The factors which contribute to the ageing process, and the tools we use as Dermal Clinicians to help slow it down.

First up, it’s important to note that ageing/the process of ageing is not only inevitable, but a privilege. Every fine line, wrinkle or change to the skin as we age denotes experience and life, and we are of the belief that these features make us who we are. That’s why at James Vivian we prefer to use the term ‘age-management’ rather than ‘anti-ageing’ because, truth be told, we’re ageing-positive not ageing-negative! That being said, we have some tricks up our sleeve as Dermal Clinicians to manage the speed at which these visible signs form...

To break it down, the ageing process is different for everyone. It’s the combination of genetics and the way in which we care for our skin that generally dictates how our skin ages throughout the decades. From birth, there is already a baseline attrition rate of how our skin will age, even before we are tempted by cosmeceuticals or medical intervention, we are dealt a hand by our parents on how we will grow older. Of course, we can accelerate or slow down this process by external factors such as general health concerns, lifestyle choices and the way in which we protect ourselves from the sun.

On that, exposure to the sun is one, if not the number one, leading cause of visible skin ageing. Changes to texture, colour and the increased potential for some skin cancers forming can all be caused by prolonged, unprotected time spent in the sun. A once plump, smooth and even-toned skin can be drastically altered from UV damage, no matter the age of a person.

Anatomically, it’s also important to note that beneath the surface of the skin you’ll find muscles, fat tissue and bone which also reduce in volume and function the older we get. To counteract the depletion of volume loss and slow down other factors contributing to signs of ageing, anti-wrinkle injections and carefully placed dermal fillers can be part of a diverse range of treatments creating change within the deeper layers of the skin.

As our skins age, proteins such as collagen and elastin gradually decrease in production. To help supplement this depletion, calling in the help of cosmeceutical ingredients at the right age will help protect and supplement the skin.

Vitamins A, B and C are all powerful tools we prescribe to clients within their skincare routines to help accelerate their skin’s collagen and elastin production. We often recommend retinol-rich product Alpharet Overnight Cream by Skinbetter Science which relies on both Vitamin A and AHAs as well as Aspect’s Multi-B Plus Serum as a phenomenal multitasker.

Skincare harnessing the transformative properties of peptides, growth factors and antioxidants are also a big part of our age-management recommendations. Dermaquest’s Peptide Facial Booster is an age-management tool that yields amazing results.

Alongside great quality cosmeceutical skincare prescribed to you by a professional, the daily use of an effective and broad-spectrum sunscreen is an essential part of any age-management effort. SPF 50 applied, and reapplied when required, should be your number one product throughout summer and winter as the UVA radiation is consistently high throughout the year.

In addition, treatments including lasers and other heat-based therapies such as our Mezotix technology, can all serve to keep the skin looking and feeling younger and give the appearance of being ‘looked after’.

As always, the best product or treatment for you is one that is right for your skin. Get in touch to chat to one of our Dermal Therapists about your own considered age-management plan.