By Aaron Young, MD, Saint Joseph Family Medicine
I’m often asked what is the number one preventive measure people can take to keep their skin looking as youthful as possible for as long as possible. Quite simply, the biggest factor regardless of age or gender is sun protection – especially for those in their 20s and 30s – because, if you’re taking care of your skin during this time in your life, it will positively affect how you look in your 40s and 50s.
For women, there is makeup and moisturizers that already have SPF 15 in them. If you incorporate these products into your daily routine – with base products, lip stick, lip gloss, etc. – you don’t even have to think about being caught off guard by being out in the sun for a prolonged period of time when maybe you don’t anticipate it. By using these products, you’re already covered.
While such SPF protective makeup has been around for a few years, they are now more common and attainable to the general public. Until recently, they were viewed as more of a high-end, specialty product but now the technology and applications have trickled down to the less expensive brands.
What I also recommend for all age groups is the use of skin moisturizers as they are effective treating those fine lines that start to become apparent around the eyes and the mouth with aging. Moisturizers plump up and lessen the appearance of facial lines. Also, like makeup, you don’t have to purchase an expensive brand that you find at the department store for it to be effective. It can essentially be any type of moisturizer – even something you find at the corner drug store. What is important is buying a moisturizer that works for you and sticking with that particular brand.
One cautionary note: if you suffer from acne and you’re looking to purchase a moisturizer, try to use a brand that is non-comedogenic (oil-free) so you are not compounding your problem.
As you approach middle age, it’s best to continue these healthy skin practices that ideally were established in your 20s and 30s. As you get older, however, the pursuit of youthful looking skin obviously becomes a little more complicated. For many women, the approach of menopause signals the onset of hair in places where it hadn’t grown previously. Combating this commonly means the use of electrolysis, tweezers or doctor-prescribed creams. While there are hair removal creams available over-the-counter, they tend to either not work very well or not at all. So, if you really want something that will work – talk to your doctor about it.
Finally, there’s a lot of focus these days – especially through TV commercials and infomercials – on collagen formation. Collagen is the primary structural protein in your skin that determines how firm and tight it is. Unfortunately, as we grow older, natural collagen formation does not occur as frequently as it does in our youth. Thus, the proliferation of wrinkles and lines as we age.
However, despite the popularity of these anti-wrinkle creams in some circles, I tend to recommend that people stick with a basic moisturizer. That’s going to fill in those lines just as well and you don’t have to worry about them damaging your skin. But, if you do put an over-the-counter cream on your face and it just doesn’t feel right – perhaps it burns slightly or tingles – stop using it immediately. Also, never combine the use of multiple skin products as it is sometimes difficult to predict how these products will interact with one another.
While perhaps a medical cliché, the key to maintaining healthy skin is – as it is with most healthcare issues – prevention. And if you find yourself starting this process a little late in life, don’t try to make up for lost time through quick fixes. At the risk of using another medical cliché – see your doctor first.
More Info
Dr. Young is a certified family practitioner within the Saint Joseph Physician Network with a special interest in dermatology. He currently practices out of the Saint Joseph Family Medicine - Elm Road office. He can be reached at 574-252-3616.
Real Stories: A Letter of Thanks
The following is a letter sent to Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center from Dr. Carol Ecker, Director Humane Society of St. Joseph County, in thanks of supplies donated from the former SJRMC/South Bend.
When I received a phone call from Sister Laureen Painter, I was in seventh heaven, if there is such a place. She graciously told me that the Humane Society could have articles from the former Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center/South Bend that would be of possible use to us. Since we were building our new shelter for the animals, this was great news. Little did I know that it would be thousands of dollars worth of savings for us. My Aunt Mary always told me “Good things that go around come around.”
Sister Laureen took precious time out of her schedule to show some others and me around the hospital so that we could see exactly what items we could use. It was like Christmas at Wal-Mart. I found so many things that we could put in our new shelter that would diminish the cost tremendously. The stainless steel sinks, lights, cabinets, furniture, IV stands, stainless steel instrument stands, tool cabinets, paper towel holders, vanities and many more things.
