How to Turn Back the Clock on Prematurely Ageing Skin
Tina was looking for ways of improving both the feel and look of her skin when she decided to visit skin therapist Nicci at Saks Kingshill. At 42 years old it seemed that Tina’s skin was suffering from signs of premature aging. It was blotchy and sallow with an uneven tone and wrinkles along with other common skin complaints such as dry, oiliness and occasional breakouts - Tina needed some expert advice.
Skin therapist Nicci quickly established that Tina was showing signs of premature aging and - although in good health - great skin comes from within, so Nicci wanted to also advise on a few dietary adjustments. Tina has allergies to different fruits which could be contributing to a lack of essential vitamins in her diet.
Nowadays we are all too familiar with the often empty promises of high street beauty products and Tina has tried and been disappointed by many. She is looking at making some concrete changes by using professional products which will make a visible and long-term difference.
Signs of Premature Ageing Skin
Skin changes are some of the most visible signs of aging and often these indicators can come along prematurely. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and is essentially made up of three separate ‘layers’. The outer part is called the epidermis and contains skin cells, proteins, and pigment. In the middle we have the dermis which contains your blood vessels, nerves, and oil glands, it also provides the epidermis with nutrients. Finally, we have the inner layer called the subcutaneous layer. This contains blood vessels, sweat glands, and fat. All of our skin’s layers are joined by connective tissues containing collagen fibres which give the skin support and elastin fibres which help with strength and skin flexibility.
So what happens when we age? Well, firstly the epidermis thins and cells containing melanin (the pigment which gives our skin its colour) increase in size. This basically results in ageing skin looking thinner and more transparent whilst some spots of pigmentation may also appear such as spots or photodamage from too much exposure to the sun.
The blood vessels in our skin can also become more fragile which can lead to bruising or the tearing of tiny vessels can result in bleeding under the skin. You may also find your skin becoming dryer or more itchy as you get older, in particular in postmenopausal women.
Of course, we are all aware of one of the most visual signs of ageing: wrinkles. Wrinkles are exactly what they look like they are - creases and folds in our skin - but what causes them?
In Tina’s case, the skin ageing is premature so we can look at a range of culprits such as sun damage, dehydration, repeated facial expressions or even genetic disposition.
As our skin gets older and more fragile it also become less elastic. This along with a decrease in the production of natural oils makes your skin appear more wrinkled. You will also find that fat in the inner subcutaneous layer diminishes and this can result in loose saggy skin and more pronounced lines. Tina had found her skin has become more blotchy and sallow which can often be the result of the loss of elastins or it could be a lack of vitamins and nutrients in her diet.
Our Diet and Our Skin
The saying goes ‘you are what you eat’ and nowhere is this more reflected than in your skin. It is essentially a visual representation of what is happening inside, so happy tummy should equal happy skin. Tina has advised that she is allergic to some fruits and has been cutting these from her diets. This may have resulted in a loss of vitamins that have not been replaced in any form of a supplement. Alongside this, Tina’s water consumption is low and this may have had an impact on her skin's hydration.
Your skin is constantly being renewed and the food you eat has a big effect on that renewal process. What you eat can be just as important as the products you put on your skin. So what skin-friendly food factors do we need to consider?
- Fats found in oily fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines can help with skin hydration. These are healthy fats and oils that the skin can use, kind of like an internal moisturizer.
- Protein is great for supplying the amino acids your skin needs to produce collagen. Look out for lean meats, fish and eggs which will keep your skin strong and supple.
- Vitamin C is essential for collagen production in our skin and the best place to find this is in fruit and vegetables - in particular, the more colourful ones. Some of the brightly coloured fruits also contain carotenoids which are antioxidants and can also reduce our skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
- Superfoods are nutrient-rich and great for our skin and general well being. Popular superfoods include blueberries, kale, and walnuts. They are packed with vitamins and minerals and as well as helping our skin they can also mood, energy, and metabolism.
It’s also best to avoid or at least cut down on harmful foods such as sugars, refined carbs, bad fats (trans fats) and alcohol.
Treatment and Products
Peel: CosMedix Pomegranate Peel
Peel: CosMedix Benefit Peel
Peel: CosMedix Timeless Peel
Eye Cream: CosMedix Opti Crystal eye serum
Sun Protection: CosMedix Hydrate Plus Daily SPF 17 Moisturiser
Client Feedback
Tina’s favourite treatment was CosMedix Pomegranate Peel which she found has a great peeling effect and her new skin looked fresher and more radiant.
She loved both the products - the CosMedix Opti Crystal provided deep hydration to the eye area and radically reduced the look of dark circles, fine lines, and crow's feet. CosMedix Hydrate Plus is a light daily moisturiser that hydrated Tina’s skin whilst also protecting from sun exposure.
Nicci gave Tina advice on how to use the different CosMedix products but what Tina loved was the additional help and support provided. Nicci recommended that Tina switch to mineral makeup and include more fruit and water in her diet. Another recommendation was to try Green Tea which is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients.
Tina loves her new skin which went from dull and lifeless to glowing and radiant. She recommends CosMedix to everyone, and friends and family have already commented on the improvement in her skin.
Therapist Feedback
Nicci loves Cosmedix as they focus not only on what is put on the skin but on the nutrients within.
After helping with her treatment Nicci found Tina’s skin was brighter and lines and wrinkles were softer. There was also a huge improvement in skin hydration.
Nicci’s number one piece of advice is to take baby steps - don’t rush into treatments, take advice and do your research. Other great advice Nicci has to offer includes taking Omega 3-6-9 supplements, increasing your water intake, try some superfoods and avoid processed food as much as you can. All this advice goes a long way to great looking skin.
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