My top tips to help prevent premature ageing

I love this quote from Dr Howard Murad 
'Ageing is a fact of life. Looking your age is not.' 

When it comes to premature ageing, inflammation has a crucial role to play. Lots of factors can create what we call Reactive Oxygen Species (a by-product of oxygen metabolism), highly unstable molecules that can cause damage to cell DNA. As an Aesthetic Doctor a lot of my work involves treating the effects of damage to the skin due to inflammation. I believe that it is important to take a holistic approach and educate my patients around ways to prevent premature ageing; identifying any lifestyle factors that may be contributing to inflammation.


My top tips for reducing premature ageing due to inflammation:
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1) Use a mineral based SPF daily throughout the year. In terms of topical skincare, this is by far the most important thing you can do to look after your skin. A minimum of factor 30, ideally 50 if you’ve had any skin treatments. Look for a broad spectrum SPF with high PA rating.

2) Try to minimise exposure to pollution. Ensure to cleanse using a wash off cleanser at night and use topical anti-oxidants in the daytime.

3) Avoid smoking including e-cigarettes. Nicotine and other chemicals cause damage to DNA and premature ageing and affect wound healing.

4) Use topical anti-oxidants daily. Vitamins C and E work together to prevent oxidative stress and adding ferulic acid has been shown to reduce ozone induced damage. At night use a serum containing retinol (please note these should ideally be stepped up gradually and avoided during pregnancy / breastfeeding).

5) Eat a diet rich in antioxidants (such as berries) with a low glycaemic index (to avoid sugar spikes) and try to avoid or limit alcohol. Supplements containing greens can help with digestive health, which is so important for skin health. Incorporate exercise into your daily life.

6) Treatments such as skin peels, microneedling and dermaplaning help to keep skin behaving younger, improve cell turnover to keep skin looking fresh and radiant and address signs of ageing.

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