There are two types of UV light: UVA and UVB. I discussed UVA damage in a previous post. The second type, UVB, is the most damaging because it penetrates to the deepest layer of our skin where new cells are generated creating mutations that may lead to skin cancer. Repeated, extended UVB exposure also leads to sagging and premature aging of our skin.
Vertical spiral threads of protein called elastin hold all 8 layers of our skin together. As their name suggests they are stretchy and allow our skin to snap back into shape after pulling. They work like the rubberized threads in elastic waistbands. Just as repeated heating in dryers weakens the rubberized bands, elastin is weakened and loses its snap when exposed repeatedly to UVB rays.
Unfortunately, there aren’t products that can reverse UVB damage currently. The only thing we can do is prevent damage through the use of good quality sunscreens or sun blocks.
Products that filter both UVA and UVB rays provide basic protection. These products may be labeled as ‘broad spectrum’. Additionally, they should have a SPF rating of at least 30.
The highest level of protection is a reflective sun block containing either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide that reflects all UV rays. However, it’s important to remember that if you’re wearing sun block it will reflect any type of light, either natural or artificial. For this reason, sun blocks will reflect the light of a photoflash and make you appear ghostly in photos.
An important fact about any UV protection is that is has to be applied generously and daily to be effective. Use at least a teaspoon on your face. Also sunscreens have to be reapplied every two hours since UV light degrades the protective ingredients into harmful ones that will actually accelerate UV damage. Nice twist, eh?
Since we receive the bulk of our sun damage before the age of 18 most of us already have UVB damage that will result in sagging and the early aging of our skin. This fact sounds like it’s useless to use any sun protection at this stage of the game. Let me strongly urge you to resist that idea.
Although sun protection will not reverse the damage we already have, it will prevent further damage. As we age, UV damage compounds at a faster rate…like coasting downhill on a bike. So that any damage comes more apparent at a faster rate.
In my next post, I’ll recommend products for UV protection.
Hugs, Carolyn
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
IS TANNING REALLY SO BAD?
It’s not sunlight that’s so bad for our skin but the UV rays in daylight. Notice I wrote ‘daylight’ not ‘sunlight’. This principle explains how you can get a sunburn on an overcast day. Therefore, protective products should really be called daylight screen.
There are two types of UV light: UVA and UVB. UVA light changes the pigment cells in our skin. These cells are responsible for the ‘tan’ we all strive for.
While UVA light produces tanning, it also permanently damages our pigment cells. The gorgeous tan of today is the creator of age spots in our middle years. Damaged pigment cells continue to lounge around in the middle skin layers until, when activated by hormonal changes like menopause, they become permanently dark. These changes can also occur during pregnancy.
Basic protection is provided by products that filter both UVA and UVB rays. These products may be labeled as ‘broad spectrum’. Additionally, they should have a SPF rating of at least 30.
The highest level of protection is a reflective sunblock containing either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide that reflects all light, either natural or artificial. For this reason, sun blocks will reflect the light of a photoflash and make you appear ghostly.
An important fact about any UV protection is that is has to be applied generously and daily to be effective. Use at least a teaspoon on your face. Also sunscreens have to be reapplied every two hours since UV light degrades the protective ingredients into harmful ones that will actually accelerate UV damage. Nice twist, eh?
Since we receive the bulk of our sun damage before the age of 18 most of us are destined to produce ‘age spots’ during our middle years. While this sounds like it’s useless to use any sun protection at this stage of the game. Let me strongly urge you to resist that idea.
Although sun protection will not reverse the damage we already have, it will prevent further damage. As we age, UV damage compounds at a faster rate…like coasting downhill on a bike. So that any damage comes more apparent at a faster rate.
Next time I’ll discuss damage caused by the other UV light...UVB.
Hugs,
Carolyn
There are two types of UV light: UVA and UVB. UVA light changes the pigment cells in our skin. These cells are responsible for the ‘tan’ we all strive for.
While UVA light produces tanning, it also permanently damages our pigment cells. The gorgeous tan of today is the creator of age spots in our middle years. Damaged pigment cells continue to lounge around in the middle skin layers until, when activated by hormonal changes like menopause, they become permanently dark. These changes can also occur during pregnancy.
Basic protection is provided by products that filter both UVA and UVB rays. These products may be labeled as ‘broad spectrum’. Additionally, they should have a SPF rating of at least 30.
