With so many different anti-ageing products currently available on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are the best to use. So, we thought we’d lend a helpful hand.
In this guide, we will run through what exactly anti-ageing treatments are, how they work and whether they are right for you.
What are anti-ageing treatments?
In simple terms, anti-ageing treatments are designed to delay or stop the ageing process.
These treatments tend to come in a variety of forms – from surgical to non-surgical – with the ultimate aim of each one being to undo the visible dermatological effects caused by excessive sun exposure.
Sun and Your Skin
As one of the largest contributing factors to ageing skin, sunlight exposure is known to cause damage to your skin through its ultraviolet (UV) light rays.
Over time, excessive exposure to these UV rays damages specific fibres in the skin called elastin. The breakdown of these fibres, in turn, results in the skin sagging, stretching, losing its ability to snap back, and preventing bruises from healing as quickly as they would have done before.
However, it isn’t only sun exposure that can damage your skin. Listed below are a few of the other key causes of ageing skin:
- Expression Lines and Wrinkles. Expression lies are caused by the day-to-day facial expressions people make, with wavy lines appearing on the skin as more and more time passes by.
- Loss Of Fat Volume. Losing fat in your face can lead to the development of loose skin, sunken eyes and a more ‘skeletal’ appearance.
- Loss Of Bone Density. As bones grow older, they start to lose density and shrink, causing them to lose support to the visible structures of the face. This then leads to the development of a narrower jaw, a smaller chin and a larger set of eye sockets.
- When the skin becomes less elastic as a result of age, gravity can actually worsen the effect by making eyebrows and eyelids droop and create a looseness under the cheeks and jaw.
Why we use anti-ageing products
Regardless of the type of skin you have, loss of moisture and elasticity are two things that will affect everyone as they age.
Over time, this can lead to the formation of wrinkles, lines and other signs of ageing like uneven pigmentation or age spots – personal defects that affect men and women alike.
Anti-ageing products are specifically formulated to combat the causative effect behind ageing skin, helping it to retain its moisture, firmness and elasticity.
Other treatments – typically surgery-based – are used to help with issues that involve reducing the visibility of pigmentation disorders and trauma, using a variety of specialist techniques and products to return skin to its former glory.
What are the non-surgical forms of anti-ageing treatments?
Generally speaking, when people think of an anti-ageing treatment, many will imagine a serum or a cream of some sort, specifically formulated with a special chemical or compound that can help combat the signs of ageing.
These ‘miracle’ compounds can come in all shapes and sizes but, typically, most anti-ageing creams or serums will contain a combination of the following:
- These are thought to nourish ageing skin and fight environmental factors.
- Anti-Inflammatories. These help reduce the extent of the sun’s damage to the skin.
- Citric/Lactic Acid. These help remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin.
- These stimulate the production of collagen to improve the skin’s texture.
- These are a form of Vitamin A which help protect against sun damage.
- Ascorbic Acid. These are a form of Vitamin C which reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Away from these creams and serums, there are also a wide variety of alternative non-surgical treatments that can provide skin with a fresher and more rejuvenated look. These include:
- Chemical Peel. Applying either glycolic, lactic or trichloroacetic acid to the skin, this helps exfoliate the top layer of the skin and removes any dead skin cells. As a result of this, the appearance of fine lines, small scars and sun damaged skin are greatly improved.
- Laser Skin Resurfacing. A treatment used to reduce facial wrinkles and skin irregularities, laser skin resurfacing uses lasers to remove any damaged outer layers of skin, encouraging new skin to grow in its place.
- Whether it be through a dermal filler, collagen, hyaluronic acid or a fat transfer, by injecting filler material under the skin, this can help fill in folds, smiles and laugh lines, helping create fuller lips and give more volume to certain areas of the face.
- Dermal Rolling. A procedure which features rolling a cylinder covered in tiny needles over the surface of the skin, this helps stimulate the production of collagen and improves the appearance of acne scars, lines and wrinkles.
What are the surgical forms of anti-ageing treatments?
While the non-surgical forms of anti-ageing treatments tend to be a lot less expensive and a lot more popular amongst patients, there are a few surgical options to consider as well. These include:
- Traditional Facelift. The most well-known form of facelift, this invasive procedure involves lifting up and repositioning the skin and muscles on the face and neck to improve the appearance of the overall jawline.
- Limited Incision Facelift. Also known as a ‘weekend lift’ or a ‘mini lift’, this procedure is a less invasive alternative to the traditional facelift, using a smaller incision to elevate and reposition the deeper facial soft tissue.
- Neck Lift. This cosmetic procedure is used to remove excess skin and fat around the jaw line, helping create a more defined and youthful-looking neck.
In Summary…
Here at Dr H Consult, we have a wealth of experience in dealing with a wide variety of dermatologically-related issues, from acne scars to rhinophyma to varicose veins.
We also understand how difficult it can be deciding which form of treatment is right for you, which is why our friendly team are always on hand to help.
For further advice on any of the types of treatments listed above, or to arrange a free skin consultation with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch at your earliest convenience.