Smart ageing: your doctor-approved stay young skincare routine
February 16th 2021
Skin
December 1st 2017 / 4 comments
Getty Images
Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting lifts the lid on what rumours we should and shouldn't be listening to when it comes to anti-ageing
When it comes to information about anti-ageing, it can often be difficult to decipher fact from fiction.
Some say a daily green juice is sacrosanct to ensuring a glowing, youthful radiance, while others have all but stopped smiling to prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, and, before you know it, our complexion concerns have become a serious case of who said what hearsay.
So, to help us set the record straight about what rules we should and shouldn’t be living by we reached out to Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting who’s helped us debunk the top 10 most agonising anti-ageing theories.
FALSE: “Alas, if skin isn’t well-constructed with the right water-retaining elements (think ceramides, essential fatty acids and Natural Moisturising Factor), it won’t stay hydrated – much like water isn’t retained in a sieve, however much you pour into it.”
FALSE: “A truer statement would be that water lessens the appearance of wrinkles, rather than moisturisers do.”
TRUE: “This is absolutely the case when it comes to prevention, i.e. wearing sunscreen. There is a strong argument for getting early teen girls into the habit of wearing sunscreen – a big part of it is sending the right message that tanning is bad for the skin. Bear in mind that 25% of our lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18 and melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults. Therefore, if teens are tanning (and even scarier, using sunbeds) serious re-education needs to occur.”
FALSE: “UVA is present all year-round, and passes through clouds (and glass). It drives collagen and elastin breakdown, plus it triggers hyperpigmentation. So we need protection 365 days a year.”
MORE GLOSS: How to stop prickly heat and heat rash
TRUE: “Genes do play a role in ageing – but the likelihood is that our behaviour has a far greater influence, given that as much as 90% of ageing is due to extrinsic factors such as sun, smoking and pollution.”
FALSE: “Hmm. Lasers are a hugely broad category – there is one for most anti-ageing concerns relating to skin (acne, redness, brown spots, wrinkles) etc. But one thing they won’t do is re-volumize the face – so I’m going to say false.
FALSE: “When you look at how many products fall into the +£100 price point but don't actually contain significant levels of proven actives, you realise that price has very little bearing on efficacy. Many effective ingredients with good quality data to support their mechanism of action can be found in reasonably-priced pharmacy brands - look out for niacinamide, lactic and glycolic acid, soy, retinol and retinaldehyde in the top 1 or 3 of the ingredients list, suggesting tangible amounts present in the product.”
TRUE: “Animating the face does lead to wrinkles, especially in the upper 1/3 of the face. That’s why Botox is so successful at treating the lines we get from frowning, smiling and raising our eyebrows – because it takes the oomph out of the force of the muscle contraction.”
MORE GLOSS: Beauty and Botox - 10 anti-ageing skincare tips you need to know
FALSE: “We can always improve things – the skin has fantastic powers of recovery, provided the right skincare routine and treatments are adopted.”
FALSE: “Eating foods with a high glycemic index like white bread, pasta and potatoes cause the formation of AGEs (Advanced Glycation End Products), because they are quickly converted to sugar in the bloodstream. We know that the formation of AGEPs (Advanced Glycation End Products) are associated with collagen and elastin becoming stiff and less springy, which we see clinically as sagging skin. To make matters worse, AGEs also make the skin more susceptible to sun damage. The changes associated with this process tend to manifest in the mid-30s – a great reason to start eating clean.”
Follow us on @getthegloss
February 16th 2021
October 19th 2020
August 5th 2020
July 30th 2018
Join the conversation
"MYTH: THE MORE EXPENSIVE AN ANTI-AGEING PRODUCT IS, THE MORE EFFECTIVE IT IS"
This totally belongs to me. My philosophy for skincare products is more expensive the product, more effective it will be, which I feel is not at all true. I have spend so much on various expensive products over the years that I could have got a diamond ring for myself.. Anyways, I am stuck to lifecell anti aging products (lifecellskin.us) from quite a long time now and I am quite impressed with the effectiveness in such an affordable price. Looking forward for your next post. Thanks for this one.
I Find Radio Frequency excellent for boosting natural collagen and giving the skin a natural boost!?
Any Agree?
Your Total Body Solution,London
http://www.yourtotalbodysolution.co.uk/
Hi Jane,
Thanks for your question. We reached out to Dr. Bunting with your questions and here was her response:
"Yes suncream is needed - UVA travels through glass so you will be exposed to it through office and car windows, plus most people pop outside at lunchtimes too. I would recommend applying it after moisturiser and before putting on make-up."
Hope that clears everything up for you - do let us know if you have any other questions!
Kindest,
Katie x