So one Wednesday morning, we again toured the facility, after an okay from Sister Laureen. I brought men from Casteel Construction Company, the folks building our new building, and we marked all of the prizes that we were allowed to take. They brought a plumber and we were in business. I have 24 sinks, enough for my surgery, treatment and triage areas. I have vanities for the bathrooms, furniture for the grieving room. The grieving room is where people will be allowed to say good-bye to the animals before they are put to sleep by owner request. The other rooms that need furniture are the play areas where we have people come and visit with their potential pet to get to know them better and to make sure that it gets along with their family members.
In the cattery, which will have outside porches, we need all kinds of plastic items so that they can be cleaned readily. So chairs, tables, benches and milk carton boxes will be used in these rooms for the cats to climb up on and play. We are on a constant hunt for these items.
The Staff has never had any place to really relax and eat their lunch and now will have a staff room. It has tables and chairs from the cafeteria. A refrigerator and a microwave will be used to make their lives better. We do not have a high pay scale here but we will try to make the work conditions improve. The staff is so dedicated to the animals and their well being, that little amenities are really all that we can offer aside from the joy when animals are adopted into the community.
My surgery is being put together little by little. I now have to load the animals in a van, take them to Michigan to a friend’s hospital, spay or neuter them, wake them up and load them in the van and bring them back to our shelter. It is a laborious task and can only be done a few times per month. The surgical supplies that I received from you are most precious to us. Suture material, gowns, drapes, gauze and the many other items that you all bring on a regular basis are most valued. Thank you!
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, we owe you so much for all you have done for us! We will keep you posted as to what we are doing with the materials that you so graciously donated to our facility. The gift from the hospital will keep on giving to a really good cause - the animals that have so little.
When I received a phone call from Sister Laureen Painter, I was in seventh heaven, if there is such a place. She graciously told me that the Humane Society could have articles from the former Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center/South Bend that would be of possible use to us. Since we were building our new shelter for the animals, this was great news. Little did I know that it would be thousands of dollars worth of savings for us. My Aunt Mary always told me “Good things that go around come around.”
Sister Laureen took precious time out of her schedule to show some others and me around the hospital so that we could see exactly what items we could use. It was like Christmas at Wal-Mart. I found so many things that we could put in our new shelter that would diminish the cost tremendously. The stainless steel sinks, lights, cabinets, furniture, IV stands, stainless steel instrument stands, tool cabinets, paper towel holders, vanities and many more things.
So one Wednesday morning, we again toured the facility, after an okay from Sister Laureen. I brought men from Casteel Construction Company, the folks building our new building, and we marked all of the prizes that we were allowed to take. They brought a plumber and we were in business. I have 24 sinks, enough for my surgery, treatment and triage areas. I have vanities for the bathrooms, furniture for the grieving room. The grieving room is where people will be allowed to say good-bye to the animals before they are put to sleep by owner request. The other rooms that need furniture are the play areas where we have people come and visit with their potential pet to get to know them better and to make sure that it gets along with their family members.
In the cattery, which will have outside porches, we need all kinds of plastic items so that they can be cleaned readily. So chairs, tables, benches and milk carton boxes will be used in these rooms for the cats to climb up on and play. We are on a constant hunt for these items.
The Staff has never had any place to really relax and eat their lunch and now will have a staff room. It has tables and chairs from the cafeteria. A refrigerator and a microwave will be used to make their lives better. We do not have a high pay scale here but we will try to make the work conditions improve. The staff is so dedicated to the animals and their well being, that little amenities are really all that we can offer aside from the joy when animals are adopted into the community.
My surgery is being put together little by little. I now have to load the animals in a van, take them to Michigan to a friend’s hospital, spay or neuter them, wake them up and load them in the van and bring them back to our shelter. It is a laborious task and can only be done a few times per month. The surgical supplies that I received from you are most precious to us. Suture material, gowns, drapes, gauze and the many other items that you all bring on a regular basis are most valued. Thank you!
Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, we owe you so much for all you have done for us! We will keep you posted as to what we are doing with the materials that you so graciously donated to our facility. The gift from the hospital will keep on giving to a really good cause - the animals that have so little.
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