Find out why females in their fourth decade are wrinkle -free and have kept their dewy glow
They say 40 is the new…40. Today’s 40-year-old women don’t look a day older than 30, thanks to rejuvenation and other healthy lifestyle choices. They are taking better care of themselves and starting earlier to prevent some of the signs of aging, as well as to reverse those that arise.
Dr. Zaina Rashid
“It’s all about preserving collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid,” says Dr. Zaina Rashid of La Peau Dermatology in Mesa, AZ. “When the natural supply of these proteins and substances decline with age, women experience more fine lines and wrinkles around their lips and eyebrows and on their chest and neck, and skin grows thinner, looser and more lax.”But these changes are not inevitable, and many of them can be delayed and even reversed with early intervention.
Here are the top 5 wrinkle therapies for women over 40:
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Skincare smarts
Regular use of broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is the No.1 way to prevent wrinkles as the sun’s ultraviolet radiation can cause collagen to break down at a faster rate. Collagen is the main protein that gives skin its structure and other youthful qualities. Today’s 40-year-olds have been educated about sunscreen use, and most understand the need to protect their skin from UV rays. They entered their fourth decade with smoother and more supple skin than their predecessors.
Dr. Rashid
“A wrinkle-reducing skin care regimen may also include the use of a retinol or retinoid product. These vitamin A derivatives stimulate collagen to soften fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Rashid.Peptides are also important for youthful skin. Peptides are building blocks that make up proteins in the skin, including collagen. Collagen is made of three polypeptide chains, so adding peptides can stimulate your skin to make collagen. More collagen can lead to firmer, younger-looking skin.
Another helpful anti-aging ingredient is hyaluronic acid. (Spoiler alert: this is the same substance used in many popular soft tissue fillers. See below.) Hyaluronic acid holds moisture in to keep skin plump, soft, and dewy. It is found naturally in almost every cell in our body, including skin cells, but like collagen and elastin, our hyaluronic acid supply decreases as we age.
Antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E guard against the free-radicals that damage our collagen stores, making antioxidant serums and other antioxidant-infused skin care products important weapons in the fight against wrinkling. Make sure your skin care products tick most of these boxes and you will be in good shape to prevent premature aging.
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Facials
Kicking your wrinkle-reversing skin care routine up a notch often involves a trip to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon for a series of facials or chemical peels. Microneedling facials, in particular, create small puncture wounds in your skin to stimulate its natural healing process which involves a surge in collagen production. At-home or in-office chemical peels remove your skin’s outer layer, revealing the smoother and less wrinkled skin underneath.
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Injectables
Wrinkle reducing injections such as Botox® Cosmetic (Allergan), Dysport® (Galderma), Xeomin® (Merz Aesthetics) and Jeuveau® (Evolus), which block the release of a chemical called acetylcholine which triggers the muscle contractions that create wrinkles.
Soft tissue fillers including hyaluronic-based injectables like Juvederm® (Allergan) and Restylane® (Galderma) fill wrinkles from the inside out with hyaluronic acid, which is why injectables are top wrinkle-fighting therapies for the 40-plus set. Some injectables such as Radiesse® (Merz Aesthetics) and Sculptra® Aesthetic (Galderma) do double duty by providing an immediate smoothing effect and also working beneath the surface to stimulate collagen stores. In most cases, results take a few days to appear and can last months.
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Lasers
Laser skin resurfacing is a popular way to get rid of wrinkles and stimulate new collagen for women in their 40s. Some lasers are ablative and remove your skin’s top layer to uncover younger-looking and smoother skin beneath its surface. There’s a catch: These tend to be more aggressive and require a long healing period when compared with non-ablative lasers that heat collagen below the surface and bypass your skin’s upper layer, boosting stores from the inside out.
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Sofwave Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology SUPERB™
There’s lots of buzz about Sofwave®, the newest innovation in ultrasound-based full face wrinkle reduction. Sofwave uses Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam Technology SUPERB™ to boost collagen and elastin under the skin’s surface. The ultrasound energy is delivered to a very precise sweet spot in the skin’s dermis or collagen-making layer for maximum results and minimal risks. An integrated cooling mechanism protects the uppermost skin layer from burning.
Jason Bloom, MD, FACS
“Sofwave reveals refreshed, smoother in a single 30-45-minute treatment session,” says Philadelphia facial plastic surgeon Jason Bloom, MD, FACS.“It’s FDA cleared for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and Sofwave can also help improve another sign of aging that we often see on women in their 40s” says Dr. Bloom.
What are you waiting for? Schedule a consultation with your doctor to learn more about Sofwave and other wrinkle-reducing techniques today.
References:
- Dr. Sara Gottfried, "The Secret to Looking Younger Forever", Goop, Inc
- "Sunscreen FAQS", American Academy of Dermatology Association
- Erica Julson MS, RDN, "7 Surprising Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid", April 21, 2018, Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company
- Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD, "Antioxidants Explained in Simple Terms", July 29, 2019, Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company
- "Chemical Peels and Your Skin", WebMD LLC
- "Injectable Hyaluronic Acid", American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS)
