What can I find in this article series?

We shall discuss about the importance of a clear mind along with a clear mind. I will explain the main reasons based on which a clean diet means more than starvation for a beautiful body and I will explain which treatments are best for your body. We shall discuss about how you should approach this issue from the psychological side – you may not know this, but the psychic part of any problems can mean quite a difference. Finally, we shall discuss about what creams and lotions you should buy to maintain the youthful look in your skin and body.

Before we go into anti-aging treatments benefits and risks let us discuss a bit about natural treatments. It is a known fact that countries that do not have any access to junk food or bad food and only eat natural products have a beautiful skin and they generally age beautifully. This is because they get all the treatment they need from the food they are eating. Not to mention all the sports they do because they are not stuck in cars all day long – we may seem as we are dead tired in the night, but we are actually not doing any physical exercise that could tire us that much.

Well, since we still live in our own world of junk food, cars, smoke and pollution we should be thankful that the advances in technology have brought us real solutions when it comes to anti-aging. Just think of the numerous creams and lotions that are meant to be used as an anti-aging treatment. Of course, aside from these, there are also clinical solutions. Now, let us discuss the risks and benefits of clinical treatments, since we generally know how creams and lotions work.

• Clinical Anti-Aging Treatments

The advantage of any clinical anti-aging treatment is that is sure to be more effective than just a cream or a lotion, and its effects are immediate and long-term as well. In other words, if you stop a cream treatment you might see some nasty wrinkles appearing again just after you thought you got rid of them – with clinical treatments you do not have to worry about this boomerang effects. Of course, there are some small risks involving botox or laser surgery but higher risks come with face lifts and plastic surgery. Check with the doctor and see which one is worth the risk.

• Anti-aging treatments start from the inside – Eating

Most people feel as if they are doing everything they can when they are using creams and lotions. If those do not work, it is the producer’s fault and so on – actually, a good anti-aging treatment should always start from the inside. In order to cure the common flu, you take pills that attack the germ and not the cough itself. By taking just cough medicine, you might not really get rid of your flu soon. Eating plays a very important role in any anti-aging treatment – you are what you eat! The way you feel and look is heavily influenced by anti-aging treatments. There are foods that can damage your health terribly – for example, start seriously avoiding fast foods, or processed foods. These foods do not aid in the anti-aging process, but in the aging process. Rather than doing this, you could start eating healthier – go for low fat foods, or foods that are full of vitamins and minerals. Also, remember not to cook them too heavily – eat them as fresh as you can. Rather than eating some fried chicken, you can stick to a salad or a good soup.

• Anti-aging treatments continue from the outside-in – Exercising

Now that we have discussed about the eating and general mineral and vitamin intake, it is time to discuss about exercising. Exercise will generally make you feel a lot better whether you are dealing with aging or not. It is actually recommended that you perform at least three times per week thirty minutes of exercising – this could mean tennis or running around the block or general aerobics. Just remember – 90 minutes in seven days will surely do miracles.

• Increase anti-oxidants intake

Anti-oxidants protect your skin from the aging process therefore the best thing to do would be to find a good source of anti-oxidants. You can settle for cranberry juice, but it would be recommended to drink it without any sugar. You can even eat cranberries as they are since they contain a heavy amount of anti-oxidants that will not only slower the aging process but it will also reverse some of the damage. Aside from the anti-oxidants, cranberries are a great Vitamin C resource aside from flavonoids and querecetin. All these components will act, as a counter-effect to the aging effects, will clear all free radicals. Free radicals are responsible with tissue and cell damage, and can be responsible for cancer development as well.

• Increase vitamin intake – especially Vitamin C and E

As I mentioned before – a great thing to do is increase the intake of anti-oxidants. You can start doing this by increasing the amount of vitamins in your body and vitamin C and E are two vitamins that go well together in this purpose. You can find Vitamin E in the following sources: wheat germ, avocado, egg yolk, nuts, liver, vegetable oil and a few other similar sources. Now, Vitamin C has a greater importance – it aids in the production of collagen. Collagen is the greatest weapon against aging problems – it is like the glue between too cells that will enhance their form and support. Collagen is present just about anywhere in your body from your skin to your organs.

• Define your skin type

Just as with any other condition you have to understand the problem, you are facing. For example, you do not go to a gynecologist if you have a problem with your bones, and you do not take cough medicine if you are suffering from diabetes. It is the same thing with your skin – you have to pick the right thing for your skin type. Mainly, what you have to know is that there are three types of skin – dry, oily and mixed. Of course, some people may have a sensitive skin, while others have a normal one. This is just the rough description of skin types. Remember that sensitive skin can come with dry and oily – it has noting to do with the oil percentage. The second thing you have to know is exactly how aged your skin is – even if there are treatments that state that are for people over a certain age, you may suffer from a case of premature aging and you may need that treatment earlier. The same goes if you have a slower aging system – you may not need a certain treatment for quite some years. Some of these things may be hard to define but if you consult a dermatologist he will tell you more about your skin.

• Dealing with aging

A brief visit to the cosmetic store down the street will show you a variety of products. One small tip – never go with the cheapest one. Not because necessarily expensive treatments will work, but because cheapest ones usually do not give any results. Mainly, all anti-aging treatments promise one thing – to restore that youthful look, and to preserve the natural radiance of the skin. A small tip – since you defined your skin type, you should have a clear idea of what you need. If you have an oily skin for example, you should be in the lookout for products that lower the number of free radicals and that will lower the oily output. Another major reason because of which most people age, is the loss of collagen. Simply pick one of the creams or treatments that have collagen in their composition and are suited for your skin type.

• Anti-aging supplements – are they truly useful?

