Aging Skin

If you've found yourself seduced by cosmetic anti-aging products or have even considered skin-rejuvenating medical procedures, you're not alone. Fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin drive increasing numbers of people to pursue Botox, chemical peels, laser treatments, and facelifts, sometimes to the point of absurdity. Or perhaps you're at the opposite end of the spectrum, and think, “I've earned these wrinkles!” and refuse to bow to our culture's obsession with youth.

The philosophy at Your HealthWorks falls somewhere in the middle. We believe the most important thing in life certainly isn't the pursuit of a youthful appearance, but at Your Healthworks.com we also understand the desire to have our external appearances reflect our internal health and vitality. There's no question that a youthful impression can be conveyed by a lively expression in a weathered and wrinkled face, but if you wish to make the extra effort to preserve your skin's youthful appearance, there's plenty that you can do without resorting to chemicals or surgery.

Skin is remarkably resilient, but it's the rare person who escapes at least some signs of aging by the age of 40. How quickly and to what extent your skin ages depends primarily on 2 factors: genetics and lifestyle. While your genetic blueprint is the luck of the draw, there's a lot you can do in terms of lifestyle to keep your skin looking its best and to minimize age-related changes.

All of the basic tenets of a healthy lifestyle-a balanced, nutrient-rich diet; regular exercise; sufficient sleep; and minimizing stress-will go a long way toward keeping your skin healthy and beautiful. Protecting your skin from excessive sun exposure is critical because ultraviolet rays cause free radical damage that results in wrinkling, sagging, and age spots. Adopting a daily skin care routine that incorporates antioxidant-rich moisturizers and serums is also an essential part of an anti-aging skin care program.