Wanting to look young is not exactly a new idea

Wanting to look young is not exactly a new idea – the search for the fountain of youth has been going on for centuries.

There are many treatments available to combat the aging effects of the sun, from creams to peels to lasers. Plus, reducing the signs of sun damage can reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.

The sun and the years take their toll on your skin. Photo ageing is often the first sign that your skin has been damaged, but such repeated exposure can also lead to skin cancer. Luckily, many of the treatments for photo ageing not only restore skin youthful appearance, they also reduce your risk for developing skin cancers and pre cancers.

There are many non-surgical options offered to people who would like to look younger.
1) Creams – Sunscreens, Retinoids.
2) Injectables – Such as Dermal Fillers, Muscle Relaxers.
3) Skin Surface Treatments – Including Chemical Peels and Dermaroller / Micro Needling.
4) Laser, IPL and other heat treatments.
Sunscreens

If you don’t wear a sunscreen every day, today is the day to start. Daily application of sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher- whether on its own, or in a moisturizer – will prevent additional damage to your skin. Also, studies have shown that daily use of sunscreen can actually reduce the existing number of actinic keratoses – abnormal skin eruptions or pre cancers that can lead to skin cancer.

Retinoids
Retinoids have been a breakthrough discovery for the treatment of photo aged skin. Synthetic derivatives of Vitamin A, they can improve discoloration of the skin, degeneration of elastic tissue, and fine wrinkling by enhancing naturally occurring production of collagen and elastic fibers. In addition to giving skin back its youthful appearance, retinoids can inhibit tumor growth, decrease inflammation, and enhance the immune system. Continuing use of retinoids can reduce the number and size of actinic keratoses. Currently, two retinoids are available for treatment of photo ageing: (1) Tretinoin (2) Tazarotene. Note that retinoids can irritate the skin and cause dryness and photo sensitivity – an extreme sensitivity to the sun. They are available by prescription only.


Lunch Time Lifts
The “Lunch Time Face Lift” promises a younger, better-looking you with no surgery, no general anaesthetic and no down time. While “Lunch Time” and “Face Lift” may be a bit of a stretch, these days it’s increasingly possible to take a few years off your face in a day clinic without the expense, pain and temporary disappearance from public life associated with surgery.


INJECTABLES Dermal / Skin Fillers
Filling substances are injected under facial skin to round out contours and correct wrinkles, furrows and hollows. A number of substances are currently used as fillers, including bovine collagen, hyaluronic acid, polymer implants, and the patient’s own (autologous) fat. To maintain the effects of bovine collagen and autologous fat, the procedure needs to be repeated periodically.Many of these treatments can be used in conjunction with one another to produce younger-looking. It is important to consult with a licensed dermatologist to discuss treatment options, as many of these treatments can cause damage in inexperienced hands

Rather than just smoothing or tightening skin, they can change the facial profile to a more youthful one.

Hyaluronic acid is now more popular. Hyaluronic acid lasts 6-12 months – although treating areas of the face that move less will last longer those that move more, such as the lips – and you tend to get better results with each treatment. There’s evidence that hyaluronic acid injections can also have a more permanent anti-ageing effect by stimulating collagen growth.

Muscle Relaxers
Botulinum toxin A temporarily paralyses muscles when injected. This prevents the skin above from creasing up and causing wrinkles. It only works on so-called expression lines, such as frown (vertical) lines and surprise (horizontal) lines on the forehead, smoothing them and preventing them from becoming more pronounced. The effects take a few days to kick in, and initially last a few months – longer after continued treatment.Read more…
Liquid Face Lift / Liquid Facial
Combined use of botulinum toxin A and dermal fillers is called a Liquid Face Lift / Liquid Facial.

SKIN TREATMENT

Chemical Peel
Acid, such as glycolic acid, lactic acid or trichloracetic acid, is applied to the skin and exfoliates the top layer of skin, causing dead skin cells to peel off. At stronger concentrations, new tighter skin forms as collagen production is stimulated in response to the wounding. It helps reducing fine lines, small scars, discoloration and sun damaged skin. The stronger the peel, the more dramatic and longer-lasting the results – stronger peels (concentrations of more than 30%) are better left to medical professionals rather than beauticians.
The benefits can last for two years for stronger peels, although it depends on the strength of acid used (which determines how deep the peel is). These days a course of several milder peels, rather than one strong peel, is common. Milder peels may require top-up peels every few months.Read more…


Dermaroller / Micro Needling
Dermarollers are used for a treatment process called micro-needling or skin needling. It is a form of collagen induction therapy. The actual dermaroller is made up of a small, solid wheel attached to a little stick that propels it backwards and forwards across your face in small sections. The roller is covered with hundreds of minuscule ‘micro-medical’ needles that penetrate the skin, creating lots of tiny micro injuries.Read more…


Intense Pulsed Light
Intense pulsed light, commonly abbreviated as IPL, is a technology used by medical practitioners to perform various skin treatments including hair removal and photo rejuvenation. The technology utilizes a broad spectrum light source, with a general spectral range of 515 to 1200 nm. Various cutoff filters are commonly used to filter out lower frequencies and narrow this spectrum to target specific structures and chromophores. Because of the broad spectrum of the IPL light source they are unique, as opposed to lasers, in the ability to filter the light spectrum to target various chromophores in the skin