How can I slow the aging process?

1. Use Sun Protection: It is estimated that up to 90% of facial aging is due to the damaging effects of ultra-violet radiation. Even if you don't plan to be in the sun, use a sunblock every day that blocks both UVA and UVB rays (also know as "broad-spectrum" sunblock) because surprisingly, harmful sun rays penetrate through fog, clouds, and even window glass.
2. Don't Smoke: Nicotine use (in any form) contributes significantly to facial lines, aging, and changes in skin texture and elasticity. In addition, smoking creates lines around the mouth from pursing your lips around the cigarette. If you want to look your best, you must not smoke.
3. Drink Enough Water: Drink at least 32 ounces of caffeine-free, alcohol-free liquids every day (preferably water). Water is necessary for healthy cell formation as well as the removal of waste products. If you exercise, are in warm weather, ingest a lot of salt, or take diuretics, you will need to drink more than 32 ounces.
4. Balance Your Nutrition: A diet that is well- rounded and emphasizes fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish, and moderate amounts of starches or carbohydrates will keep you fit and looking your best.
5. Take Anti-Oxidant Supplements: Anti-oxidant supplements such as zinc and vitamins A, C, and E contribute to the body's ability to fight free-radical damage. Free-radical damage, caused by smoking, pollution, and inflammation lead to aging as well as cancer. Recent research suggests that certain forms of anti-oxidants can also be applied directly to the skin for targeted absorption.
6. Manage Your Weight: Fluctuations in weight or being overweight for long periods of time stress the elasticity of the skin. Being significantly underweight may contribute to aging by malnutrition (see #4 above).
7. Try Retinoic Acid: Retin-A (also known as retinoic acid) has been shown to stimulate collagen and elastin production, and control abnormal pigmentation in the skin when used in a high enough concentration over a long period of time. This can actually reverse some signs of aging in the skin.
8. Sleep and Position: A simple way to prevent line formation and excessive tension on the skin is to sleep on your back. Stomach-sleepers especially develop creases on the forehead and cheeks. They often wake up with swelling around the eyes which over time may stretch the delicate eyelid skin. It is also important to get plently of sleep as this is the body's time to refresh and regenerate.
9. Take Advantage of Botox: Botox can prevent the formation of lines and wrinkles caused by facial muscle contractions. It is especially useful between the eyebrows, around the eyes, and on the forehead.
10. Consider Hormone Replacement: Hormone levels have a direct effect on the quality and appearance of the skin of both men and women. Recent studies show that cream or oral supplementation can dramatically enhance the appearance of your skin. Talk to your doctor if you think you may be a candidate for hormone replacement.

Bonus Tip: Many people neglect the fact that mental, emotional, or physical stress can contribute to changes in hormone levels, excessive frowning, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, gray hair, increased tendency to smoke, and many other factors. Simple ways to help reduce stress are to exercise, take up a hobby, read or write, listen to music, spend time with family or friends, or just take time out for yourself. Figure out what works to reduce stress for you, and then remember to do it!

Feed your skin from the inside and the outside. Healthy youthful skin radiates from a healthy body.

• Eat organic foods
• Drink plenty of water
• Take whole food supplements to feed your skin from the inside.

Also, avoid feeding your body things that destroy the immune system like:

• Caffeine
• processed sugar
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Fast food
• Smoking

The best “food” to feed your skin from the outside contain:

• Essential oils
• Antioxidants
• Natural ingredients

Products containing naturally-occurring, nutritious food for your skin are oils like:

• Carrot
• Jojoba
• Avocado
• Rosehip

Avoid applying chemicals to your skin that will inhibit the skin's natural functions and impede your immune system. Aging is a natural process, and a healthy body and immune system will allow you to age gracefully.

I think everybody should follow the simple rules of everything in moderation. A sensible diet, a little exercise, do not smoke and do use sun block. Try not to burn the candle at both ends and get a good night’s sleep, every night. Keep your weight down and steady.

