The aging of facial skin is a complex subject, and one that is subject to a huge amount of discussion and differing opinions. When discussing the appearance of facial skin, the majority of the talk is centered around improving the look of your skin, with various products and remedies promising the ability to override the passage of time and restore youthful skin in a heartbeat. Is this, however, the discussion that we should be having?

After all, if an old saying is to be believed, isn’t prevention better than cure? We have all heard this phrase over and over again, yet when it comes to our facial skin, we focus on improving the problems that are already in existence, with prevention only occasionally mentioned as a side benefit. It therefore seems worth examining whether the focus has been on the wrong point all along, and asking if there is any way of preventing facial skin from aging before it becomes problematic.

Can facial skin aging be prevented?

Well… it’s complicated.

It’s tempting to answer “no” to this question because, realistically, skin is always going to age. The reason that crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles develop is based on the way that collagen production falls as we age; as a result, some signs of facial aging are always inevitable.

So is that it, debate settled, all facial skincare should focus on rectifying existing problems, prevention doesn’t work?

Not quite.

Focusing on preventing substantial aging

Fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet are not binary; they do not either “exist” or “not exist”. They have levels of severity. Some people experience very deep, pronounced wrinkles, especially as they reach their 70s and 80s, while others will experience very mild lines that are barely visible to the naked eye.

It’s the severity of facial skin aging that all experts suggest can genuinely benefit from prevention and types of facials technique. While we’ll all inevitably experience some signs of aging, we can at least diminish how obvious those signs are.

How can you prevent significant signs of aging on facial skin?

• We have mentioned that one of the primary causes of facial skin aging is the natural depletion of collagen everyone experiences as they age, but this collagen can be somewhat replenished via supplementation.

• Odd as it may sound, given that this treatment is almost always described as a cure rather than a preventative method, botox is actually incredibly useful for preventing aging. It relaxes relevant facial muscles, which helps to prevent lines and wrinkles becoming particularly pronounced. If you’re curious to find out more, it’s well worth searching for clinics that practice Botox near you for further advice.

• Another prominent method to help preempt the noticeable effects of aging is the use of dermal fillers, which can restore facial volume and improve elasticity. These injectable treatments contain substances like hyaluronic acid that provide immediate results by smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines. If you're in the Big Apple and interested in exploring this option, researching wrinkle treatments and dermal fillers in New York can provide you with a wealth of experienced practitioners. Dermal fillers are often combined with other preventative measures to create a comprehensive defense against the visible signs of aging.

• Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of deep lines, crow’s feet, and wrinkles, so it can be beneficial to get into the habit of using SPF every single day - even if it’s cloudy outside.

• The majority of sleep lines will disappear over the course of the day, but some may linger and become wrinkles over time. It’s therefore beneficial to explore ways of preventing sleep lines from becoming permanent, and to try and sleep in different positions to assist this.

In conclusion

It is inevitable that your skin will age, and no prevention can give you the skin of a 20-year-old on your 35th birthday. However, there is something to be said for preventing significant signs of aging, and if you follow the tips above, you should be able to hold time’s ravages at bay for as long as possible.

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