3 Best Anti Aging Tips for Women

Wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, sagging skin—these constitute the most common signs of skin aging, and women hate them all.

In fact, a 12-country survey conducted by Bupa Health Pulse found women worldwide list visible signs of aging as one of their top 5 fears about getting older—alongside losing independence, financial worries, being alone, and cancer. [1]

While women’s other fears about getting older aren’t always within their control, practicing good skincare at any age minimizes the effects of aging. Here are the 3 best anti aging tips for women, guaranteed to keep skin healthy and maintain vitality at any age.

Limit Sun Exposure and Use Sunscreen

Most people know sun exposure isn’t exactly healthy. Why else are moms always slathering sunscreen on their kids during the summer months? Although it encourages vitamin D production, sunlight also sends damaging UVA and UVB rays directly into skin cells’ DNA. [2] No wonder almost all wrinkles—up to 95%—are caused by sun exposure, according to one dermatologist. [3]

Incorporate sunscreen into your daily skincare regime, even if you use cosmetics with SPF. And, reapply if you’re outdoors for more than an hour. [4]

If you stay indoors most of the day, the sun’s rays still reach your skin through windows, so it’s still important to apply SPF regularly. [5] Sunscreen should be a year-round habit, too, not just one for the sun-rich summer months.

Some women skip sunscreen because they assume unhealthy habits from earlier in life ruined their skin health. Not so: skin damage doesn’t take place all at once but builds up over time. [6] Consequently, adopting a “better late than never” attitude lowers risk for skin cancer. [6]

UVA rays are also linked to skin cancer and grey or yellow skin tones. [5] Consequently, make sure to buy a sunscreen with a UVA filter, which protects against free radicals that age skin. [7] Dermatologists recommend avobenzone or ecamusule, usually sold as Parsol 1789 or Mexoryl. [4]

Take Care With How and How Much You Sleep

Sleeping Beauty was able to doze for a hundred years and wake up without looking an hour older. While Sleeping Beauty’s anti-aging methods are obviously magical, not scientific, the connection between sleep and beauty is not a fairytale.

Dermatologists promote beauty sleep as a potent anti-aging practice. Why? The body’s regenerative processes happen while we sleep, so inadequate rest diminishes skin cell regeneration and repair. [2]

Researchers at Cornell University confirmed the skin-damaging effects of sleep deprivation in a 2001 study. After just one night of no sleep, the 11 women studied had “decreased skin barrier function.” [8] Decreased skin barrier function results in greater susceptibility to infection and skin moisture loss. [9]

In addition, lack of sleep causes increased stress hormone secretion. These hormones impair collagen and elastin, the connective fibers that keep skin taut. [2]

Even if you get the recommended 7 or 8 hours of rest every night, your sleeping position might still contribute to the appearance of facial wrinkles. Stomach and side sleepers lie on one side of their face all night, unintentionally creasing facial skin. [2] Sleeping facedown also presses wrinkles from the pillowcase into skin. [5]

Use Retinoids or Retinols at Night to Fight Many Signs of Aging

From morning to night, many women continually apply beauty products to their face as a way of maintaining appearance. For anti-aging, there’s no more powerful product than a retinoid.

Derived from vitamin A, retinoids are still science’s best topical answer to wrinkles. The small but nutrient-rich molecules penetrate skin deep into the collagen and elastin layers. This intense penetration allows retinoids to combat many signs of aging, including skin tone, uneven pigmentation, moisture loss, wrinkles, and fine lines. [10]

These anti-aging molecules come in two varieties, retinoids and retinol. Retinoids are stronger, available from a dermatologist with a prescription. The less intense retinol is available in drugstore creams and lotions.

But, don’t assume you need retinoids right away. Sometimes it’s better to start with retinol and ask about retinoids if your skin isn’t responding as much as you’d like. [11] University of Michigan researchers found retinol reduced wrinkles even in women whose average age was 87, so retinol definitely has its own potency. [12]

Experts recommend applying retinoids at night because they increase skin’s sun sensitivity. [4] Be patient, though. Retinol and retinoids usually need a month to produce visible results. [13] They’re also not recommended for women using other strong skincare products, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, or those who are pregnant or nursing. [11]

References

[1] “5 things women fear most about aging.” MSN Healthy Living. 2013. Available from: http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/aging/5-things-women-fear-most-about-aging-2#1.

[2] Colino, Stacey. “What’s Aging Your Skin?” Real Simple. 2013. Available from: http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/anti-aging/tips-youthful-skin-00000000042482/index.html.

[3] Allen, Kevin, and DiscoveryHealth.com writers. “Top 10 Anti-Aging Tips.” Discovery Fit & Health. 2013. Available from: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/aging/anti-aging-tips/seven-anti-aging-tips.htm.

[4] Mahoney, Sarah. “Look Younger Longer.” Women’s Health. 2013. Available from: http://www.ivillage.com/7-anti-aging-tips-your-skin/4-b-108470#108471.

[5] Binbaum, Cara. “The 8 Best Skin Tips You’ve Never Heard.” Allure. 2013. Available from: http://www.allure.com/skin-care/anti-aging-skin/2012/8-surprising-anti-aging-skin-tips#slide=1.

[6] “Repair (and Even Reverse) Signs of Sun Damage.” Skin Cancer Foundation. 2013. Available from: http://www.skincancer.org/healthy-lifestyle/anti-aging/repair-and-even-reverse-signs-of-sun-damage.

[7] “16 Amazing Anti-Aging Beauty Tips.” Good Housekeeping. 2013. Available from: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging-beauty-tips.

[8] Altemus M, B Rao, FS Chabhar, W Ding, and RD Granstein. “Stress-induced changes in skin barrier function in healthy women.” The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 117.2 (2001): 309-17. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11511309.

[9] Elias, Peter M. “Skin Barrier Function.” Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. 8.4 (2008): 299-305. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2843412/.

[10] The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. “Understanding the Ingredients in Skin Care Products.” 2011. ClevelandClinic.org. Available from: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/skin_care/hic_understanding_the_ingredients_in_skin_care_products.aspx.

[11] Edgar, Julie. “Retinoids for Anti-Aging Skin.” WebMD. 2011. Available from: http://www.webmd.com/beauty/aging/retinoids-for-aging-skin?page=1.

[12] Kafi, Reza, Heh Shin R. Kwak, et al. “Improvement of Naturally Aged skin With Vitamin A (Retinol).” Archives of Dermatology. 143.5 (2007): 606-612. Available from: http://archderm.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=412795.

[13] Scott, Paula Spencer. “A Top Dermatologist’s 5 Best Anti-Aging Tips.” Caring.com. 2013. Available from: http://healthyliving.msn.com/health-wellness/skin/a-top-dermatologists-5-best-anti-aging-tips-1?pageart=2.