Titan rebuilds and stimulates the collagen growth, so results are like reversing, or slowing the hands of the "aging clock."

Titan treatments last a minimum of one year, but many people do a series of treatments and do not feel the need for follow up treatments for longer than two years.

Overall, after a series of treatments, follow up will depend on how fast an individual person is aging, how good they are at using home care skin products, and how much time they spend in the sun.

I have always believed in Organic Beauty recipes more than Chemical ones.

Vitamin C and Vitamin E are two essential Vitamins required for Healthy and Glowing Skin. You can either get it  from some Fruits, Vegetables,Nuts, Oil or you can go for additional Supplements. Vitamin C helps you fight against Wrinkles and Fine Lines by producing Collagen. As we age, our bodies' ability to produce collagen decreases, leading to thin, weak skin. So you can go for Vitamin C and Vitamin E Supplements.

There are some Homemade recipes to slow down the aging process. Try some of these recipes-

1. Sugar mask: This mask works well for ageing and maturing skin that uses sugar, since it is a natural exfoliant and will help soften the lines and wrinkles on your face. Take 2 spoons powdered sugar, 4 tbsp warm water and dissolve. Apply to the face and leave for 10 minutes. Gently massage and wash off.

2. Banana Mask for wrinkles: Mash 1/4 banana until it is very smooth. Apply on face and leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Then use cold water to close the pores.

3. Egg White Mask:  Apply egg white on your face covering all your wrinkles and fine lines. Wash off after half an hour.

It’s never too early for women to start incorporating products that contain antioxidants in their skin care regimen. These antioxidants play an important role in protecting the skin cells from free radical damage and collagen breakdown.

Too much stress causes free radical damage thus speeding up the premature aging of your skin.

Feeling stressed?

• Take a yoga class, get regular massages.
• Practice mindfulness and meditation, something you can do at home totally relax and de-stress!

A consultation with an expert is essential to determine the best option. In your 30s and 40s there will be a mixture of preventative and corrective elements.

• Skincare is the most important basic treatment. Daily broad spectrum sun protection and a medically approved antioxidant moisturiser (Try Vitage & Priori)
• Botox for superficial lines around the eyes and on the forehead
• Microdermabrasion
• Omnilux Revive red light for overall skin rejuvenation

At Court House Clinic we use CFT therapy (combinations of these treatments that work best and give added benefits to the client).

You have to combine treatments, I don’t see how you can’t. Nothing lasts forever, so you’re teaching good habits moving forward and you’re sort of buying time in many ways. You’re slowing the aging process down; if you make some nice improvements, you might look 5 years younger or even 10 years younger.

But in due time, especially if you go back to old habits (smoking and sun tanning), your wrinkles are going to be right back to where they were and then you have to figure out the next step-other treatments or if you’re going to need surgery, which is where some people are heading. But most people are looking for non-surgical alternatives, again to buy themselves some time.

Every person, no matter their skin type should be seeing a skin care expert for the correct information and routine – they will make sure you are using the correct products, which usually consists of a combination therapy of:

• Antioxidants
• Glycolic acid
• Vitamin A
• Strong sun block

These help to exfoliate, nourish, and stimulate collagen. Make sure you are seeing a skin care expert that can lead you in the right direction.

• Overall, it's important for every person to maintain a healthy lifestyle and healthy diet. At the end of the day, this is going to be your first and primary defense against an aging appearance. Healthy lifestyle and diet and drinking plenty of water will reduce free radical formation.
• Reducing stress is also extremely important. Stress both increases free radical formation as well as decreases the immune system (shown in numerous scientific papers).
• As far as topical treatments, the most scientifically-validated methods for preventing aging of the skin are topical antioxidants and gently peeling agents.
• The use of creams with these agents has been shown to not only slow sun damage but also reverse aging changes at the microscopic level.
• Finally, an intense moisturizer is important to preserve results and protect healthy cells.

