Anti Aging Skin Care Guide

by Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum

This anti aging skin care guide may be a little different from what you have seen before. Instead of focusing on anti aging skin care treatment, let's focus on your skin's health and what you can do to improve it.

The typical anti aging skin care guide seems to always begin with the damaging effects of the sun, but some of the damage (deep within the skin's numerous layers) was done when you were young. That does not mean that it isn't important to protect yourself from new damage. The question is how you should accomplish this.

The use of sunscreens is commonly recommended in anti aging skin care treatment. But, this is a controversial topic, particularly when used as an ingredient in lotions and creams designed for daily use.

New research indicates that while lotions with an SPF rating may protect you from burning and UVB radiation, they do not protect against UVA radiation, which penetrates more deeply and does some of the worst damage. So, if researchers are correct, they may protect you from the more common skin cancers that occur on the surface, but not the more dangerous carcinomas which are caused by free radical damage in the deepest of the skin's layers.

An anti aging skin care guide should include this advice. Limit your exposure to direct sunlight to 15 minutes, two or three times per week. That way, you'll get your necessary vitamin D. When you will be out longer, use a zinc oxide sun block. They sell them at practically every pharmacy and store brands, like CVS, are just as effective as name brands.

Anti aging skin care treatment should always focus on health and safety, but many of the new techniques and even the creams are neither safe, nor healthy. Collagen injections often cause allergic reactions that can be deadly. Botox injections can cause frozen looking faces and even affect your ability to blink. Botox, itself, is the deadliest naturally occurring poison in the world. Microdermabrasion and harsh cleansers that remove the top layer of the skin expose the deeper levels to more damage and can cause photosensitivity.

But, I don't want this anti aging skin care guide to be completely negative. Here are some of the positive things that you can do to improve your skin's health.

Number one, eat right and take a good daily multi-vitamin. Vitamin A deficiency causes excessive dryness. Vitamin B deficiencies cause the skin to crack and sores to form around the nose and mouth, as well as dermatitis, itching and flaking. Biotin deficiency causes seborrhea. And, the list goes on.

As you get older, your skin's cells do not get everything they need from diet alone, so some nourishing compounds can be applied directly to improve the appearance, fade wrinkles, fine lines and improve elasticity. Effective anti aging skin care treatment in cream form should include Coenzyme Q10, Functional Keratin, Wakame, natural vitamin E, essential fatty acids, vegetable oils similar to the skin's own sebum and vegetable waxes to protect and prevent moisture loss.

Just a few more helpful hints, before I go. Drink plenty of water. Get at least 8 hours of sleep and use a restorative night cream that will repair damage done during the day. A complete anti aging skin care guide should include more information, but this should send you off in the right direction.

About the Author

Dr. Valerie Rosenbaum is a board certified dermatologist specializing in anti aging skin care treatments. She has done extensive research on the way many chemicals used in skin care products do more harm than good. Visit her website http://www.DefendYourSkin.com to find out which skin care products she uses and recommends.