Dermatologists: What The Experts Wished We Knew About Anti-Aging
InStyle, a popular fashion magazine that reports on beauty, did their homework. They asked a group of 1,8000 racially diverse women from across the U.S., ages 17-74, what their biggest skin concern was and about 60% of the group reported it was fine lines and wrinkles. So basically, it is now completely official, via research, that none of us want to age. Aging is the resounding number one skin concern and fear of women, so shouldn’t anti-aging treatments be everyone’s number one priority too?
Please know that there is so much hope, truly tangible hope, for defying wrinkles. Thousands upon thousands of treatment options and products are already available for anti-aging. The products range, but there’s everything from over-the-counter creams and prescription creams to injectibles like Botox and simple vitamin rich potions like serums.
Four well known dermatologists share their knowledge on some of the most important topics regarding anti-aging.
Among the dermatologists is Dr. Howard Sobel, a cosmetic dermatologist and the director of Sobel Skin. He tells us, “Nothing will solve anything overnight, it’s all about consistency.” His main takeaway is not getting frustrated when you don’t see immediate changes. Do not be under any impression that there will be overnight results because “these products take time to kick in.” Each product should clearly indicate on the bottle or website how long it will take to see results. Once results start coming you’ll never have to worry again. Patience my queens!
When it comes to good ingredients, Dr. Sobel suggests, “Look for products that contain preventative ingredients such as ceramides to maintain skin’s hydration, and peptides which are rich in antioxidants that act like a shield to protect your skin.”
I want to note that Dr. Sobel recommends using products with ceramides. Ceramides, an effective anti-aging ingredient, may not be as big of a buzzword as Retinol (YET) but that doesn’t mean it isn’t equally effective, which it totally is. Remember: Ceramides = the next best thing. Another dermatologist goes on to further recommend and explain ceramides to us, Dr. Gretchen Frieling, a Boston-based board certified dermatopathologist states, “Ceramides are lipids abundantly present in the skin. It is responsible for effective skin function, retaining moisture, and creating a natural protective barrier.”
Dr. Frieling goes on to inform us of something eye-opening and terrifying, stating that, “After age 20, our ceramide production decreases by one percent each year. While the results of this decrease in production won’t be noticeable until you hit your thirties, using ceramide infused moisturizers would be a way of combating this aging process."
So, the pesky wrinkles that start forming first in our thirties, those?! Yes. Those. Our ceramide production, or lack there of, is to blame for them.
Or is the lack of using ceramide cream to blame? Do not neglect your skincare by brushing off this hugely imperative ingredient recommendation, make sure that you have products with ceramides in your routine so that your natural decrease in ceramide production won’t show.
Ceramides are full hype, but of course we can’t forget to talk about Retinol too, an equally great and beneficial anti-aging ingredient that literally transforms your skin. Dr. Sobel has full confidence in it, stating, “If there’s one ingredient that could be considered the fountain of youth, it’s a retinoid. It works to promote skin cell turnover and even out the skin.”
Dr. Frieling also chimes in on the subject of retinol, “Retinol is a preform of vitamin A, and it is extremely popular in beauty today because it helps stimulate cell turnover, collagen production, and directly addresses uneven skin tones, sun spots, and fine lines. You can consult your doctor about a prescription-strength retinol treatment or opt for a less-active but a more sustainable formula that you can find over-the-counter."
So, where were we? Getting advice dermatologists want us to know, a little recap, first we must know that overnight results aren’t expected. The ingredients need time, not much but some, to transform the skin. We can expect to see the permanent results we want after using the products over a steady and consistent period of time. They work as fast as they possibly can and scientists are always studying how to make them effective quicker.
Also, Dr. Sobel and Dr. Frieling both want us to know that we should shop for anti-aging products that contain ceramides and retinol in their ingredients.
Don’t forget, starting at age 20 the body’s natural production of ceramides breaks down by one percent every year. This lack of ceramide production is something that makes us wrinkle first, so make sure to be applying products with ceramide.
The two other topics dermatologists wanted to discuss most with beauty readers are sun exposure and Botox.
Sun damage causes some of the earliest signs of aging. The sun’s harmful UV rays cause wrinkles, age spots and fine lines, so you must lather on SPF daily. Dr. Ted Lain, board-certified dermatologist and chief medical officer at Sanoba Dermatology, adds to the conversation, “Our current understanding is that a healthy lifestyle and diet are effective, but daily, consistent sun protection, along with topical anti-oxidants, are also essential for anti-aging.”
Something that Dr. Lain brings to attention is free radicals, stating, “Preventing the loss of collagen is best achieved through minimizing the effects of free radicals," Free radicals in the air can contribute to pre-mature aging, but sunscreen can provide protection.
As for Botox, dermatologists want us to know that it will not freeze our faces and that preventative Botox can help stop shallow lines from becoming full-fledged wrinkles, but won’t entirely prevent them.
A horrible misconception many people have about Botox is that it will leave you with a frozen and expressionaless face. Dr. Sobel firmly states that this is not the case. If the professional is a licensed, certified doctor, Dr. Sobel reassures us “they should be be able to moderately and properly administer Botox and filler correctly for a more natural look.”
Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, cosmetic dermatologist, chief medical officer, and founder of PFRANKMD tells us, “It’s always inevitable that some wrinkling will occur – no one grows old wrinkle-less. I always tell people to start using Botox or other neuromodulators when you start seeing the wrinkles. I don’t recommend doing it prophylactically if you don’t have any wrinkles, but certainly it’s easier to clean your room before it gets too dirty. So, don’t use age as a gauge, use whether or not you are starting to see the lines."
“If you are considering preventative Botox, you should make the commitment to continue to get Botox throughout the year, whenever it wears off," says Dr. Sobel. “If you don’t, you will start seeing etched fine lines in the skin that will not go away even with Botox. So, remember preventative means being consistent and you won’t be saying, ‘How come I had Botox, but I still see fine lines?'"
These dermatologists all care deeply for their patients and are very supportive of the beauty community. Their advice would otherwise come at a high cost, so take advantange of the tidbits you can take with you from this article.
Key Takeaways:
1. Patience, it will take a certain amount of time to see results
2. Ceramides
3. Retinol
4. Sun Protection
5. Botox
