1. Aging skin: Everyone’s skin will age, but there are many things we can do to help with the aging process. Two of the worst skin-aging culprits are smoking and the sun. Sun protection should start as toddlers and smoking should be strictly avoided.
2. Skin cancer: In the U.S., nearly 5 million people will be treated for skin cancer each year, and 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. About 75,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma each year; it accounts for >2% of skin cancer cases, but the vast majority of skin cancer deaths.
3. Neurotoxins: Neurotoxins like Botox and Dsyport help soften dynamic wrinkles — the ones you see when your face moves. Injecting neurotoxins into an area such as the crow’s feet or glabella weakens the muscles, making them unable to completely contract. This results in a softening of lines.
4. Fillers: To help plump up the skin and soften the appearance of static facial wrinkles — those pesky lines that are present when your face is at rest — fillers are a great option that can add overall volume to the face. They can also be put directly under a wrinkle to smooth it out.
5. Lasers: Intense Pulsed Light treatments can help to eliminate pigment spots and small vessels on the face. The fractionated lasers, such as CO2 and erbium create heat in the skin to stimulate new collagen growth, leading to smoothed-out lines. Radio frequency and Ultrasound treatments can also be done to help improve skin texture.
6. Skincare: There are many great options for skincare to keep your skin looking good. The key to topical skin rejuvenation is to use some sort of retinol product. Retinol exfoliates the skin and also stimulates the production of new collagen. It also helps to control acne breakouts and, with regular use of a good skin care regimen. can keep the skin looking young and fresh.
7. Surgery: At a certain age, patients may benefit from surgery to help tighten the skin. The skin around the eyelids is the thinnest on the body, so this is where lines and wrinkles will appear first. About 250,000 eyelid surgeries are done each year to help improve the appearance of the skin in this area.
8. Diet: A well-balanced diet should help to keep your skin looking good for as long as possible. It should include fruits and vegetables, which provide many antioxidants for the skin. The omega-3s found in a variety of fish, such as salmon, have also been found to be exceptionally good for the skin.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› Dr. John J. Martin, MD, specializes in eye, facial & neck rejuvenation, as well as laser and other non-surgical treatments for vascular and pigment problems. He received his medical degree at Harvard Medical School, and is a member of the American Academy Of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery; 305.444.5950; JohnMartinMD.com.