The highest level of protection is a reflective sunblock containing either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide that reflects all light, either natural or artificial. For this reason, sun blocks will reflect the light of a photoflash and make you appear ghostly.
An important fact about any UV protection is that is has to be applied generously and daily to be effective. Use at least a teaspoon on your face. Also sunscreens have to be reapplied every two hours since UV light degrades the protective ingredients into harmful ones that will actually accelerate UV damage. Nice twist, eh?
Since we receive the bulk of our sun damage before the age of 18 most of us are destined to produce ‘age spots’ during our middle years. While this sounds like it’s useless to use any sun protection at this stage of the game. Let me strongly urge you to resist that idea.
Although sun protection will not reverse the damage we already have, it will prevent further damage. As we age, UV damage compounds at a faster rate…like coasting downhill on a bike. So that any damage comes more apparent at a faster rate.
Next time I’ll discuss damage caused by the other UV light...UVB.
Hugs,
Carolyn
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Dear Friend,
Today I’d like to discuss the use of special brushes for exfoliation either with or without a scrub. These brushes are available in either manual or electric versions. But, as usual, there are warnings you need to know about before using/purchasing a facial brush.
First, the bristle ends on inexpensive brushes have sharp edges that can cause damage when they ‘snag’ the pore opening leaving a slight tear in your skin. Remember that any cut, abrasion, or tear in the skin provides an opening for bacteria to set up housekeeping. Bacterial growth can lead to infection and possible scarring, in the most severe cases. In this case, spending a little more money will protect your skin from damage. However, it's very important to read the product label. Don’t buy any brush, no matter how expensive, unless the product promises that the bristles have no sharp edges.
Secondly, we tend to feel that if a little scrubbing is good, more will be better. Nothing could be further from the truth. These bristles tend to be super efficient ‘scrubbers’ just like the appliances sold for cleaning floors! It is too easy to over exfoliate when using them. Over exfoliation results in raw skin, hastens premature aging, and leave our skin vulnerable to bacteria.
There are several new electric exfoliators available in the $25 range. If you invest in one of these inexpensive versions, please, please, please only use the sponge head attachment with a good scrub and avoid the creams that usually come with the appliance. Read the scrub label closely. These creams usually contain aluminum crystals. Aluminum crystals aren’t suitable for scrub use. Only a skin care professional, trained to assess skin types, can determine if your skin will tolerate such vigorous abuse. If you read the previous post about scrubs, you are aware of the dangers of using scrubs that contain nutshells. Imagine how sharp and damaging aluminum crystals are to your skin.
You may be aware that aluminum crystals are often used during microdermabrasion treatments and you’d be correct. However, they are not used during the first treatment, or at least they shouldn’t be. Softer crystals are used early in a series of treatments to gradually prepare the skin for more aggressive exfoliation as the series progresses. Additionally, and this is very important, crystals are blown against the skin during microdermabrasion not rubbed repeatedly over the surface of the skin in a scrubbing action.
WARNING!!! Remember it is much better to exfoliate a little one to three times a week than a lot once a week. Start by using your exfoliator once a week to see how your skin reacts. If there is no adverse reaction, add a second treatment each week. Never, never, never exceed 3 times per week. Your skin will not be able to replenish its protective layer fast enough between treatments.
My next post will cover an electric exfoliator I highly recommend based on my personal and professional use.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
Today I’d like to discuss the use of special brushes for exfoliation either with or without a scrub. These brushes are available in either manual or electric versions. But, as usual, there are warnings you need to know about before using/purchasing a facial brush.
First, the bristle ends on inexpensive brushes have sharp edges that can cause damage when they ‘snag’ the pore opening leaving a slight tear in your skin. Remember that any cut, abrasion, or tear in the skin provides an opening for bacteria to set up housekeeping. Bacterial growth can lead to infection and possible scarring, in the most severe cases. In this case, spending a little more money will protect your skin from damage. However, it's very important to read the product label. Don’t buy any brush, no matter how expensive, unless the product promises that the bristles have no sharp edges.
Secondly, we tend to feel that if a little scrubbing is good, more will be better. Nothing could be further from the truth. These bristles tend to be super efficient ‘scrubbers’ just like the appliances sold for cleaning floors! It is too easy to over exfoliate when using them. Over exfoliation results in raw skin, hastens premature aging, and leave our skin vulnerable to bacteria.
