How you can age-proof 40+ skin

Better Nutrition, Oct, 1997 by Nancy Dodd Cates

Early recognition, prevention, and treatment of skin diseases is an important element in the overall care of the middle-aged and older person, according to research conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine.

Unfortunately, most of us take our skin for granted, especially during our younger years, when the thought of wrinkled skin seems almost unfathomable. However, decades later, we may wish we could bring our skin to the dry-cleaners to get the wrinkles out. But the reality is that the wrinkles in our skin are more stubborn than those in our clothing, and while we can't undo the careless things we did to our skin in years past, we can start today with what we know about better skin care, nutrition, and exercise to maintain and improve what we've got.

A study conducted in Tokyo, Japan involved skin experiments on people over 30 years of age. These experiments suggested that when facial treatment and skin-care products were used on less soft- and elastic-skinned people, these groups experienced significant improvement in these two areas.

Approaching skin care face first

Wrinkles. For those visible spreading lines coming out from the eyes which we all know as crow's feet, as well as other facial wrinkles, reach for topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which has been shown to reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Sun exposure, the greatest contributor to skin damage, depletes vitamin C as well as causing other damage.

In fact, results of tests show that topically-applied products containing vitamins with antioxidants, like vitamin C, are having a noticeable effect on the appearance of the skin. As we get older, the antioxidants we get from our diets and supplements have a harder time reaching out to the skin. Applying products with vitamins that can penetrate and be absorbed externally give an additional boost to skin care.

Some wrinkle-ridding or preventing nutritionals are: primrose oil or black currant seed oil; vitamin A/beta carotene; B-complex; kelp; selenium; silica; vitamins C and E; zinc; copper; aloe vera; collagen cream; elastin cream; flaxseed oil; glucosamine sulfate or N-acetylglucosamine (NAG); oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs); alfalfa; chamomile; horsetail; ginger root; lemongrass; and pumpkin seed.

Acne: not just a teenage problem

Acne is a condition we see most commonly in teenagers, but what many people don't know is that it can also strike adults between the ages of 25 and 44. It is usually brought on by hormones, heredity, stress, or some combination thereof.

All-natural clay masks may improve acne-prone skin; when such masks dry, excess oils and other pore-clogging matter are drawn out, clearing up skin. When shopping for the right mask to meet your needs, read labels carefully, as different masks are designed for different skin types.

The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research suggests practicing common sense: "Avoid resting your hands or objects on your face. Avoid wearing tight clothing or hats, especially if you'll be sweating. Sweat, dirt, and oils can contribute to acne as well.'

Rosacea: a disease that can bloom later in life

Rosacea is a skin disease on the face, from which an estimated 13 million Americans currently suffer. For sufferers, this condition starts anywhere between 30 and 50 years of age. The onset of the disease is gradual and affects only the skin of the face, namely, the nose, forehead, and cheeks. In some cases, rosacea affects the eyes as well.

It is believed that people whose skin flushes (who blush easily) have a higher risk for the disease. Exercise can also cause flushing and exacerbate rosacea, so take particular care in washing away perspiration and caring for facial skin afterwards.

Although chronic and thought by dermatologists to be incurable, rosacea can be treated and controlled and, in some cases, reversed if caught early enough.

In the July 1996 issue of Better Nutrition, Shari Lieberman, Ph.D., C.N.C., offered a variety of natural treatment options to a reader suffering from rosacea who wrote to her.

Lieberman suggested that people with rosacea avoid yeast-containing foods and sugar and/or gluten (wheat, rye, oats, and barley), since allergies to these foods may play a role in the condition. She says that pancreatic enzymes, hydrochloric acid, fish-oil, and B-complex supplementation may be beneficial. Herbs which may help rosacea and other skin disorders include: echinacea, goldenseal root, dandelion, burdock root, licorice root, yellow dock root, and cayenne. According to the National Rosacea Society, you should avoid products with ingredients that sting or irritate the skin, such as alcohol, menthol, peppermint, eucalyptus oil, clove oil, witch hazel, or certain fragrances.

The eyes have it

To help avoid getting an eye infection or conjunctivitis, through the spreading of bacteria on hands, use the small spatula-type applicators for removing cream from jars and patting around-the eyes. Use clean, dry fingertips to lightly tap products into the skin surrounding the eye; never rub or pull, which will damage the delicate thin skin in this area.