The Face Guide: Anti-Aging Treatments

Just add water for a supple complexion
Maintaining an optimal moisture balance is essential to youthful-looking skin. Avoid harsh detergents and exceedingly hot showers, and always use a moisturizer. Formulas rich in glycerin and hyaluronic acid will plump, while formulas with ceramides or lipids help lock in hydration.

Break bad habits for better-looking skin.
Lifestyle changes—like kicking that smoking habit and avoiding fad diets—can stave off fine lines. While the chemicals in cigarettes impair blood flow and damage collagen, rapid fluctuations in weight can expand and contract skin too quickly, leaving sagging flesh behind.

The best wrinkle defense is a good offense.
Rigorous use of sunscreen will prevent damage at every age, protecting the skin and stopping future lines from forming. Look for a broad-spectrum formula, SPF 30 or higher, with chemical and physical blockers to deflect and scatter both UVA and UVB rays.

Bioelectric creams are a current breakthrough.
Fine lines might be reduced from within, thanks to bioelectric creams. When skin tissue is injured, it generates an electric current that signals repair and collagen production. By mimicking the response of wounded cells, electrically charged topicals are believed to yield similar rewards, minus the risk.

Peel here for smoother skin.
Dermatologist-administered chemical peels—ones that contain alpha hydroxy, beta hydroxy, and salicylic acids—can reduce fine lines and blemishes as well as impart a healthy glow. Results may be maintained regularly with gentler at-home versions of in-office formulas.

Retinoids are the right answer.
If your skin isn’t overly sensitive, look for prescription products containing vitamin A–derived retinoids. Originally developed as acne treatments, they also help reduce creases by exfoliating the top layer of skin and stimulating collagen production in the layers below.

Fill ’er Up!
The most common in-office solution for fine lines and wrinkles remain cosmetic fillers like Botox, Radiesse, and Juvéderm–with promising new injectables like Belotaro (a hyaluronic acid popular in Europe) and FDA-approved Xeomin (a pure botulinum toxin) gaining headway. These products are injected into the skin by a certified licensed medical professional to lift and plump. The results are immediate but not long-lasting, meaning you’ll have to invest in multiple treatments to continue seeing results.

Turn Up The Heat
Laser treatments, used to treat fine lines and lift sagging skin, can have successful results while treatments like Ulthera—which uses sonogram-like imaging to target ultrasound waves to the dermis—can also trigger the body’s healing response and promote collagen. Seek these treatments only under the care of a licensed, board-certified professional.

See the Light
Though it’s been around for years, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy is still a popular recourse for dermatologists—probably because it works! The noninvasive, relatively painless treatment involves shining a range of light frequencies on the face to eliminate redness, reduce brown spots, and minimize fine lines. You should see results after three or so sessions.