Tuesday, May 7, 2013

WHAT'S THE RIGHT AGE TO START ANTI-AGING?




Anti-aging treatments start a lot younger than we think! Good parents start their children on an "anti-aging" regime the very first year of their life by making sure their kids are always smothered in sunscreen! People who then avoid the sun or wear sunscreen religiously and avoid things like smoking and a poor diet end up with much smoother, tighter, younger looking skin when they reach their 40s than those on the other end of things. So, anti-aging isn't just about treatments it's about PREVENTION! If you never form those wrinkles than you won't have to do those things to get rid of them! Or more realistically (since we will all form wrinkles eventually) you will be able to get rid of them much easier! 




Patients are frequently coming to the office for a facial rejuvenation consult for either fillers or neuromodulators (botox, dysport, xeomin) and asking us, am I too young to be starting this? How old are most of your patients? Patients are frequently worried that if they start something like Botox or Juvederm early on it will somehow make things worse going forward. This could not be FURTHER from the truth! Botox and other neuromodulators can actually be a form of wrinkle prevention! Yes, they work great as a treatment for wrinkles that are already exist, but they work even better for preventing those wrinkles from ever forming. Neuromodulators work by preventing the muscles from moving, so therefore, if those muscles don't move and then the skin doesn't crunch, well, you never get those wrinkles! So, NO, starting in your 20s or 30s is not too young! 

As far as when to start an anti-aging skin care routine at home, there is no right answer. As mentioned earlier, starting with sunscreen and healthy behaviors should be a life long thing! But when to start things like retinoids and glycolic acid treatments depends a lot on each individual's skin. If you notice fine lines and wrinkles, it may be the time for you to start. Certainly if you are getting fillers or botox you should defnitely be adding in an at home anti-aging regime! If anti-aging is something that crosses your mind when examining your skin in the morning, then you are probably ready! 




For more information on what you should be doing for you skin come to the Spa on the Green for a skin-care consultation with either Jen or Heather (our lovely aestheticians). Call 413-565-2405 to make your consultation today!