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Young skin needs protection and moisture
Nights spent partying, one cocktail too many and little sleep: young skin can easily cope with life in the fast lane. By the mid-20s, the balance of fat and moisture is right, the complexion is usually well supplied with blood and has a nice, rosy shimmer. The production of new cells is in full swing, the water deposits in the skin are filled to the brim and plump it up with youthful plumpness. But even in your early 30s, your skin is producing 40 percent less lipids than it was in your 20s, and your body is also reducing its hyaluronic acid production. The drying time of the skin begins very slowly, the first (laughing) lines appear around the eyes. Two things are particularly important now: protection and moisture. “At that age you think you and your skin are invulnerable. However, this can lead to premature aging of the skin, especially if you are careless in your exposure to the sun,” says the Munich dermatologist Dr. Stefan Duve. Day creams with a built-in sun protection factor (usually between SPF 15 and 25) are ideal as a protective coat. Active ingredients such as vitamin C or vitamin E also help against the damage caused by free radicals.
Water march! Help the skin now to replenish its dwindling moisture depots. External hyaluronic acid is great for this. New creams work with so-called fractionated (short-chain) hyaluronic acid: Thanks to smaller molecules, it can penetrate deeper into the skin. Or with a mix of long- and short-chain hyaluronic acid paired with the hyaluron enhancer saponin. Particularly gentle, soap-free cleaning is also important. This removes make-up, sebum and pollutants from the skin, prevents impurities and clears the way for the active ingredients in care products.
Fill up with oxygen Anyone who spends many nights at smoker’s parties or smokes themselves damages their skin: This triggers cell-destroying free radicals and restricts the oxygen supply and thus theTolfioow transport of nutrients to the cells by 20 to 45 percent. So go outside as often as possible and fill up on oxygen. And pouring yourself an antioxidant cocktail of cranberry, red grape and a dash of orange juice for (late) breakfast in the morning after a long night.
How do antioxidants work? They use a trick to combat skin aging: They simply steal an electron from the active oxygen molecule of the free radicals – and thus make it harmless to the cells. Antioxidants are, for example, vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene and plant pigments (flavonoids).
What exactly are free radicals? This term stands for very reactive oxygen molecules that destroy the cell nuclei. Each cell in the body is attacked by free radicals around 10,000 times a day. Unfortunately, the body produces the cell warriors itself to a certain extent. However, they multiply explosively due to UV radiation, stress, nicotine or other pollutants.
Successfully prevent skin aging
Less stress and more energy for middle-aged skin
Achieving a lot at work, traveling a lot, accompanying children as they grow up: life is colorful, exciting, diverse – and sometimes exhausting. You can see that in the skin. She appears tired, less well supplied with blood and sometimes covered with a gray veil. Because you lack energy. From the early 40s, cell division becomes significantly slower, blood flow and the supply of nutrients to the cells decrease. Loose horny cells that remain on the surface of the skin for a longer period of time make the complexion look sallow.
Recharge batteries “Products with active ingredients such as Q10 can stimulate the energy metabolism in the cells and also tighten the skin,” says Dr. Thomas Blatt, Head of Skin Aging Research at Beiersdorf in Hamburg. Substances such as retinol (vitamin A), lactic or salicylic acid are also suitable for stimulating cell renewal. They accelerate the shedding process of old horny cells. Combined with a gentle enzyme peeling once or twice a week, they show the gray haze the red card. Serums and concentrates give the skin a particularly quick energy boost. Its concentrated load of active ingredients, such as devil’s claw extract, vitamin B3, peptides or special sugar molecules, makes the skin look fresher and more radiant immediately.
Stay calmExternal stress triggers a cascade of reactions in the skin. In hectic times, the body produces more of the masculinity hormone testosterone. In some women, this triggers a pimple flare-up like in puberty. “More and more women around 40 are suffering from such blemishes, mostly around the mouth at that age. In contrast to the teenage years, cheeks, forehead, back or décolleté are almost never affected,” says Dr. Stefan Duve. The antidote: creams with ingredients such as alpha and beta hydroxy acids in combination with the anti-aging ingredient vitamin C (e.g. from Vichy). Stress also weakens the immune system, which can lead to inflammatory reactions in the skin. “The skin’s protective barrier, which is supposed to protect it from drying out, becomes more permeable after the age of 40. This can lead to visible and tangible redness, heat and tension,” says Dr. Leaf. Ingredients such as gamma linolenic acid from evening primrose oil and microsilver strengthen the barrier layer. The gamma-linolenic acid stimulates the skin’s own lipid formation again and thus thickens the barrier layer. The microsilver has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves redness and itching.
