While the discovery for the fountain of youth has evaded scientists for years, dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons are closer than ever before to helping turn back the clock -- at least when it comes to the body's largest and most complex organ, the skin. Now, thanks to a better understanding of how the skin ages, making major improvements to the appearance of the skin no longer means getting a face-lift.
New age-defying creams and minimally invasive procedures, such as skin-firming laser therapies, enable you to take years off your looks. The idea is to start early with these less-invasive anti-aging skin care treatments, says Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D., clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University and author of Instant Beauty: Getting Gorgeous on Your Lunchtime Break (St. Martin's Press, 2002). To help your skin recapture its youth, follow our advice on these fast face fixes.
Beautiful skin during the carefree 20s
During this decade, skin cells regenerate at top speed, keeping the complexion soft, smooth and radiant. Collagen and elastin -- the fibers that give skin its plumped-up look and elasticity -- are in optimal health. And photoaging (the evidence of the sun sins of our youth) has yet to appear. That's why the 20s become the prime time for anti-aging skin care to protect skin from free radicals, the volatile particles -- generated by pollution and the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays -- that damage the molecular structure of skin cells, causing the skin to age faster and increasing the risk of skin cancer, according to Los Angeles dermatologist Howard Murad, M.D.Despite nursing a lingering shoulder injury this season, 28-year-old Stacie Tovar managed to secure a second place finish at the 2013 North Central Regional. Her killer routine may have something to do with earning her fifth straight entry into the Cross FitGames (she placed 12th overall last year). “Every day, I get a solid nine hours of sleep, get up and train, hustle the corporate life from 9 to 5, train some more, and repeat,” says the 5-foot-5 competitor from Omaha, NE. “In between, I make sure to eat clean, eat plenty, stay hydrated, mobilize, and, most of all, have fun while trying to balance it all.”