There are several new electric exfoliators available in the $25 range. If you invest in one of these inexpensive versions, please, please, please only use the sponge head attachment with a good scrub and avoid the creams that usually come with the appliance. Read the scrub label closely. These creams usually contain aluminum crystals. Aluminum crystals aren’t suitable for scrub use. Only a skin care professional, trained to assess skin types, can determine if your skin will tolerate such vigorous abuse. If you read the previous post about scrubs, you are aware of the dangers of using scrubs that contain nutshells. Imagine how sharp and damaging aluminum crystals are to your skin.
You may be aware that aluminum crystals are often used during microdermabrasion treatments and you’d be correct. However, they are not used during the first treatment, or at least they shouldn’t be. Softer crystals are used early in a series of treatments to gradually prepare the skin for more aggressive exfoliation as the series progresses. Additionally, and this is very important, crystals are blown against the skin during microdermabrasion not rubbed repeatedly over the surface of the skin in a scrubbing action.
WARNING!!! Remember it is much better to exfoliate a little one to three times a week than a lot once a week. Start by using your exfoliator once a week to see how your skin reacts. If there is no adverse reaction, add a second treatment each week. Never, never, never exceed 3 times per week. Your skin will not be able to replenish its protective layer fast enough between treatments.
My next post will cover an electric exfoliator I highly recommend based on my personal and professional use.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
Saturday, May 16, 2009
TONER SECRETS - PART I
Dear Friend…
Do you currently use a toner after cleansing your face? Think toner is a gimmick concocted by cosmetic companies to get more of your hard earned dollars? I felt the same way until I learned the science behind using toner.
Take a step back to high school science class for a minute. Remember the pH scale? It determines if a substance is either alkaline, like lye, or acidic like vinegar. Our skin registers at approximately 5.5 on a scale from 0 to 7 pH so it’s happiest, and healthiest, in a slightly acidic environment.
Good cleaners are more alkaline than our skin for two reasons. When lower than 5.5 pH:
1) Cleansers relax our skin slightly and opens our pores for more thorough cleansing, and
2) Cleansers loosen the accumulated dead skin cell layer on the surface our face so it can be gradually washed away.
Following a second cleanse, your skin’s pH is way below its normal range. This is why your skin feels and looks tight and dry. Using toner immediately after cleansing restores the acid level your skin craves. If left on its own, it will take 10 to 12 hours for your skin to achieve its correct acid level again. During that time, your skin is struggling to perform is normal functions and since the acid in our skin is our first line of defense against the zillions of invisible airborne bacteria that land on it constantly, those bacteria are able to thrive and have a party there!
Unfortunately, commercial products don’t reveal their pH reading on labels. You can be sure that any of the mid- to higher priced products are pH balanced. But I’m not sure about products available at drug or discount stores. The only way to be sure of the acidity of any skin care product is to test them with inexpensive pH strips found at aquarium or pool suppliers.
Since you may run into a problem if you’re found dipping pH strips into products at your local drug store, I’ll include a recipe for a natural and inexpensive toner you can make in a few minutes while spending less than a dollar for the ingredients. This toner provides all the ‘good’ effects of a toner as described above.
Hugs,
Carolyn
Do you currently use a toner after cleansing your face? Think toner is a gimmick concocted by cosmetic companies to get more of your hard earned dollars? I felt the same way until I learned the science behind using toner.
Take a step back to high school science class for a minute. Remember the pH scale? It determines if a substance is either alkaline, like lye, or acidic like vinegar. Our skin registers at approximately 5.5 on a scale from 0 to 7 pH so it’s happiest, and healthiest, in a slightly acidic environment.
Good cleaners are more alkaline than our skin for two reasons. When lower than 5.5 pH:
1) Cleansers relax our skin slightly and opens our pores for more thorough cleansing, and
2) Cleansers loosen the accumulated dead skin cell layer on the surface our face so it can be gradually washed away.
Following a second cleanse, your skin’s pH is way below its normal range. This is why your skin feels and looks tight and dry. Using toner immediately after cleansing restores the acid level your skin craves. If left on its own, it will take 10 to 12 hours for your skin to achieve its correct acid level again. During that time, your skin is struggling to perform is normal functions and since the acid in our skin is our first line of defense against the zillions of invisible airborne bacteria that land on it constantly, those bacteria are able to thrive and have a party there!