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.

You should never leave the house without wearing sunscreen. Premature aging is caused by the sun.

• Choose good parents. Genetics play an important role in how you age; but, other than that prevention is the key to maintaining a youthful appearance.
• Avoid excess sun exposure by using protective clothing or maximal SPF.
• Provide your body with balanced nutrition and don’t eat any one thing in excess.
• Drink plenty of water; Dehydrated skin looses its turgor and appears more flaccid and aged than well hydrated skin. You can apply all the lotions and potions to the outside of your skin, but it is in vain if you are not hydrated.
• Relax your face: Wear sunglasses, stop squinting, and stop frowning. Botox can also be helpful.
• Sleep on your back to avoid repetitive creasing of your face.

Quit smoking and tanning!

These are two completely preventable causes of facial aging.

The effects of tanning and cigarette smoking may not show up in the 20’s but by the mid-to-late 30’s the effects really start to show (like fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, increased sunspots or hyperpigmentation, and a dull complexion).

I once had the opportunity to have dinner with a physician from Nepal. He told me a very wise thing: "Habits are the cause of disease." Many of us are engaged in self-destructive behavior. Some of this is life threatening: abusing drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. I usually counsel new and old cosmetic surgery patients to stop smoking. This is much easier said than done. Tobacco is perhaps one of the most addictive drugs and it is widely available. One can see the damage this habit causes in the face. People who smoke age and die prematurely.

Sun precaution is yet another personal choice that can make a big difference. I question my patients who are using tanning beds or sunbathing. They feel a little guilty about the activity but not enough to change their behavior. You only need to see one young person die from melanoma to radically reshape your feelings about sun exposure!

I advise my patients that if they are serious about maintaining their good looks they need to protect themselves from the damaging effects of the sun. This does not mean living in a basement.

However, I advise selling the convertible, minimizing sunbathing, no tanning beds, and use of a full spectrum sunscreen. When you are going to be in the sun for a long time, use sun protective clothing, sunglasses and a nice broad brim hat. I practice in Los Angeles and some people feel they have to be tan for certain events. I advise a well done airbrushed faux tan.

As our lives move fast and furious from day to day, the stress of our everyday living takes an enormous toll on our bodies and ages us, both internally and externally. Many factors are beyond our control, such as exposure to sun and pollutants in our environment.

Other factors, and probably those in the majority, we can control. Exercise, diet, and water intake are all keys to maintaining a younger body, from the inside out. Where we still need a little help, there are incredible products, both organic and synthetic, that can offer great assistance in minimizing the aging process for our skin.

Your skin's cells are recreated approximately every 28 days. Next time you're curious, pick up the anti-aging product that promises great results for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, for brightening skin and lightening age spots, and rehydrating dull and tired skin. Give it a try for at least 28 days, and let your skin rebuild itself to a fabulous finish to help reduce the impact of your stressful world on your aging process.

Our recommendations: Peter Thomas Roth's Wrinkler Preventer; Naturopathica's Crème Cassis Bio Amino Replenishment Cream; Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose & Frankincense Facial Oil.

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.

The obvious answers are stop sun bathing and smoking. But everyone who can read already knows that. No surprises.

I'd like to see my patients (and everyone else, for that matter!) stop wasting their money on the latest fads in skin care.

• For example, sea minerals are present over 75% of the Earth's surface, and easy to extract. Why do products that contain them cost $200 dollars?
• Stop buying expensive collagen formulas that barely penetrate the surface and eventually wash down the shower drain. Buy a nice summer dress or a floppy hat, instead.
• If you really need to keep up on the latest fads, and money is no object, enjoy yourself. Everyone else need not worry about missing the "skin miracle train." That train isn’t going anywhere.
• There are countless examples I could cite, but we should all just get back to basics. There are no miracle anti-aging cures, just good, constant five step maintenance.

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.