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ways - it prevents dehydration, as alcohol acts much like caffeine in its diuretic effects, and it also reduces blood vessel damage in the skin. Alcohol consumption over time damages blood vessels and reduces the nutritive properties of the skin, leading to broken vessels or "spider veins."

* Sunlight is a major damaging factor. Reducing the exposure to harmful radiation helps skin stay younger. Covering up, avoiding the hours of strongest sunlight, and wearing a moisturizer or other skin product with SPF protection of at least 15 help reduce the effects of radiation on your skin. Besides preventing cancer, these steps protect your skin from UV damage which leads to wrinkles, dryness, and other aging problems.

* Skin products, including cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and exfoliants can greatly help skin. A daily regime of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing helps skin keep its nutrients, and reduces the pollutants that stay on the skin. Periodically exfoliating helps slough off the dull dry dead cells on the surface of the skin exposing younger cells underneath. However, it is wise to not overuse skin care products. Many have harsh chemicals, perfumes, and dyes that can irritate skin.

TREATMENT
Once the damage has been done, there are different treatment options that are out there to help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, reduce splotchiness, and treat other signs of aging.

* Skin Creams with Vitamin C are often used to help reduce hyperpigmentation. They are said to reduce the production of melanin by the melanocytes, and can decrease the appearance of age spots. Glycolic acid, tretanoin, and Retin-A are other components of anti-aging skin creams and serums.

* Botox refers to injections of Botulinum toxin. This bacterial protein is injected into facial muscles, effectively weakening them or even paralyzing them, preventing them from forming fine lines and wrinkles. This is most commonly used for wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyes, or on the outside corners of the eyes. This is a relatively cheap and easy way to treat wrinkles, and effects last 3-6 months. Sometimes other facial muscles are weakened as well, resulting in "Botox face" which tends to not be very expressive.

* Collagen injections use collagen from cow tissue and helps replace collage below wrinkles. As skin's own collage production is reduced, collage injections can help artificially plump the skin. The forehead, cheeks, and chin are easily treated with collagen injections, and the results last for 2-4 months.

* Chemical peels and Microdermabrasion help remove the outer, older layers of skin revealing the younger skin underneath. Chemical peels use, obviously, chemicals to remove the outer layers. Microdermabrasion uses a devise that acts like a tiny sandblaster. This reduces wrinkles, but may require more than one treatment to have any observable effect.

* A newer technique is photorejuvenation, which uses low energy light to stimulate new collagen production.

With all of these, patience is a virtue. Those expecting results right away are sure to be disappointed. Especially with creams and serums, it may take anywhere up to 6 months to see results.

It takes time to fix damage, and it takes time to create damage. The best time to attack skin aging is before it occurs, with proper diet and nutrition, reduction of exposure to environmental hazards, and an appropriate daily routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Once the damage has occurred, the signs of aging can be reduced by various things like creams, injections, and abrasive treatments. Your skin is the first thing people see - your face tells everyone your health and well-being. Prevent damage, and take care of your skin.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Vose.
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