The News

An Ounce of Prevention

WOMEN’S WORLD

When it comes to taking care of your skin and anti-aging therapy, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

That is the message that plastic surgeon Bertha Torres Gómez wanted to get across during a recent media conference at her Hospital Español clinic to introduce a new daily skincare products by the French derma-cosmetic company Filorga.

“We are all constantly aging, and our bodies and faces begin to show the first signs of aging in our early 20s,” Torres Gómez said.

“You can’t stop the advance of time, but you certain can slow it down, and with the right beauty routine, most women can dramatically reduce the advance of the visual effects of aging on our skin.”

Torres Gómez went on to say that in the world of medical beauty, “prevention is always the key to anti-aging.”

Skin begins to age when you are in your early 20s. Photo: Neurokern

And while it is important to clean and moisturize skin twice a day, not all products are suited to all skin types, so it is vital to select treatments that are going to be effective for your particular skin type.

“The best advice I can give anyone about skincare is to consult a dermatologist, not a cosmetics salesperson in Palacio de Hierro or Liverpool,” she said.

“I also suggest that they use a derma-cosmetic line rather than a strictly cosmetic line, that will do little more than moisturize the outer layer of skin.”

Your skin is your body’s largest organ and is constantly in flux, Torres Gómez said.

Everyone’s skin ages differently.

And while much of the inevitable part of facial aging is driven by a person’s DNA and is considered intrinsic, a staggering 85 percent of the visible signs of aging can be directly attributed to extrinsic causes that are preventable, and even, sometimes, correctable.

Making informed decisions about sun exposure, diet, exercise, smoking and the regular use of skincare products can be key in helping to stave off skin aging.

One of the main causes of the appearance of visible aging is a degradation of the skin’s extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex framework that supports and protects the cells of the dermis.

The ECM is composed of structural proteins (collagen and elastin), adhesive proteins (laminens and fibronectin), glycosaminoglycans (GAG) and proteoglycans.

A network of collagen fibers provide strength and structure to the skin, while elastin gives skin the ability to stretch and return to its original shape.

Hyaluronic acids, the most common type of GAG, can hold 1,000 times their weight in water. Photo: Maddis

The GAG that surround this structure are composed of hyaluronic acid, heparin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, heparin and dermatan sulfate.

Hyaluronic acid, the most extensively studied GAG, can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water within the matrix, making skin healthy, plump and youthful-looking.

But as we age, the skin’s production of collagen, elastin and GAG decreases and skin begins to sag and droop.

Products such as Filorga’s premium line NCTF (short for New Cellular Treatment Factor) are made from the same hyaluronic acid your skin produces, but can be applied topically to reduce tiny lines and wrinkles while plumping and moisturizing skin to keep it hydrated and healthy.

Other factors, such as smoking and sun exposure, can also effect collagen, elastin and GAG.

Unprotected sun exposure has been directly linked to  collagen degradation, skin laxity, hyperpigmentation and, most importantly, skin cancer.

That is why every person over six months of age should be using a broad-spectrum sun protection product on a daily basis.

“Aging, like death, is inevitable,” said Torres Gómez.

“But you can slow the process, and with a simple but well-planned beauty regimen, you can have younger-looking skin for years to come.”

 WHAT’S NEW

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Photo: The News/Thérèse Margolis

Interior Designs
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