Top Ten Anti-Ageing Tips

As one year ends and another begins, many people look into the mirror and evaluate how their body and skin is coping with the passing of time.  Here, Botonics, specialists in non-surgical cosmetic treatments, give us their top ten hints in halting the ageing process.

1. Use Sun Protection
It is estimated that up to 90% of facial ageing is due to the damaging effects of ultra-violet radiation. Even if you don't plan to be in the sun, use a sun block every day that blocks both UVA and UVB rays (also know as “broad-spectrum” sun block) because surprisingly, harmful sunrays penetrate through fog, clouds, and even window glass.

2. Don’t Smoke
Nicotine use (in any form) contributes significantly to facial lines, ageing, and changes in skin texture and elasticity. In addition, smoking creates lines around the mouth from pursing your lips around the cigarette. If you want to look your best, you must not smoke. See our guide to stopping smoking.

3. Drink Plenty of Water
Drink at least one litre of caffeine-free, alcohol-free liquids every day (preferably water). Water is necessary for healthy cell formation as well as the removal of waste products. If you exercise, are in warm weather, ingest a lot of salt, or take diuretics, you will need to drink more than one litre.

4. Balance Your Nutrition
A diet that is well rounded and emphasises fruits and vegetables, lean meats and fish and moderate amounts of starches or carbohydrates will keep you fit and looking your best.  See more in diet and nutrition.

5. Take Anti-Oxidant Supplements
Anti-oxidant supplements such as zinc and vitamins A, C, and E contribute to the body’s ability to fight free-radical damage.  Free-radical damage, caused by smoking, pollution, and inflammation lead to ageing as well as cancer.  Recent research suggests that certain forms of anti-oxidants can also be applied directly to the skin for targeted absorption.

6. Manage Your Weight
Fluctuations in weight or being overweight for long periods of time stress the elasticity of the skin. Being significantly underweight may contribute to ageing by malnutrition.

7. Try Retinoic Acid
Retin-A (also known as retinoic acid) has been shown to stimulate collagen and elastin production and control abnormal pigmentation in the skin when used in a high enough concentration over a long period of time. This can actually reverse some signs of ageing in the skin.

8. Sleep And Position
A simple way to prevent line formation and excessive tension on the skin is to sleep on your back. Stomach-sleepers especially develop creases on the forehead and cheeks.  They often wake up with swelling around the eyes, which over time may stretch the delicate eyelid skin.  It is also important to get plenty of sleep, as this is the body’s time to refresh and regenerate.

9. Medical Beauty Treatments
Treatments such as muscle relaxing injections, dermal fillers and skin peels help prevent and correct the visible signs of ageing.

10. Manage your Stress
Many people neglect the fact that mental, emotional, or physical stress can contribute to changes in hormone levels, excessive frowning, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, grey hair, increased tendency to smoke, and many other factors.  Simple ways to help reduce stress are to exercise, take up a hobby, read
or write, listen to music, spend time with family or friends, or just take time out for you. Figure out what works to reduce stress for you, and then remember to do it! See our guide to stress management.

See botonics’ website and our guide on anti-ageing for further information.