Anti-ageing: what works?

2 mins to read

What causes our skin to deteriorate more quickly, and what steps are genuinely effective when it comes to slowing the ageing process?

Everyday health

1. Cause: here comes the sun

Dr Tanya Gilmour, Dermatologist and Fellow of the Australasian College of Dermatologists: "Photo-ageing is ageing due to excessive ultraviolet light over time, causing damage to the skin. UVB & UVA wavelengths of light result in damage to our DNA and premature breakdown of collagen and elastin. We see this ageing in our skin as roughness, uneven skin colour, fine and deep wrinkling and prominent blood vessels."

What to do:

Gilmour: "Sunscreens need to be reapplied every two to three hours when out in the sun. Protecting skin from the sun helps prevent skin cancer, signs of early ageing, uneven pigmentation and other skin signs of excessive sun exposure."

2. Cause: cigarette smoke

Gilmour: "Smoking produces chemicals that impair the production of collagen and cause an increase in the breakdown in both collagen and elastin."

What to do:

Easy: quit

3. Cause: poor diet

National Women's Health Resource Centre: "The food you put in your mouth can affect the health of your skin more than anything you could put on your face."

What to do:

Kath Terrill, Naturopath: "Drink lots of water - 70 per cent of the dermis, which is the second layer of the skin, is made up of water. So hydration is very important and often very underestimated, too.

Collagen and elastin, which keep skin elastic, are influenced by high concentrations of zinc and vitamin C. An ingredient such as lycopene (found in tomatoes) is a great UV protectant. And lutein does a really good job at that as well – that's the yellow carotenoid pigment found in vegetables and fruit. Vitamins C and E can be useful for reducing uneven pigmentation."

4. Cause: antioxidant damage

National Women's Health Resource Centre: "Complex chemical processes in your body produce unstable molecules called free radicals. Think of them as Skin Enemy Number One. Left to their own devices, they go on to damage otherwise healthy cells in a process called oxidation. This is the same process that turns an apple brown or changes a copper roof from reddish gold to blue-green, so you can just imagine the way it can affect your skin."

What to do:

Terrill: "Getting enough sleep gives your body the chance to rest and rejuvenate. When we go to sleep our body can help mop up the [antioxidant] damage from throughout the day. Restful sleep also reduces the amount of stress as well.

Eat good foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3s, and are good for cell membrane and signalling elasticity in the skin. Get a lot of antioxidants, including vitamin A, C, zinc, selenium and other plant nutrients.

Berries are also rich in antioxidants. And nuts, seeds and avocados are high in vitamin E. High protein food is really good because it's essential for the elastin fibres that keep our skin in shape. Follow a high quality diet that's low in saturated fats."

5. Cause: Lifestyle stress

Terrill: "Stress can have an effect on your skin because often when we're stressed, we don't eat as well as we normally would, and tend to reach for quick-fixes that are high in sugar and low in antioxidants."

What to do:

Terrill: "Exercise is good as it improves the circulation throughout your system and gives you a more glowing appearance. Relaxing and getting out into fresh air are also important – avoid environmental pollution. And combine relaxation into your exercise routine. Yoga is a great de-stressor."

References available on request