Shift down a gear Of course we cannot banish stress and hectic from our lives. But with a few quick tricks, you can switch your skin and brain to relaxation mode at your desk from time to time. For example, with this acupressure grip, aptly called “Valley of Tranquility”: Spread your left thumb. On the back of the hand, a small indentation forms between two tendons at the base of the thumb. Press in there with your right thumb for ten seconds. Relax for two seconds, press again for ten seconds. change side.
Younger through hormones Externally supplied hormones such as estrogen or growth hormone (HGH) can slow down the aging process. But: Don’t experiment yourself, otherwise the highly sensitive hormone system will get confused. Better ask a doctor.
Do I also need sunscreen in winter? When walking on the bright sandy beach, when ice skating and especially when skiing, the skin gets a lot of UV radiation due to reflection. A rich winter sunscreen that protects against cold and sun is ideal.
What are the benefits of face gym and facial massages? Just like on the body, the muscles in the face can also be trained. But just like with the body, it only works if you do it regularly. Facial massages also have a positive effect. They stimulate blood circulation, which transports more oxygen into the blood, the supply of nutrients to the cells improves and the complexion appears fresher and rosier.
Strengthen and build up mature skin
Then mature skin does not look old at all
Finally some time for cooking evenings with friends or the yoga workshop at the weekend. Go through life with more self-confidence and no longer have to pant after every trend – wonderful times! And although we now accept wrinkles with a certain degree of composure: we don’t want to look old. A lot happens in the skin from midlife onwards. It becomes thinner, drier, and more sensitive because of the drop in estrogen production. The subcutaneous fatty tissue recedes, making the complexion appear less plump. Due to the decreasing elasticity, the face gradually loses its youthful V-shape, appears more angular, the contours become blurred. Sun damage from vacations long ago is now clearly visible in the form of pigment spots on the face, décolleté, neck and hands. “Even more than wrinkles, they make a face look older. In a study in Vienna, test subjects estimated people with an uneven skin tone in photos to be ten to twelve years older on average,” reveals Dr. Patricia Ogilvie, dermatologist in Munich. In addition, deeper wrinkles appear on the face, mostly around the nose and mouth. The skin on the neck and décolleté, which already has few sebaceous glands, also becomes increasingly dry, loses elasticity and tends to form fine creases.
More excitement, please!Women can now achieve better elasticity and firmer skin with active ingredients that boost the skin’s own collagen synthesis, e.g. B. peptides, Chinese lantern flower extracts and silicon. At the same time, sugar-protein compounds from beech trees can increase the water-binding capacity in the dermis, the skin rich in collagen fibres. Also exciting is a new beauty technology that supports the “longevity” enzyme sirtuin. On the one hand, sirtuins prolong the life of the cells, accelerate the work in the cell power plants (mitochondria) and at the same time promote the production of the connective tissue building blocks collagen, elastin, perlecane and laminin. Another way: strengthen the opponents of the so-called glycation, i.e. the saccharification of the skin. Because the cellular fuel glucose accumulates over the years on the elastin and collagen fibers and “caramelizes” them, so to speak, so that they become rigid and inelastic and eventually tear or break. Active ingredients such as blueberry extract can counteract this.
Spot off!Special products with ingredients such as arbutin or hexylresorcinol, which slow down the excessive production of pigment cells and at the same time gently lighten existing spots, help against an uneven skin tone caused by sun damage. Important: consistently apply cream every morning and evening for several weeks and always apply a sunblock with a sun protection factor of 50+ in the sun, otherwise the spots will quickly come back. Phytoestrogens from soy, yams or shiitake mushrooms combat the lack of estrogen in the skin. These plant messenger substances dock at the same places in the body as “real” hormones – without developing their possible side effects. You achieve that the skin looks plumper, denser and more elastic again. Don’t forget: special products for lips, décolleté and neck,
Youth on the plate Eating younger – that also works. Especially with products that have a high ORAC value (ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). It tells you how well a food fights free radicals. Cell protection leaders are prunes, raisins, pomegranates, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, acai berries and walnuts. Just nibble instead of a biscuit in between.
How important is sleep for the skin? Good sleep doesn’t make you ageless, but bad sleep makes you look old faster. Because while we are blissfully asleep, the body starts a fantastic renovation program for all cells, checking them for damage and repairing defective areas.
Do “good genes” help you look younger? According to the latest studies, around 25 percent of our genetic make-up determines how quickly and to what extent we age. In other words: we have the lion’s share, namely 75 percent, in our own hands. Fine! With a balanced diet, regular exercise, a positive attitude to life and short breaks from stress, we can steer everything in the right direction.
Does sport and exercise also keep the skin young?
Definitely yes! Moderate exercise allows new blood vessels to sprout in the skin, strengthens the immune system and helps to reduce stress hormones that damage the skin. In addition, fitness increases zest for life and self-esteem. And those who exercise regularly also sleep better – the best basis for beautiful skin.
