Saggy skin is a complaint shared by many women as they age. Caused by declining levels of collagen and elastin- which form part of the skin’s supporting network – skin falls, resulting in The Sag.
Traditional treatments for saggy skin include expensive and often painful cosmetic procedures including facelifts or laser treatments. While facelifts physically lift the skin up and keep it in its new place, laser treatments deliver results by stimulating the production of collagen. Last, a relatively new procedure called skin needling has shown some promise in mild cases. Results can last months to years depending on the skill of your practitioner and how you look after yourself.
There certainly isn’t a shortage of topical treatments claiming to fix saggy skin. Unfortunately, few deliver benefits at all, leaving you with a worthless product that probably put a nice dent in your pocketbook. One ingredient, DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol), has been shown to offer a temporary lift in clinical studies. And while it isn’t clear how it works, there has been a suggestion that it may even delay the progression of sag.
Whether you’re 20 or 50, prevention is your best friend in dealing with saggy skin. Help stave it off or slow down its advance with the following tips:
- Wear a good UVA/UVB blocking sunscreen daily year round. UV rays precipitate the breakdown of collagen and elastin. Choose from our wide selection of Anthelios sunscreens and other sunscreens.
- Incorporate antioxidants into your skin care regimen. Ingredients including Vitamin C, green tea and Vitamin A help to fight free radical damage associated with the sun, pollution and smoking, which contribute to aging skin.
- Stop smoking. Smoking not only generates free radicals, which break down skin but also contributes to repetitive motion lines. Plus it isn’t good for your overall health.
Hi Sharmani,
Besides green tea, garlic, vegetables, chocolate, coffee, strawberries, broccoli, honey and watermelon are also great antioxidant.