Frankly, supplements can be found in numerous types – there are those natural supplements based on plants extracts that are meant more as a way to detoxify your skin and improve overall conditions. There are also chemical supplements that are actually a mixture of vitamins and minerals that restore your youthfulness by slowing down the aging process, remove that dull skin appearance and retaining possible harmful elements on the outside of the skin.

• What side effects can appear due to anti-aging treatments?

Well, anti-aging treatments differ in composition and applying method – there are certain treatments that are applied similar to clay masks and can be quite resourceful. These are called chemical peels and they remove all the dead cells on the skin, while encouraging a more rapid development of the tissues. A somewhat reviving method, however you should be careful that those peels can burn your face if not applied correctly and you might end up having more problems. Creams and lotions usually have anti-allergic components within their recipe, but some allergic reactions may appear – check the paper or the box that came with your cream or lotion to find out more about possible allergic reactions.

• How important is the visit to the dermatologist?

I have discussed part of this question in the first part of this article, however, people should note that a specialist’s advice values more than some hunch or review on the internet. You may have heard that some product may do miracles for you but if your dermatologist recommends you to stay away from it, it would probably be a better idea to do so. Nevertheless, remember to discuss with your dermatologist about any anti-aging chemical treatments you may want to undergo – sensible skin may not tolerate chemical treatments and you might end up burning the tissues.

• What types of Anti-Aging Products are there?

Anti-aging products can be found for both men and women. Most men feel as if using anti-aging products is not actually suited to them. That is not necessarily true – doing something to protect your body (including your skin) from harmful elements that can cause aging does not mean anything. It just means that they are careful and they are interested in their health. But enough about this, remember that anti-aging products are specially conceived for men as they are for women. Women usually have a more sensible skin while men have a rougher skin therefore the treatment has to differ even at consistency levels. Not to mention the fact that aging effects are more visible in women rather than in men, therefore the treatment different with its recipe as well. Make sure you buy the right product. For example, men can choose from anti-aging shaving creams and after-shave lotions, while women can pick anti-aging foundations, creams, lotions, sprays and so on.

• How can I correct dark lines?

There are several fine lines that appear due to the aging process around the eyes and the lips. These are called fine lines and appear after the aging process has started for a while. Not to worry, all you have to do is pick a product that corrects fine, dark lines – or special products for under-eye and lip care (anti-aging products, of course). You will soon see results.

• How can we deal with dull and dry skin?

Most of the times, when the aging process start, the skin is not as moisturized as it used to be – it becomes dry and dull even if in teen years you had a really oily skin. In some cases, that oily skin condition may lead to a slower aging process, but that is not the issue right now. Now, in order to deal with dry skin you have to find an anti-aging treatment that is conceived for your skin type and that moistures and revitalizes the skin. There are several supplements you should look for that will nourish skin cells and improve your general outlook in no time at all. Remember to always use a night cream since those are the most effective ones.

• What should we know about anti-aging products?

Well, this is easy – whenever you are looking for a product, you have a purpose in mind – in this case, you want to beat that aging process. However, that aging process is due to numerous outside factors, aside from the natural process itself. Since you cannot protect yourself from the natural process, you can try eliminating the external causes. Therefore, whenever you are looking for an anti-aging product you should actually be in the look-out for something that protects you from sun damage (this should be more effective in the hotter months of the year) or protect you from cold (this in the colder months of the year). Also they should protect you from all the harmful elements that can be found in the air – such as particles of smoke or dirt that clog the pores and do not let them breathe.

There are a number of frequently asked questions within this area and I will try to answer them as clearly as possible.

• What is the main cause of skin aging?

First, aging is a natural process, just the way fruits become dried up if they are left too much. However, one of the main causes, aside from the natural one is sun damage. You may not believe this, but the more you stay in the sun and burn your skin, the more your skin will age and the earlier the wrinkles stage will appear. Of course, there are several genetic factors involved as well, that may cause premature aging or even a later aging of the skin.

• When does the aging process start?

Do you remember when you were a teen and kept asking when does puberty start and end? There is no way of telling exactly when it will start because it depends on numerous factors and it is unique for every person. However, it is clear that in your late 20s or within your 30s the aging process of your skin will become visible. There are cases when a premature type of skin aging may appear but you may not have to worry about that since it is a rather rare case.

• What are the clearest signs of aging?

Probably one of the clearest sign of aging is the first wrinkle. Though this should never be ignored or be a cause of despair – as I mentioned before, aging is a normal process and should be treated like that. There are other signs that indicate aging as well, and these are – looser skin (this happens when your skin begins to lose its elasticity and it becomes more obvious with fatter people), larger pores or fine lines.

How do anti-aging treatments work

In order for you to maintain a certain figure and to stay young for a longer period, anti-aging methods act in the opposite direction of the natural aging process. Anti-aging treatments can be found under numerous names and methods. For example, there is an anti-aging treatment that uses medicine in order to improve the look of the skin and to moisture your whole body. This can be done through the help of creams and lotions too, but if the problems lies behind the skin, then an interior approach is more recommended. Another anti-aging treatment involves removing all the extra-fat in your body, especially since when tissues get older they cannot keep everything as straight and up as they used to, thus making body fat simply look like a cascade effect. You can get rid of body fat through different methods, of course – some of them involve liposuction while some involve sporting activities (which are healthier!). However, people are more interested in natural ways to reshape their bodies and look younger. For example, wrinkles that appear somewhere in your thirties can be easily treated through a blend of proteins called collagen. However, always keep your eyes open and see which treatment suits your skin better.

Believing in anti-aging treatments

You see, simply buying a certain treatment does not guarantee your success. There are numerous factors involving that success rate and that is why you should always discuss with your dermatologist about any treatment. He will be able to tell which one is more suited for your skin, and will tell you what risks you may encounter or possible problems. Nevertheless, anti-aging treatments are something you can easily believe in and with good reason.