Skin Sense

Understanding the changes to your skin and their causes

During summer, you may need cleansers and exfoliators to clean off sweat and debris that gather in the skin's pores in hot humid conditions.

Lifestyle affects the skin

Smoking has a drying effect on skin. The chemicals in cigarettes drain the skin (and body) of vital vitamins and nutrients and constrict blood vessels. This means less blood flow to your skin, depriving it of the circulation it needs for optimal function and health. The result is dull looking skin with a greyish lifeless appearance.

Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption has the opposite effect. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels. The skin appears red and bloated. Increased blood flow and pressure causes capillaries to break, resulting in red marks throughout the skin. This is often seen on the faces of people who drink too much alcohol.

Living an unhealthy lifestyle affects the liver, which overtime can lead to various complications and cause the skin to appear yellow.

A diet lacking essential fatty acids can result in chronic itching, dryness, scaling and even thin skin. This is because essential fatty acids, like those found in fish oil, help protect against water loss within cells and throughout skin, keeping it supple and hydrated.

Age and Skin

With the aging process, changes occur in the skin as well...both internal and external.

External changes are associated with the skin's appearance while internal changes occur beneath the skin's surface on a cellular level.

Here is the progression of the visible signs of aging characterized by age group:

Age 20-25: Vertical wrinkles start appearing on one's forehead and even lines between the eyebrows may already be visible. Fine lines at the external edges of the eyes are not yet noticeable...however, heavy smoking, drinking and excessive exposure to the sun may result in these signs appearing early in life.

Age 25-40: In the epidermis, wrinkles begin to deepen and more fine lines start appearing. Wrinkles are less than 0.0005 mm in depth and are usually caused by the superficial drying out of one's skin, damage and loss of collagen in the skin, as well as slowing down of cellular renewal.

Age 40-50: Fine lines start appearing around the lips, crow's feet around the eyes, lines parallel to the nose and the line separating the eyebrows are all beginning to deepen and widen. The skin is now losing more of its natural strength and elasticity while shape of the face starts changing as the skin begins to sag...resulting in less defined facial contours.

Age 50 and over: Hormonal changes associated with menopause in women and the conversion of testosterone into estrogen in men accelerates the aging process. The skin's surface now shows clear and distinct signs of aging... these signs are only exacerbated by lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, environmental elements, excessive junk food etc.

How to Avoid Unnecessary Changes to Your Skin

You are what you eat
It's true! What goes in will sooner or later reflect in your appearance. By eating fruit and vegetables, especially brightly colored fruit and leafy greens, we are giving our bodies vitamins and antioxidants that combat the breakdown of collagen and elastin in our skin.

Also, it's important to make sure to drink water every day. Studies tell us different amounts to drink, from 2 glasses to 8, but they all agree on one thing: drinking water is good for you!

Nourishing your skin from the inside out with Omega 3 / DHA Plus is an excellent way to lay a good foundation internally complementing your Xtend-Life skin cream regimen externally.

Excessive sun exposure = sun damage
You can enjoy the warmth and health benefits of the sun without damaging your skin simply by using common sense if planning on spending prolonged periods outdoors. The UVA and UVB rays from the sun contribute to wrinkles, dryness, sunburn and the risk of skin cancer. So, plan your day, wear the right clothing and have fun outdoors, all while taking care of your skin.

Get your beauty sleep
Sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours a night. While we sleep, our bodies along with our skin recharge and prepare for a new day. So, no matter how busy your day is, take time to relax and unwind and get the restful sleep you and your skin need.

Use the right skincare products
Xtend-Life's skin care range for women and men is the solution to combat photo-aging and the visible signs of aging.

Using the latest in cell rejuvenation technology, our products and their unique formulations are far ahead of the big name brands. They are specially formulated to work at a cellular level with all skin types and in all climates.