Brown spots --- sometimes referred to as age or liver spots --- and wrinkles make your face appear old, tired and haggard. The sun's damaging ultraviolet rays cause 90 percent of these skin problems, but other factors contribute, including lifestyle practices such as smoking. Change how you live and care for your skin to rejuvenate its appearance and erase these visible signs of aging.
Step 1
Cleanse your face in the morning with an exfoliating skin wash containing alpha hydroxy acids or beta hydroxy acids. These products cleanse your skin as well as remove damaged surface skin cells to visibly reduce skin wrinkles and blemishes. They also encourage the production of collagen, which fosters firmer and more evenly toned skin.
Step 2
Pat your skin dry with a soft, clean towel. Don't rub your skin.
Step 3
Apply a moisturizing, sunscreen-enhanced day cream. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that moisturizers can diminish wrinkle appearance and brighten your overall complexion in as little as 24 hours. To prevent the appearance of new wrinkles and spots, the cream must contain a minimum SPF of 30.
Step 4
Cleanse your face again at the end of your day, then dab on an anti-aging night cream. For effective reduction of visible signs of aging, the cream should contain retinoids, such as retinoic acid or retinol, alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acid.
Step 5
Continue your anti-aging skincare regimen for six weeks to three months, the length of time it typically takes for a skincare product to rejuvenate your skin visibly. If you want faster results, consult your doctor about a prescription skincare product containing topical retinoids such as tretinoin or tazarotene, which work faster.
Tips and Warnings
- Dry skin makes your wrinkles and other signs of aging appear worse. For naturally softer, firmer skin, maintain skin hydration levels by avoiding long, hot showers and running a vaporizer in your home.
- Certain lifestyle practices directly lead to increased signs of aging in your skin. This includes tanning beds, sleeping on your side --- this can expedite the appearance of facial wrinkles --- and smoking, which releases large amounts of skin-damaging free radicals into your body.
Things You'll Need
- Exfoliating skin cleanser
- Towel
- Moisturizing day cream with SPF 30 or higher
- Anti-aging night cream
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Skin Wrinkles and Blemishes; Harvey Simon; December 2008
- "Health"; Skin Changes Prevention; February 2010
- American Academy of Dermatology: 10 Tips: Selecting Age-Fighting Topicals
- MayoClinic.com; Wrinkles -- Treatments and Drugs; January 2011
- American Academy of Dermatology: 10 Tips: Getting the Best Results from Age-Fighting Topicals
- McKinley Health Center; Dry Skin; 2008
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