Collagen stimulating lasers--to prevent wrinkles...

Skin care tips for aging skin

My face is aging faster now that I've turned 46. What is the best techniques, skin care products, or life style changes to maintain more youthful look.  Is Botox simply an inevitable?


Neil Sadick, MD
28 months ago
  1. Collagen stimulating lasers–to prevent wrinkles.
  2. At-home rejuvenation program–to turn over skin cells and build new collagen.
  3. Skin tightening technologies to tighten collagen and prevent skin laxity
  4. Wear a daily broad spectrum sun blocker plus application of anti-oxidant preparation and oral supplements to prevent photodamage.
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More answers to Skin care tips for aging skin

A: Good habits now can help in the long run when it comes...

Jennifer Walden, MD
29 months ago

Good habits now can help in the long run when it comes to your appearance.

  • Sun avoidance, or using sunscreen with SPF >15 anytime you are outside will help prevent signs of early aging (not to mention skin cancer!)
  • Also, not smoking, drinking water throughout the day, avoiding excessive alcohol intake, and getting about 8 hours of sleep a night can work wonders.
  • A good skin care regimen is nice to do for your skin. This usually involves:
    • Daily cleanser
    • Moisturizer with sunscreen and an antioxidant in it
    • An exfoliant once or twice a week

These don't have to be super-expensive...Neutrogena and Olay are two brands that come to mind that are effective, inexpensive, and easy to find.

  • If you are thinking about something with a little more "kick", then consider starting out with Botox (a selective muscle paralytic that temporarily weakens the muscles that cause frown lines, crows feet, and forehead furrows).
    • Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane or Juvederm are good for puffing up the lips or filling in deeper facial wrinkles like the nasolabial folds.
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A: Sun exposure and cigarette smoking are two things that I...

Jeannette Graf, MD
27 months ago

Sun exposure and cigarette smoking are two things that I would say have the greatest effect on accelerating skin aging.  The sun’s rays have a major effect on the skin’s elastin and collagen, causing them to breakdown – creating leathery wrinkled skin and sunspots.  

There is also a direct correlation between cigarette smoke and levels of MMP-1, an enzyme that breaks down collagen. Therefore, in addition to lack of oxygen going to the skin, cigarettes have a direct effect on causing wrinkling.

  • The way to deal with these age accelerators is to wear a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sun block all year-round and do all that you can to stop smoking. The day that you stop these age accelerators is the day that you will slow the skin aging process.
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