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What's Giving Away Your Age?
Birthdays happen, but looking older
is optional. Here's how to take years off, without
keeping your hands in your pockets.
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By Holly Crawford
WebMD Feature
Our
secret plan for defying Father Time: Think beyond
the crow's-feet. "Most women are so conscious of
every little wrinkle on their face, they forget
about the other body parts that may be showing some
wear and tear," says Jeanine B. Downie, M.D., a
dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey.
So
by all means, let's deal with those wrinkles-but
aging affects everything from the whiteness of your
teeth to the thickness of your hair, so it's
imperative that you address your problems from head
to toe.
The
key thing to remember: Every sign of aging boils
down to changes in texture and color. The rich sheen
of your hair begins to fade; skin that was smooth
grows rough.
Likewise, every remedy involves preventing,
reversing, or at least compensating for those
changes. So choose your weapons, and let the
counterattack begin.
Your teeth
You
don't have to say a word about your age-your pearly
(or not-so-pearly) whites will say it for you.
AGE
GIVEAWAY
Years of eating and drinking can leave your teeth
yellow or gray, and if you smoke, forget it. But
size and shape also matter. Young-looking teeth are
vibrant, with clean, rounded edges, explains Dallas
cosmetic dentist Dale Greer, D.D.S. Older ones are
the opposite (small, worn, chipped). In addition,
your gums may recede over time and leave you looking
as if you have gaps between your teeth, he says.
REVERSE THE CLOCK
Peroxide-based whiteners deep-clean and brighten. To
try: Crest Whitestrips Renewal. (A dentist's
treatments will give you striking results in just
one day-but at a much higher price.) If teeth are
worn, ask your dentist about a bite guard to prevent
grinding. To correct tiny or damaged teeth, ask
about crowns, veneers, and recontouring.
Gum-recession gaps? Consider caps.
Your neck & chest
Four
words: Look below your chin. Like your face, that
area has suffered environmental damage-from the sun,
wind, pollution-and it shows.
AGE
GIVEAWAY
If
you care for your face (using moisturizer, wrinkle
concealer, etc.), it may look a whole lot better
than your neck and chest, which may be leathery,
spotted, or deeply wrinkled. That contrast says
you're older than your face reveals.
REVERSE THE CLOCK
"It
sounds simple, but you should treat the skin of your
neck and chest just as you would your face," says
Dr. Downie. Every day, apply creams with
antioxidants like vitamins A and C. Your doctor can
use a combination of chemical peels (or
microdermabrasion and a laser) to fade age spots and
firm up sagging skin. Botox injections in the vocal
cord area can improve the look of a turkey neck,
says Dr. Downie. To slow further damage, use a
broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.
Your hair
Here
you're contending with not one but three aging
factors: time, chemicals (from dyes and highlights),
and the environment (yep, it does damage in this
area too). "A 25-year-old can have 50-year-old
hair-and vice versa, depending on the level of
exposure to these elements," explains Atlanta
stylist Gary Travis.
AGE
GIVEAWAY
For
every cause of aging hair, there's a different
manifestation. Dryness-in the form of messy frizz
and loss of shine-is public enemy number one. Damage
or age is to blame if your hair used to look good
but is now thinning or dull or has a dishwater
color.
REVERSE THE CLOCK
Hair
isn't alive, it's dead-but so is a cashmere sweater,
and it will still look better if you care for it.
Older hair is thirsty, says Travis, so first and
foremost, you need to give it moisture-but not the
kind you find in the shower, which is drying. (It
sounds counterintuitive, but the less often you wet
your hair, the healthier it will be.)
Instead, after every shampoo, use a protein- or
antioxidant-rich conditioner or treatment to
strengthen and protect and to restore shine. To try:
Nexxus Y Serum.
If you color your hair, try touching up just the new
growth rather than recoloring (read: damaging) your
whole mane. It's also important to soften your color
as you get older, says colorist Louise Galvin, who's
based in London, England:
"The
same tone that looked good when you were younger can
seem too harsh as you mature." Your cut can also
make a difference: Ask for one with movement, then
keep ends trimmed and go easy on ultrahold
products-a stiff, super-coiffed look always adds
years.
Your hands
They
take a daily beating, says Dr. Downie. The culprits:
everything from harsh soaps and shuffling papers at
the office (both suck out skin's moisture) to the UV
dryer at the nail salon (which-who knew?-contributes
to those dreaded age spots).
AGE
GIVEAWAY
As
you get older, hands look bonier and veins become
more visible-both the result of reduced collagen
production. Sun spots from years of exposure become
more pronounced.
REVERSE THE CLOCK
You
don't have to wear gloves, but you do need to
protect your hands with sunscreen-just as you'd
apply hand cream. Exfoliate regularly to improve
circulation and texture, and moisturize 24-7. For
paper-thin skin that really shows the veins, ask a
doctor about laser therapy to help the overall
appearance of your hands. Restylane injections will
work faster (plumping up the backs of your hands)
but are more costly and can be painful.
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Source - WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. |
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