Five Skincare Tips for Women of All Ages

Five Skincare Tips for Women of All Ages - What's the secret to healthy, younger-looking skin? We spoke to dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons and skin experts who told us there's no magic pill or secret mask. However, there are lots of simple ways to keep your skin in its best condition no matter what your age.

Here are the experts' top five tips to keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful.

There are lots of simple ways to keep your skin in its best condition no matter what your age.

Goodbye, Sun!

"Avoiding excess exposure is the song I sing every day," says Dr. Amiya Prasad, a New York cosmetic surgeon and the author of "The Fine Art of Looking Younger."

"The advice I'd give first is to be very smart about using sun block, even on the days when it's not sunny," he said.

Protecting yourself from the sun is not just about avoiding skin cancer. Wearing sunblock and avoiding tanning beds will also improve the look of your skin down the road.

"One of the things I've observed in women in their 20s and 30s is that a lot of women have developed fine lines and wrinkles that are disproportionate to their age," says Dr. Prasad. "The main reason for that is sun exposure."

"The lighter your skin, the more susceptible you are the effects of UVA and UVB light."

That's not to say that women shouldn't step out of their houses for fear of premature wrinkles or leathery skin.

"Enjoy life," says Dr. Ellen Marmur, chief, dermatologic and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center and author of "Simple Skin Beauty."

"Go running outside, but don't lie out [in the sun], and never step into a tanning salon."

Know Your Skin

Each person's skin has its own natural tendencies, and doctors say it's important to recognize early on what those are. However, figuring out just what type of skin you have can be a challenge in itself.

"It's harder than most people realize to know what your skin type is," says Dr. Emily Moosbrugger, clinical instructor in dermatology at the University of Cincinnati. "A lot of people have combination skin, where you have dry patches in some areas and oily patches in other areas."

The weather can also play a big role in how your skin behaves during certain times of the year.

"People tend to have a skin type that changes as the seasons change," says Dr. Moosbrugger. "You're dry in winter, oily in summer. It's most important to tailor your therapies as the seasons change or as your personal skin type changes."

So, once you've figured out whether your skin has too much or too little moisture, what can you do about it?

Dr. Prasad suggests that for oily skin, toners may have some benefit.

"There is some role in using toners to help even out the areas that are oily and to make your skin look more uniform," he says.

Dry skin, on the other hand, which tends to strike during the colder months, can be tempered by applying moisturizer two times a day. Additionally, Dr. Marmur suggests that if your skin starts to feel dry, stop using chemicals for a few weeks to allow your skin to return to its natural balance.

Don't Overdo It

When asked about the most common mistake most women make in caring for their skin, Dr. Marmur pointed to something simple and preventable.

"Over-washing and over-applying," she said. "[Women] overdo things. It's almost like they're in a chemistry lab and concocting new things."

Although most women have the best intentions for their skin, trying to do too much good can sometimes be a bad thing.

"A lot of women use harsh cleansers or wash their face too frequently, leaving their skin blotchy, dry, flaky, or too red," says Dr. Moosbrugger.

If you start to feel like you're sending your skin mixed signals, Dr. Marmur recommends a "skin detox," which requires stopping all chemical enhancers in order to restore your skin's natural tone.

Nothing Beats a Healthy Lifestyle

Your skin is just one more area that benefits from a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet, exercise, and avoiding harmful substances.

"You have to remember that skin is an organ like your heart or lungs," says Dr. Prasad.

"Proper hydration, vitamin supplements, getting enough sleep, exercise; these are things that are almost common sense that are often overlooked in skincare. They will give you a healthy foundation so that anything we do on the outside can improve your skin."

However, women may not see the benefits, or consequences, right away.

"In your 20s or 30s, if you took in a lot of sun, or you smoked, or your diet wasn't healthy, if you took in excess alcohol, you really start to pay the price in your 40s and 50s," he says.

One of the most important ways to keep your skin healthy? Don't light up.

"Smoking is one of the worst things you can possibly do to your skin," says Dr. Prasad. "As a surgeon, I can almost always tell if a patient is a smoker when they walk in the door."

Choose the Right Products

It's almost impossible to watch television or read a magazine without seeing advertisements for skincare products. While most ads promise great things, doctors remain skeptical of the benefits of the trendiest or most expensive new product.

"People get seduced by the aggressive marketing of skin products," says Dr. Prasad. "They end up spending a lot of money for products that simply can't deliver."

If we're not to believe everything we see on TV, then what do dermatologists recommend to keep skin looking healthy?

For people with acne, Dr. Marmur suggests a foaming cleanser with salicylic acid to help exfoliate skin.

Once they have outgrown the need for acne-fighting products, many women may want to move on to products that keep their skin looking young.

"The 40s and 50s is when, typically, wrinkles start to bother you, your complexion shows sun damage, and rosacea gets a little worse," says Dr. Marmur.

To protect yourself, experts recommend using a retinol cream at night, as well as occasional chemical peels and exfoliation to rejuvenate the skin.

For younger women looking to start an anti-aging regimen early, protection is your best bet.

"My philosophy is that [in the 20s and 30s] moisturizing your skin and protecting it is your anti-aging regimen," says Dr. Marmur.

"If in doubt, go see your dermatologist," says Dr. Marmur. "If you're starting to feel confused about your skin, you probably are. The earlier the better, if the emphasis is on healthy protection." ( abcnews.go.com )

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Stop Making Excuses, Start Using Sunscreen

Stop Making Excuses, Start Using Sunscreen - Despite the fact that women know they should wear sunscreen every day of the year, only 31 percent do, according to a recent poll by Prevention.com.

And many of those who skip SPF feel guilty about it--so much so that 31 percent admit they've fibbed about putting on sunscreen because they're embarrassed about their bad habit.