Unfortunately, commercial products don’t reveal their pH reading on labels. You can be sure that any of the mid- to higher priced products are pH balanced. But I’m not sure about products available at drug or discount stores. The only way to be sure of the acidity of any skin care product is to test them with inexpensive pH strips found at aquarium or pool suppliers.
Since you may run into a problem if you’re found dipping pH strips into products at your local drug store, I’ll include a recipe for a natural and inexpensive toner you can make in a few minutes while spending less than a dollar for the ingredients. This toner provides all the ‘good’ effects of a toner as described above.
Hugs,
Carolyn
Friday, September 12, 2008
DEMON SUGAR - PART II
Dear Friend,
In a previous post I talked about the formation of AGE’s and how they contribute to advanced aging through premature wrinkling of our skin. Now I’ll discuss changes you can make in your life to reduce AGE formation and reverse their damage.
1. Reducing sugar intake to 10% of your daily calories including hidden sugar in highly processed foods and fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup is believed to produce more AE’s than any type of sugar and is found in almost all processed food from soda to crackers. When you start reading package labels you will be amazed to find fructose corn syrup in almost everything we eat.
2. Take at least one milligram of Vitamins B1 and B6 each day. Both vitamins are strong AGE inhibitors.
3. Wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily. AGE’s develop more rapidly in skin exposed to the sun according to a study done by the British Journal of Dermatology.
4. Increase consumption of antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables and nuts as well as applying antioxidants topically by using products containing green tea, vitamins C and E, and seaweed.
5. Look for products that contain aminoguanidine and alistin which block formation of AGE’s. Aminoguanidine keeps AGE’s from binding to the collagen and elastin in our skin while alistin attracts AGE damage to itself as a decoy thereby lessening the damage to the proteins in our skin.
An easy, inexpensive toner that contains the powerful antioxidants of green tea or cranberry juice can be made using the following recipes.
GREEN TEA TONER FOR NORMAL SKIN
Mix 8 ounces of distilled or filtered water with 1 green tea bag and allow sitting at room temperature until the water just begins to turn light yellow. Discard tea bag. Add 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar to toner. For a pleasant scent add several drops of oil of lavender or another essential oil. Place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to face immediately after the second cleanse.
You will notice that a brownish cloud will form in the bottom of your bottle after a few days. This is a natural by-product of the rice vinegar interacting with the green tea. Please discard the toner when you see this and make a new batch. You can extend the life of each batch by storing it in the fridge. Toner stored in the fridge during summer months will be extra refreshing.
If you have oily skin and acne you may want to substitute the following recipe.
CRANBERRY TONER FOR OILY SKIN
Mix 8 ounces of distilled or filtered water with 1 tsp unsweetened cranberry juice. Place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to face immediately after the second cleansing.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
In a previous post I talked about the formation of AGE’s and how they contribute to advanced aging through premature wrinkling of our skin. Now I’ll discuss changes you can make in your life to reduce AGE formation and reverse their damage.
1. Reducing sugar intake to 10% of your daily calories including hidden sugar in highly processed foods and fructose corn syrup. Corn syrup is believed to produce more AE’s than any type of sugar and is found in almost all processed food from soda to crackers. When you start reading package labels you will be amazed to find fructose corn syrup in almost everything we eat.
2. Take at least one milligram of Vitamins B1 and B6 each day. Both vitamins are strong AGE inhibitors.
3. Wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily. AGE’s develop more rapidly in skin exposed to the sun according to a study done by the British Journal of Dermatology.
4. Increase consumption of antioxidant rich fruits, vegetables and nuts as well as applying antioxidants topically by using products containing green tea, vitamins C and E, and seaweed.
5. Look for products that contain aminoguanidine and alistin which block formation of AGE’s. Aminoguanidine keeps AGE’s from binding to the collagen and elastin in our skin while alistin attracts AGE damage to itself as a decoy thereby lessening the damage to the proteins in our skin.
An easy, inexpensive toner that contains the powerful antioxidants of green tea or cranberry juice can be made using the following recipes.
GREEN TEA TONER FOR NORMAL SKIN
Mix 8 ounces of distilled or filtered water with 1 green tea bag and allow sitting at room temperature until the water just begins to turn light yellow. Discard tea bag. Add 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar to toner. For a pleasant scent add several drops of oil of lavender or another essential oil. Place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to face immediately after the second cleanse.
