’t improve the surface texture of your skin.

That’s why, even if you’re not inclined to opt for a facelift, arranging a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon can be a great place to start your rejuvenation strategy. If you choose one who offers a broad menu of treatments, you will have a good chance of getting an objective education about what various options can and cannot do. Paying for professional insight can be a worthwhile investment.

And no plastic surgeon worth his or her salt will push you into a procedure you’re not ready for. They know that if you’d like to start with a non-invasive treatment and you’re pleased with the experience, chances are you will return later.

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Cathy Enns
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.