Your Newspaper - Your Health - Turn Back Time, No Knife Required

Posted on: May 26, 2010

Turn Back Time, No Knife Required

Not ready or willing to take the plastic-surgery plunge? These non-surgical treatments could take years off of your eyes, mouth, hair, hands and feet

By Anna Sachse
CTW Features

Even though most folks would rather not end up with a facelift fiasco like Joan Rivers or Kenny Rogers, growing old gracefully doesn’t mean you have to embrace every wrinkle or gray hair. Luckily the following non-surgical treatments can take years off your eyes, mouth, hair, hands and feet, without making you any less wise.

Eyes

Prevent the deepening of fine lines and fade sunspots around the eyes with topical retinoids, says Dr. Amy Wechsler, a New York-based dermatologist and author of “The Mind-Beauty Connection: 9 Days to Reverse Stress Aging and Reveal More Youthful, Beautiful Skin” (Free Press, 2008). These Vitamin A derivatives build collagen, regenerate elastin and diminish abnormal pigmentation. The most effective wrinkle-erasers require a prescription (Renova, Avage, Differin and the like), but Wechsler also recommends over-the-counter products from Topix Pharmaceuticals, such as Topix Replenix Retinol Smoothing Serum. Keep future damage at bay by slathering on the SPF and wearing sunglasses to reduce the squinting that contributes to crow’s feet.

For more immediate results, your dermatologist may recommend Fraxel laser skin-resurfacing (typically three treatments over a few weeks) or a quick Botox injection. “The effects of Botox last about four months,” Wechsler says. “However, lines never come back as deep.” While you’re at it, ask the doc about Latisse, a prescription treatment that can restore the thick, dark lashes of your youth.

But don’t forget that vision problems like cataracts, presbyopia, glaucoma and macular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness) are also a sure-fire way to show your age. To slow down or prevent these troublesome changes, Dr. Oz Garcia, a New York-based nutritionist and author of “Redesigning 50: The No-Plastic-Surgery Guide to 21st-Century Age Defiance” (Collins, 2008), recommends daily 2,000-milligram doses of Vitamin D, in addition to consuming adequate lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids found in foods like spinach, kale, pistachios and eggs.

mouth

“If you smoke – stop,” says Dr. Sandy Johnson, of Johnson Dermatology, Fort Smith, Ark. Not only does it break down collagen and deprive the skin of oxygen, the repetitive puckering contributes to vertical lines around the lips.

Reduce these common creases, as well as nasolabial folds, marionette lines and lipstick lines, for up to a year with facial fillers like Restylane or Perlane. Try Botox or Dysport to help relax the muscles around the mouth. “But if you don’t like injections, I’ve had great success with skin tightening using the Gentle YAG laser,” Johnson says.

Also keep in mind that near-constant exposure to the elements and the gradual loss of subcutaneous fat can wreak havoc on your lips. Prevent wrinkles, brown spots and skin cancer from developing on this sensitive tissue by religiously using a lip balm that contains sunscreen, Wechsler says. Avoid products that contain phenol (such as Blistex), which have a stripping effect. Don’t forget to moisturize your lips at night. Plain old Vaseline does the trick. As for lip fillers, Johnson prefers Juvederm XC, a hyaluronic acid gel which comes premixed with lidocaine.

hair

As we age, hair becomes thinner and produces less pigment (melanin). According to Garcia, you may be able to slow hair loss by using a shampoo like Plantur 39, which contains caffeine extracts that protect roots from fluctuating-hormone-induced damage. You can also strengthen your mane from the inside out by getting sufficient B vitamins, iron, zinc, protein and Omega-3s. Garcia recommends eating a serving of seafood five times a week, or 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams of fish or flax oil every day. Supplementing with colloidal Silica and L-Cysteine can improve hair thickness and texture.

You might want the gray to go away, too, but to avoid further damage to brittle strands, don’t over-process your hair, Johnson says. “However, with that said, I would be sad if I didn’t color my hair every six weeks.” If you have the same sentiment, use shampoo and conditioner specifically made for color-treated hair, but be sure you thoroughly rinse the conditioner off your hair and body to prevent build-up or breakouts.

hands

Even though the hands are constantly subjected to washing and use, people frequently forget to apply beauty products to this extremely thin, fragile skin. The result? Early aging indicators such as a crepe-y texture, bulging veins and “liver spots.”

To protect against these premature problems, Johnson recommends dousing your mitts with SPF in the a.m. and a retinoid at night. Consistent use of a moisturizer won’t reverse damage, but hands will look suppler and thus more youthful (look for hydrating shea butter, olive oil and Vitamin E). Garcia particularly likes Perricone MD, a line of cosmeceuticals that combat the signs of aging by reducing inflammation.

You can also use a Fraxel laser on the hands, but one of Johnson’s favorite quick treatments (approximately 20 minutes) is Radiesse injections. This longer-lasting filler is smoothed out into the hollowed areas, providing plumper paws for up to two years.

feet

Perhaps due in part to less visibility and prohibitive costs, people rarely use retinoids, lasers or fillers on the feet, Wechsler says. Instead, keep your toes looking tip-top with regular exfoliation to prevent calluses and cracks, and a good daily moisturizer. Massage it in slowly to boost circulation. Women should also take periodic breaks from nail polish, because the chemicals can have a drying/yellowing effect.

If the skin on your feet is especially dry and thick, try using a product that contains urea, such as Carmol 20, advises Wechsler. “And remember that feet need sunscreen too.” After all, avoiding unnecessary wrinkles and sunspots anywhere on your body is sure to put a little extra spring in your step.

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Teeth-Whitening

Tobacco, coffee, tea, colas and red wine all contribute to the yellowing of teeth. So does aging. As white enamel wears thin, the underlying layer of yellowish dentin starts to show through. To get your pearly whites looking pearly white again, try these tips from Marty Zase, a dentist with the Colchester Dental Group, Colchester, Conn.

At-Home: Numerous pastes and flosses that contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (standard whitening agents) claim they can bleach your teeth. However, if you use them in a normal fashion, your choppers won’t actually get any whiter, they will simply be cleaner. “Whitening power is a function of strength multiplied by time,” says Zase. “To work, you would have to keep these products against your teeth for 15 to 20 minutes.” Your best bet is stick-on products like Crest Whitestrips. Just make sure to use enough of them to cover your whole smile. If your back teeth remain dark, it can look like they’re missing.

Trays: The most effective bleaching system, these trays of whitening agents (such as Opalescence, Nite White and Day White) fit over your teeth like a glove. Made by your dentist, they are designed for you to use at-home every day for two to four weeks. If you develop gum/tooth irritation or sensitivity to cold, skip a day or ask your dentist to adjust the concentration and add a desensitizing agent.

Power Bleaching: The most expensive bleaching option (and at about an hour, the fastest), this in-office treatment involves painting a high-concentration gel (e.g. BrightSmile, Zoom!) onto the teeth and is done with or without a light. It works best when followed by trays, Zase says.

Warnings: Don’t whiten if you already have fillings, crowns, veneers or bridges on your front teeth, since the bleach won’t alter the color of these materials. Instead, discuss new veneers or bonding with your dentist. Continuing to smoke or consume coffee and other stain-causers may require touch-up treatments at regular intervals. And note: despite the term “bleaching,” actual bleach is a poison and should never be involved in whitening teeth.