You will notice that a brownish cloud will form in the bottom of your bottle after a few days. This is a natural by-product of the rice vinegar interacting with the green tea. Please discard the toner when you see this and make a new batch. You can extend the life of each batch by storing it in the fridge. Toner stored in the fridge during summer months will be extra refreshing.
If you have oily skin and acne you may want to substitute the following recipe.
CRANBERRY TONER FOR OILY SKIN
Mix 8 ounces of distilled or filtered water with 1 tsp unsweetened cranberry juice. Place mixture in a spray bottle and apply to face immediately after the second cleansing.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
Friday, July 25, 2008
WHY USE SUNSCREEN? I’M NEVER IN THE SUN!
Dear Friend...
Honestly…are you wearing sunscreen today? If your answer is “NO!” I’m going to tell why this is soooo important and, hopefully, change you into a sunscreen user.
Let me tell you that sunscreen should really be called daylight-screen but that name is too long to fit on any product label. During this discussion I will be using the longer name to re-enforce the idea for you.
Anytime there’s daylight, even on overcast days, the UV rays are zipping around and bouncing off your body. This effect is multiplied when you’re walking on pavement because the rays are flying down from above and bouncing upward from the hard surface giving you double trouble. So when you’re walking from your car to the grocery store or to work, your face is being bombarded by UV rays!
Over the years I’ve met a lot of resistance from my clients about adding daylight-screen to their morning routine and I live in Fresno, CA where summer temperatures regularly reach 100 degrees or more!
Daylight-screen is just as important as the cleanser and toner in your morning routine. It not only protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays today but determines how your face will look in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
You see, UV rays penetrate so deeply into your skin that they damage the dermis. That’s the layer of skin where new cells are made every minute of the day. The damage affects the tiny color factories where pigmentation is made either causing them to work overtime and create the age spots that develop later in life or killing them outright. It’s this over-action and ‘bleaching’ that causes the mottling seen on older peoples’ skin especially those who have spent a lot of time in the sun.
More horrifying than the color variations in our skin is the damage the sun does to the elastin and collagen in the dermis.
Collagen is a protein that provides a cushion between our upper skin layers and muscles. This cushion gives shape, plumpness and smoothness to our face.
Elastin provides the ‘snap’ that enables our skin to return to its original position when pulled one way or another. It acts like the rubber bands in a waistband. If you repeatedly expose elastic to high temperatures, it gets ‘stretchy’ and sags into folds. This exactly mirrors the action in our skin when our elastin is damaged.
So now I hope you see how important sunscreen is for your face today and for your future face!
I know, I’ve heard all the excuses…
• Sunscreen is greasy, which is especially bad for oily skin or acne
• Sunscreen smells funny
• I live in an area that doesn’t receive much direct sunlight
• Sunscreen is only needed during the summer months
There are daylight-screen on the market that answer all these objections. While the better products are also more expensive, you can find a daylight-screen that isn’t greasy and doesn’t smell. There’s even a product that sprays on ‘dry’ to the touch.
I recommend that you start by investigating the Dermalogica line. They have the widest variety of sun products including one that can be mixed into your foundation to ‘boost’ its SPF.
Speaking of foundation, don’t forget that mineral makeup provides the highest SPF, is slightly waterproof, and is good for your skin because it does not clog pores.
If you think you are safe from UV rays because you spend more time in your car instead of the great outdoors, remember that glass does not stop UV rays and tinted glass only blocks about 1-2% of those harmful rays. As proof of this fact, I can tell you that I see much more sun damage on the left side of my clients’ faces as well as their left arm and hand.
One last parting note…remember that daylight is 8 times stronger when it reflects off snow, ice or water. A word to the wise: keep using your daylight screen every day not just during the Summer!
Yours in Great Skin,
Carolyn
Honestly…are you wearing sunscreen today? If your answer is “NO!” I’m going to tell why this is soooo important and, hopefully, change you into a sunscreen user.
Let me tell you that sunscreen should really be called daylight-screen but that name is too long to fit on any product label. During this discussion I will be using the longer name to re-enforce the idea for you.
Anytime there’s daylight, even on overcast days, the UV rays are zipping around and bouncing off your body. This effect is multiplied when you’re walking on pavement because the rays are flying down from above and bouncing upward from the hard surface giving you double trouble. So when you’re walking from your car to the grocery store or to work, your face is being bombarded by UV rays!