So what gives? If we all know that sunscreen helps to protect our skin from cancer and prevent signs of aging such as spots and wrinkles, why aren't more of us using it?

To find out, Prevention asked dermatologists to share some of the most common excuses women give for going outdoors unprotected. Read on and you'll discover there's really no good reason to skimp on sunscreen--you'll be healthier (and younger looking!) if you use it.

Excuse #1: "The chemicals in sunscreen are probably more dangerous than sun exposure."

Sunscreens have gotten some bad press lately, including claims that they contain cancer-causing ingredients. But a recently published review of the studies on which these claims are based should ease fears. "Many of the safety concerns are not well founded--they're based on petri dish or animal data that doesn't relate to humans," says Steven Wang, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, NJ, and coauthor of the review. For example, in one study, mice fed a whopping dose of oxybenzone, a UV-light absorber commonly found in sunscreens, exhibited estrogenic effects, which the researchers believe could cause cancer cells to grow more rapidly. But by Dr. Wang's calculations, it would take more than 250 years for someone who uses sunscreen daily to be exposed to the amount of oxybenzone used in the study.

Still worried? Use a sunscreen like Beyond Coastal Natural SPF 30 Sunscreen ($16; beyond coastal.com), which has zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in lieu of chemical sunscreens.

Excuse #2: "I don't get a lot of sun."

You don't have to be on the beach to soak up rays. Most people rack up 14 hours of casual UV exposure per week. And in one study, short spurts of UVA light twice a week resulted in significant damage to the fibers that keep skin smooth and firm in just 12 weeks. Makeup and a daily lotion with SPF are great steps, but "the protection is short-lived on hot, sunny days," says NYC dermatologist Arielle Kauvar, MD. Use a sweat-resistant sunscreen with at least SPF 30 on all sun-exposed areas to be safe.

Excuse #3: "It's a drag to reapply sunscreen."

Five minutes every 2 hours--that's all it takes to apply the 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen recommended for protection when you're in a bathing suit or outdoors for extended periods. And when it's time to reapply, new sprays like Aveeno Hydrosport Sunblock Spray SPF 85 ($10; drugstores) make it less of a hassle and even adhere to wet skin. Easy, right?

Excuse #4: "Sunscreen is too expensive."

As long as you pick one that clearly states it blocks both UVA and UVB rays, there's no need to break the bank when buying. "Research doesn't show any relationship between price and protection," reports Dr. Wang. Try Banana Boat Ultra Defense SPF 30 Continuous Clear Spray ($10; drugstores).

Excuse #5: "I don't need sunscreen because my skin is naturally dark."

"Skin cancer is color-blind," warns Jeanine Downie, MD, a dermatologist in Montclair, NJ, and coauthor of Beautiful Skin of Color. In fact, skin cancer rates are increasing among Latinos--many of whom have dark skin. Mixed racial heritage may be one reason for the rise, says Vivian Bucay, MD, clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center.

"Hispanics are more genetically diverse than other groups, so even if they have dark skin, they could burn just as someone with fair German or Irish skin would," she says. Plus, those with dark skin may not recognize skin cancers as early in their development as people with light skin. (One study found advanced stages of melanoma at time of diagnosis in 18% of Hispanics and 26% of African Americans, compared with 12% of Caucasians.)

If that's not reason enough for SPF, Dr. Downie has one more: Sun deepens dark spots common in all women of color. Her protection pick: sheer, nonchalky Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 ($10; neutrogena. com).

Excuse #6: "I look so good with a tan."

Think long-term: Saggy, leathery skin is not pretty. Instead, try the subtle sheen of Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Lotion Sunscreen SPF 40 ($9; drugstores).

Excuse #7: "I haven't gotten burned yet."

"This is the skin equivalent of 'I've never had a car wreck, so I don't need a seat belt,'" says Cambridge, MA, derm Ranella Hirsch, MD. Though a cavalier attitude toward sunscreen may not be a big deal when you're young, skin loses its ability to produce melanin effectively as you get older, and that may actually make you more likely to burn. The fact is, sun damage--including wrinkles and loss of firmness--occurs whether or not you're seeing red. And that's a good reason to use a sunscreen like Avon Anew Solar Advance Sunscreen Body Lotion SPF 30 ($34; avon.com); it prevents burning and helps to heal past damage with a blend of antioxidant-rich botanicals.

Excuse #8: "Skin cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer."

UVB rays lead to the development of the two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, triggering melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. While it's true that melanoma is usually curable when caught early, it still kills 8,000 Americans a year. And those who are lucky enough to recover from skin cancer aren't necessarily unscathed. Take basal cell carcinomas, for instance: "They penetrate deeply and slowly destroy healthy tissue," explains Andrew Kaufman, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Both the biopsy and the surgery to remove the lesions can leave a scar or, in rare cases, disfigurement.

Still not screaming for sunscreen? A number of studies also show that having skin cancer increases your risk of developing other cancers, including breast, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, lung, and kidney. One explanation: "Even a little UV light can weaken cells in the skin and compromise your immune surveillance," says Dr. Bucay. "It's like removing the security guards from a bank and allowing the robbers to come in."

Burn Notice

Despite your best efforts, you might still burn. Here's how to heal.

Pop an Aspirin immediately to help with the pain and decrease inflammation so your skin won't get as red.

Drink eight glasses of water a day over the next 48 hours. Water cools you from the inside out and helps stave off dehydration (you lose moisture through burned skin).

Soothe skin and speed healing by soaking a cloth in anti-inflammatory witch hazel and applying it to the affected area. Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes ($5; drugstores) work well for this purpose too. ( abcnews.go.com )

READ MORE - Stop Making Excuses, Start Using Sunscreen