The aging journey is a natural and inevitable part of life, a process that leaves its mark on every aspect of our being, especially on the body’s largest organ - the skin. In the previous article, we appreciate the complexities of the human physiology of skin aging and understand the subtle yet significant changes that have occurred over the years. In this exploration, we delve into the realm of treatment modalities, seeking innovative and proven methods that can rejuvenate and restore the skin’s vitality.
Nutritional Advice and Skin Aging
Optimizing your diet should be the initial step in enhancing skin health through nutrition. Research indicates that a diet abundant in antioxidants from colorful fruits and vegetables contributes to improved skin aging. Therefore, good nutrition should form the core of a holistic approach to skin health. Including lean protein sources such as salmon, chicken, eggs, or vegetarian/vegan options like chickpeas and tofu is essential for maintaining skin health. Additionally, incorporating healthy fats from sources like olive oil, seeds, nuts, and avocados, all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, helps support the skin barrier, promoting smooth and supple skin.
In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, it's crucial to minimize the intake of foods high in refined sugars such as sweets, cakes, and biscuits. These foods can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels. Sugar prompts the production of compounds called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the skin, accelerating the aging process. AGEs cause collagen fibers to stiffen, leading to the premature appearance of skin wrinkles, commonly referred to as ‘sugar sag’.
Furthermore, it's important to be mindful of alcohol consumption. A study involving more than 3000 women worldwide revealed that those who consumed more than 8 alcoholic beverages per week experienced an increase in upper facial lines, loss of mid-face volume, and more prominent blood vessels in the skin.
Management of Skin Aging
The desired therapeutic anti-aging effect of skin is a continuous, step-by-step process, that combines various methods of skin bio-revitalization and rejuvenation for skin health and quality, followed by stimulating collagen production and finally contour augmentation due to aging-related volume loss.
Skincare
A healthy and properly functioning skin barrier plays a vital role as a protector against dehydration, the infiltration of various microorganisms, allergens, irritants, reactive oxygen species, and radiation. Daily skincare routines can enhance skin regeneration, elasticity, and smoothness temporarily. They achieve this by slowing down the degradation of essential skin structural elements like collagen and elastin, thereby preventing the formation of wrinkles. There are two main categories of agents that can be used in anti-aging creams: antioxidants and cell regulators.
Antioxidants, including vitamins B3, C, and E, play a crucial role in reducing collagen degradation by minimizing the concentrations of free radicals in the tissues. Cell regulators such as retinols, peptides, and growth factors have direct effects on collagen metabolism and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin fibers. Currently, retinol is the most frequently utilized substance in anti-aging compounds, owing to its effectiveness.
UV rays play a critical role in cellular and skin photoaging; hence, sun protection is of paramount importance. Applying sunscreen daily (with reapplication every 2-4 hours) and wearing protective clothing are the most basic and essential measures to slow down the rate of photoaging-related changes.
Energy Devices Fotona StarWalker PQX
Skin aging is characterized by skin hyperpigmentation, rough texture, enlarged pores, wrinkles and yellowish discoloration. Starwalker PQX Picosecond laser technology is the ideal tool that provides a diverse range of treatment modalities to address these signs of aging. It offers speed and precisely targets the benign pigmented lesions without damaging surrounding tissue. Additionally, it features a distinctive fractional mode (Fractional Picosecond Laser Pulses), which associated with laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) to promote skin rejuvenation. This LIOB induces skin regeneration and remodeling by stimulating collagen production close to the sites of optical breakdown via photoacoustic effect in a completely non-thermal way, making it safe for all skin types.
Fotona 4D Laser (SP Dynamis NX Line)
It is an innovative laser treatment that utilizes a unique combination of 2 complementary laser wavelengths to treat 4 distinct ‘dimensions’ of the skin to rejuvenate and tighten from the inside out in 4 steps. Here’s how Fotona 4D helps in facial aging:
1D Step 1: SmoothLiftin™ : Intraoral Tightening
Fotona 4D begins inside the mouth, where laser energy is employed to instantly initiate the tightening process around the jawline and perioral region. This step also reduces expression lines such as nasolabial folds and wrinkles from within.
2D Step 2: FRAC3®: Skin Rejuvenation
Next, to complement the intraoral treatment, deeper imperfection, rough texture and pigments are precisely targeted to restore a youthful appearance and achieve a more uniform overall complexion.
3D Step 3: PIANO®: Skin Tightening
The highlight of this step is a brushing technique used to safely and rapidly apply heat to your skin, stimulating collagen formation. This process results in an overall tightening effect, making your skin firmer and more lifted.
4D Step 4: SupErficial™ : Light Peel
Lastly, a light laser peel is done to improve the appearance of the skin and address surface-level imperfections such as fine lines and enlarged pores. You’ll immediately notice that your skin looks refreshed, tighter, and glowing with a youthful radiance.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)
HIFU Facial is a non-invasive treatment for facial aging, representing a growing trend in anti-aging procedures that offer some of the benefits of a facelift without the need for surgery. This innovative procedure utilizes focused ultrasound energy, generating heat, to target the deeper layers of the skin, specifically addressing the SMAS layer (Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System), without harming adjacent skin layers. By creating thermal coagulation points, the focused ultrasound energy contracts the tissue beneath the skin's surface, leading to an immediate tightening and lifting effect. Furthermore, HIFU triggers the body's natural healing response, stimulating the production of new collagen, which results in firmer and tighter skin.
Skin Injectables
In the process of skin aging, a decrease in collagen and elastin levels results in thinner skin, sagging, and the formation of wrinkles. The shrinking of facial fat pads in the upper and mid-face, coupled with the gravitational movement of facial tissues, leads to the characteristic 'triangle of youth' turning inverted. Furthermore, the bony changes with aging at the deepest level of the facial anatomy cause flattening of facial angle. These transformations cause a loss of structure and hollowness in areas like the temples and cheeks.
To address these concerns, hyaluronic acid (HA)- based dermal fillers, such as Juvederm, play a vital role in providing deeper structural support and restoring lost volume. HA-based dermal fillers provide an immediate visible result. Additionally, biostimulators like calcium hydroxyapatite (CaHA) in Radiesse stimulate collagen production, volumizing the face as collagen forms gradually over time. The combination of both HA and CaHA significantly improves signs of aging, especially for those experiencing a rapid decline of collagen and volume loss.
Furthermore, Botox injections can be used alongside these strategies in anti-aging treatments. Unlike dermal fillers or biostimulators, Botox is a neuromodulator treatment injected into facial muscles, reducing the appearance of facial mimetic wrinkles.
In a nutshell, preventing or delaying the aging process is best approached from the inside out. Proactive aging prevention involves making small changes, starting with lifestyle adjustments like maintaining a nutritious, balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and adhering to a good skincare routine to slow down the skin’s aging process. The next step involves in-clinic aesthetic procedures, including medical-grade facials, energy devices, and minimally-invasive treatments such as skin injectables, which effectively address skin aging concerns. At Dream Clinic, we provide professional consultations, offer a range of effective treatment modalities, and uphold the principle of 'Treat only where there is a real need, with safety and responsibility' as our top priority.
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