Over the years I’ve met a lot of resistance from my clients about adding daylight-screen to their morning routine and I live in Fresno, CA where summer temperatures regularly reach 100 degrees or more!
Daylight-screen is just as important as the cleanser and toner in your morning routine. It not only protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays today but determines how your face will look in 10, 20 or 30 years from now.
You see, UV rays penetrate so deeply into your skin that they damage the dermis. That’s the layer of skin where new cells are made every minute of the day. The damage affects the tiny color factories where pigmentation is made either causing them to work overtime and create the age spots that develop later in life or killing them outright. It’s this over-action and ‘bleaching’ that causes the mottling seen on older peoples’ skin especially those who have spent a lot of time in the sun.
More horrifying than the color variations in our skin is the damage the sun does to the elastin and collagen in the dermis.
Collagen is a protein that provides a cushion between our upper skin layers and muscles. This cushion gives shape, plumpness and smoothness to our face.
Elastin provides the ‘snap’ that enables our skin to return to its original position when pulled one way or another. It acts like the rubber bands in a waistband. If you repeatedly expose elastic to high temperatures, it gets ‘stretchy’ and sags into folds. This exactly mirrors the action in our skin when our elastin is damaged.
So now I hope you see how important sunscreen is for your face today and for your future face!
I know, I’ve heard all the excuses…
• Sunscreen is greasy, which is especially bad for oily skin or acne
• Sunscreen smells funny
• I live in an area that doesn’t receive much direct sunlight
• Sunscreen is only needed during the summer months
There are daylight-screen on the market that answer all these objections. While the better products are also more expensive, you can find a daylight-screen that isn’t greasy and doesn’t smell. There’s even a product that sprays on ‘dry’ to the touch.
I recommend that you start by investigating the Dermalogica line. They have the widest variety of sun products including one that can be mixed into your foundation to ‘boost’ its SPF.
Speaking of foundation, don’t forget that mineral makeup provides the highest SPF, is slightly waterproof, and is good for your skin because it does not clog pores.
If you think you are safe from UV rays because you spend more time in your car instead of the great outdoors, remember that glass does not stop UV rays and tinted glass only blocks about 1-2% of those harmful rays. As proof of this fact, I can tell you that I see much more sun damage on the left side of my clients’ faces as well as their left arm and hand.
One last parting note…remember that daylight is 8 times stronger when it reflects off snow, ice or water. A word to the wise: keep using your daylight screen every day not just during the Summer!
Yours in Great Skin,
Carolyn
Saturday, July 5, 2008
THE DEMON SUGAR - PART I
Dear Friend...
Beside the weight gain, increased fatigue and diminished immune system function resulting from diets high in sugar, it is now recognized by researchers that diets heavy in sugar accelerate wrinkling and premature aging.
In a process called glycation, sugar in the bloodstream attaches to proteins and form AGE’s (advanced glycation end products). As more AGE’s form they damage neighboring proteins in a chain reaction similar to dominos falling.
Collage and elastin, the two major components of the dermis layer of our skin are most susceptible to damage by AGE’s. Collage and elastin provide plumpness and firmness in our skin. AGE’s cause these two proteins to become brittle and dry speeding early wrinkling.
AGE’s also deactivate our body’s antioxidant enzymes that provide protection against sun damage. Sun damage is the #1 cause of aging skin.
Its not all bad news, however, you can reverse AGE damage through the use of retinol topical products and diet modification.
Next time I’ll list ways you can fight AGE formation and damage.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
Beside the weight gain, increased fatigue and diminished immune system function resulting from diets high in sugar, it is now recognized by researchers that diets heavy in sugar accelerate wrinkling and premature aging.
In a process called glycation, sugar in the bloodstream attaches to proteins and form AGE’s (advanced glycation end products). As more AGE’s form they damage neighboring proteins in a chain reaction similar to dominos falling.
Collage and elastin, the two major components of the dermis layer of our skin are most susceptible to damage by AGE’s. Collage and elastin provide plumpness and firmness in our skin. AGE’s cause these two proteins to become brittle and dry speeding early wrinkling.
AGE’s also deactivate our body’s antioxidant enzymes that provide protection against sun damage. Sun damage is the #1 cause of aging skin.
Its not all bad news, however, you can reverse AGE damage through the use of retinol topical products and diet modification.
Next time I’ll list ways you can fight AGE formation and damage.
Hugs,
Carolyn Johnson
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