Natural Beauty tips for Women Over 50I r ore so now, than a generation ago, women aged 50

lltl and over, are busier than ever with their careers,I U lfamily and social lives. Today, we generally maintainbetter health and may feel fabulous, but our skin can betrayhow we feel, by losing its glow and developing wrinkles andspois as we age.

With age, the skin becomes progressively thinner andwrinkled through loss of cushioning (e.9. collagen andelastin). lt becomes drier through a decrease in oil-production. The number of blood vessels in the skindecreases making the skin more fragile and sallow.Excessive sun exposure and smoking can certainlyaccelerate this ageing process. Let's have a look at whatwe can do to optimise our skin health.

sUN PROTECTION & AVOIDANCE

Most Australians know that excessive sun exposure (theultraviolet part in particular) can lead to premature aging andskin cancers. Practical tips include: ('1) avoid the sunbetween 10 a.m. and 4 p,m. when it is most damaging; (2)wear protective clothing with long-sleeves, pants and a wide-brimmed hat; and (3) use sunscreen regularly. Use ofsunscreens is an important factor in keeping the skin lookingyoung and healthy, Many mosturisers are now formulatedwith a sunscreen and are suitable for daily use. For optimumprotection outdoors, sun screens should be applied liberally(thin coats are less protective) and at frequent intervals.

MOISTURISERS

Skin dryness is exceedingly common after 40.moistur isers help maintain your skin 's natural moisturelevels. They work by providing a seal over your skin tokeep water from escaping or by slowly releasing waterinto your skin. Dur ing the day, use a moistur iser wi th asun protection factor (SPF), of at least 15, to help protectyour skin from damaging ultraviolet rays. lf you havesensitive skin, look for products free of dyes, perfumes orother additives. lf your skin is very dry, you may need agreasy moistur iser, whi le those with oi ly skin may bebetter off with a l ight or oil-free moisturiser or may notneed one at a l l , A cheap moistur iser wi l l of ten do thesame job as an expensive one!

SMOKING

Smokers have more wrinkles than non-smokers. Cigarettesmoke releases free radicals that damages elastic fibres andcollagen in the skin and contribute to premature wrinkling.Nicotine also causes small blood vessels and capillaries tocontract, diminishing circulation and depriving the skin ofnutrients. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions youmake when smoking such as pursing your l ips when inhalingand squinting your eyes to keep out smoke may contributeto wrinkles.

NUTRITION & SUPPIEMENTS

What you eat affects every organ in the body and your skin isno exception. A balanced diet is essential for maintaininghealthy skin. Make sure you drink at least 1L of water a day.It may not produce stdking rejuvenation, but neglecting it willmake your skin age considerably faster. Deficiencies ofcertain nutrients, such as vitamin A, B-complex, C, zinc andessential fatty acids are known to cause various forms ofdermatitis and other skin conditions.

In addition, anti-oxidants in dietary intake can counterharmful free-radicals that are produced from UV radiation,cigarette smoking, air pollution, stress and alcohol.Antioxidants occur naturally in the body but can also besupplemented by diet, oral supplements and topical lotions.For example the following foods are rich in antioxidants:avocados, green tea, sweet potatoes, blueberries, walnutsand tuna. Supplementary antioxidants found in cosmetic andoral products include Vitamins A, C and E. Calcium and Vit Dsupplements are particularly important if we are not able toobtain sufficient Vitamin D through natural sun exposure,

By Adrian Lim,cosmetic dermatologist, FACD

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