It may go without saying that the way you take care of the skin on your face is the way you should take care of the skin on your entire body. After all, it ages in the same way.
Dr. Erum Illyas, a board-certified dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in Pennsylvania, said that sun spots on your shoulders or thinning skin on the underside of your arms are some of the most common indicators of skin aging on the body.
“In fact, the number one complaint I hear amongst men and women alike when it comes to body skin is the tissue paper-like wrinkling or crepe-like quality of the skin,” she said.
So, how can you combat that?
According to Dr. Heidi Prather, a board-certified dermatologist with Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, fighting premature aging of the skin comes down to three key principles: protection, preservation and repair.
“Translated into skin care, we think of these three principles as sunscreen and antioxidants (to protect), retinols (to preserve) and peptides and growth factors (to repair),” Prather said.
You should also avoid using physical scrubs because it can break down the skin barrier of already aging skin, according to Dr. Elaine F. Kung, a board-certified dermatologist with Future Bright Dermatology in New York City.
Illyas said that other essential ingredients such as argan oil or lactic acid can also be helpful in creating a well-rounded skin care routine. Read on to learn more about which ingredients you should look for, how they work for aging skin, and some great products that contain them.
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Retinol
“Retinoids can actually help reverse the signs of aging that come from sun damage. They are known to improve fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production in addition to helping to retain water in the skin. They can also work to minimize discoloration in the skin and give the skin more of a glow.” ― IIlyas
Antioxidants
“Antioxidants are a critical part of skin protection because they capture environmental free radicals present in pollution, ozone and UV exposure.” ―Prather
Ceramides
“Ceramides help to moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier, and protect the skin from external aggressors such as weather and pollution.” ― Kung
Lactic and glycolic acids
“Lactic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid that can improve hydration of the skin and promote skin cell turnover, [which] can improve the tightness of the skin and its overall appearance.” ― Illyas
Hyaluronic acid
“This sugar molecule occurs naturally in the skin and helps it to bind water to collagen, trapping it in the skin, so that it can appear plumper and more hydrated.” ― Kung
Peptides
“The most sophisticated and newest ingredient on the market for body repair are peptides. [These] are synthetic proteins with targeted functions in the skin, largely meant to replace growth factors.” ― Prather
SPF
“UPF clothing and sunscreen are the most important elements to anti-aging for the body from a preventative standpoint.” ― Illyas
Before You Go
The Best Hand And Body Creams With Retinol
