How does skin age?

There are two types of skin aging. Intrinsic aging is the inevitable, natural process of aging that takes place over a person’s life, regardless of outside environmental influences. It is genetically determined and cannot be prevented. Extrinsic aging is aging that results from external factors in a person’s life such as sun damage, smoking and exposure to pollution. Extrinsic aging occurs in addition to intrinsic aging and it is extrinsic aging that is critical in determining who looks younger or older than their biological age.

Your skin in your 20’s

Your skin still has the suppleness and elasticity of youth. In order to maintain good skin health you need to drink plenty of water, moisturise the skin, get plenty of sleep, stay out of the sun and eat a healthy balanced diet.

Your skin in your 30’s

In your 30’s the first signs of aging appear. The skin’s once strong network of collagen and elastin start to unravel, skin cells divide more slowly and the skin begins to thin. The skin starts to lose its ability to maintain moisture as hyaluronic acid levels reduce. Skin damage sustained from UV light begins to show on your skin in your 30’s so sun protection is a must. Static and dynamic wrinkles begin to appear on the face.

Good skin care is vital and products containing antioxidants, retinoids and alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA’s) will help rejuvenate the skin.

Your skin in your 40’s

In your 40’s the skin can begin to look dull and sallow. Age spots and freckles from sun damage can make the skin tone uneven and pores begin to get bigger. What used to bounce begins to sag. Collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid depletion make the skin’s folds and wrinkles increase in number and depth and intensify. Botox®, fillers and chemical peels can all help to restore facial volume and suppleness and rejuvenate the skin. A good daily skin routine is important to prevent further aging, as is avoiding further sun exposure.

Your skin in your 50’s and 60’s

By this stage the skin has begun to thin and the dermis has weakened such that lines and wrinkles are prominent. When oestrogen levels begin to decline, as happens during the menopause in women, the skin loses its elasticity and colour. However, there is no need to look tired and old, much can be done with facial rejuvenation techniques. Fillers can soften even deep facial lines and help restore the facial contours. Botox® can relax permanent frowns and soften the face. The best way to prevent further aging is to stop smoking and avoid the sun.

Elixir Aesthetics offers:

Botox®: Our most popular treatment. Botox relaxes the small muscles of the face  and thus reduces the appearance of lines. The results can be dramatic and most people, once they have tried botox, notice a vast improvement in their wrinkles. Botox® can also be used to treat excessive sweating or hyperhydrosis.

Hyaluronic acid fillers: Used to soften fine, medium and deep lines in the face, to restore the skin’s volume and improve areas that have begun to sag.

 Lip enhancement:  Hyaluronic acid fillers can be used to give the lips a fuller, plumper more luscious look and help reduce fine lines around the mouth.

Chemical peels: An excellent way of improving skin affected by sun damage, uneven pigmentation, age spots, freckling, acne, enlarged pores and fine lines and wrinkles.

All of these treatments can be used individually or in combination to dramatically improve facial appearance