Introduction

The natural aging process produces visible effects on our skin. Increased dryness, wrinkles, liver spots and other growths begin to appear, and cuts and bruises heal more slowly. These are some of the signs that indicate chronological aging is taking place.

Most of these changes are a natural progression of aging, however, some changes in the skin such as growths may need to be more closely investigated to rule out pathological changes such as skin cancer. Nevertheless, most changes in the skin are natural and do not pose any health risks.

Wrinkles

Gravity is the skin's worst enemy. Weakening of collagen and elastin fibres causes reduced firmness of the skin, gravity pulls at the skin and causes it to sag, this in combination with a reduction in the fatty padding of the skin inevitably causes wrinkling of the skin tissue.

Can Wrinkles Be Avoided?

Environmental factors such as over exposure to the sun, smog, cigarette smoke can all have an adverse effect on your skin. In addition, you may also have inherited weaknesses from your parents that can cause premature aging of the skin.

Despite these challenges, there are simple steps you can take to prevent wrinkles and remember - the earlier you start, the better!

* Wear Sunscreen,
* Always wear a hat with a wide brim when going outside - remember, just because there's clouds does not mean there's no UV,
* Don't sunbathe, and
* Where possible, stay out of the sun between 10am to 3pm.

As we progress through our 30's, 40's, 50's and beyond, our skin requires an appropriate skin care regime to maintain, as well as repair, the skin. The older you are when you start to protect and care for your skin, the less effective it will be, however, it is never too late to start.

Treatments for Aging Skin

There are a multitude of drugs, chemicals and procedures on the market these days, promising you that you can have the face of a baby in your 90's. We all know where to put that... However, there are many natural and totally safe methods of treating aging skin and preventing premature signs of aging - and I'm not just referring to your facial skin, although this is the most visible and therefore the most important to many people.

Using a natural skin care regime should apply to your entire body and not just to your face. Regularly use a clay mask to nourish your skin and remove impurities, cleanse your skin, tone it and last but not least moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

Do not use commercially available soaps unless absolutely necessary - these soaps remove the protective acid mantle of your skin and dry it out. Instead, use an exfoliant followed by a cleanser to clean your skin and leave it smooth, invigorated and with it's protective acid mantel in tact.

Follow this by using a toner. Toners close open pores to prevent loss of moisture, resulting in firmer skin. The last step is to use a moisturiser. Moisturisers help to hydrate your skin, prevent loss of moisture and provide nourishment and nutrients for your skin to use in fulfilling its many functions.

'Liver spots' or 'age spots'

Aging skin often develops unsightly blemishes, commonly called liver spots, which can appear on the face, neck and on the back of the hands. They are caused by the sun and accumulation of lipofuscin (pigments and/or wastes) that is derived from free radical damage of skin cells.

Liver spots, also known as lentigines or lentigos, are sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin. The epidermis (top surface layer) is expanding with more pigment, developing what looks like a large freckle. They may appear as a single spot or in clusters.

Remember that your skin is an eliminatory organ and therefore it eliminates toxins from your body - one reason for liver spots is that the eliminatory organs (Kidneys, Liver and Bowels) are not working as well as they should and therefore the skin 'takes up the slack'.

Removal of these impurities can be achieved using the above described skin care regime. In addition, when showering, use a Lufa or other type of skin brush on your body's skin. This will not only remove dead skin cells, but promote blood circulation to the skin which in turn provides the skin with nutrients carried in the blood.

Green Tea is a fantastic anti-oxidant and should be consumed regularly. Leafy green vegetables, fish such as salmon and tuna, nuts and fruits contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants to nourish your organs and help them perform their vital functions adequately.

It is vitally important that you not only have a good skin care regime, but you should also have a good health regime, which includes a good diet, 8 -10 glasses of water per day and a regular exercise programme. This is very important and cannot be underestimated in its positive results on keeping you looking and feeling younger for longer.

About the Author
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2005