Let's talk about our skin and aging...

Skin is the largest external organ of our body. It is comprised of 4 tissue types. Some skin can be dry or oily; others normal, depending on the underlying layers and glands.  Our skin also serves as a protectant for our internal tissues, membranes, organs and the like.

As we get older skin looses its elasticity and ability to maintain moisture. Do you know where one would see the first signs of aging on skin? Most believe it is on the face, around the eyes perhaps; but oddly enough it is the tops of our very hands. Think about it for a moment, we use our hands for everything.

Skin needs moisture and routine exfoliation, the shedding of dead surface skin cells. Did you ever wonder why all that dust builds up so quickly on your furniture? Skin automatically exfoliates itself every 3 days or so thus giving us more dust on our furniture and in the air. For anti-aging purposes skin can be exfoliated daily to boost collagen levels and enhance new skin regeneration while warding off free radicals that cause damage to skin.

Other elements that harm skin are the sun, wind, cold winter air, and even water. It is important to hydrate skin and intake water daily to protect skin, as well as keep it from looking older and wrinkle prone. Vitamin E is essential in a diet for skin to look smooth, soft and supple, Vitaman K helps to reduce those dark black circles under the eyes, and Vitaman A not only can aid in good eyesight, but infuses skin with nutrients to reduce age spots. All help to increase blood flow in the skin as well as in the heart.

When cleansing your face with any type of cleanser always scrub in upward strokes and the same when adding moisturizers, always rub moisturizers in an upward motion by rubbing gently. Never pull on the under eye areas though, this skin is like tissue paper. The forehead area can be scrubbed in an upward circular motion to remove excess oil and stimulate cell regeneration.

If you wear foundation, liquid or facial powders, it is very important to apply these skin care products in a downward motion. Foundation serves as a protectant to our faces and it can absorb excess oils. When applying foundation or powders downward this will allow the pores to close and not enable them to secrete excess oils or let harmful elements into our skin layers.

For our body, one can use a body scrub and exfoliate daily. This stimulates cells and removes dead ones. Apply moisturizer daily, especially after showering or taking a bath. After shaving skin, apply moisturizer. Even if skin appears oily it still needs hydration because the outer layer may be oily; but the inner layers may not be.

No one wants to get old and none of us want to actually see ourselves age; but I hate to tell you this folks; its inevitable!!