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Skin ExpertsSkin CareAges 20 to 29

 

Skin Care for Ages 20 to 29

As adulthood begins, many individuals find themselves dealing with the skin conditions of adolescence, particularly acne scarring and unwanted, excess hair. If you want to permanently address these skin problems, refer to these resources on treatments options for acne scarring and unwanted hair  to reduce or eliminate acne scars and providing long-lasting relief from unwanted hair.

The 20’s are an important time to take full responsibility to protect your skin and prevent damage. Make habits that reduce the sings of aging to take a solid step toward good skin health:

  • Just one serious sunburn over your lifetime can increase your risk of skin cancer by as much as 50%. That's why sun protection is crucial — not only to prevent wrinkles and other signs of aging, but more importantly, to help prevent skin cancer.
    • Always use an SPF sunscreen and limit sun exposure.
    • Begin monthly skin cancer self-exams to check for suspicious moles, dark spots or unusual skin changes as they could be early warning signs of skin cancer. See your dermatologic surgeon as soon as possible to have them examined.
  • Avoid smoking, as it causes the early onset of wrinkles compared to non-smokers.

Wrinkle prevention and treatments

The beginnings of fine lines and slight dulling of the skin are not uncommon, even in this youthful stage. Wrinkles are the appearance of a fold or fine line in the skin due to a combination of intrinsic aging and ultraviolet damage from sun exposure. Essentially, a wrinkle is the end result of the molecular changes that occur in the elasticity of our skin due to damage of the collagen and elastin fibers.

Letting wrinkles go can cause them to compound, so you may want to consider taking some small steps now to keep your face looking youthful for many years to come.

Clinically tested and approved topical creams and lotions can offer substantial help for milder symptoms of wrinkled skin. The best ones have preventive as well as therapeutic value and can be used throughout one's life. Even in more advanced cases of lines and other facial imperfections, these creams are often combined with other treatments to increase their effectiveness.

For more advanced symptoms of wrinkled skin, there are a variety of non-ablative treatment options.

Your local dermatologic surgeon can make specific recommendations as to which of these treatments and procedures will produce the best results for you.

The effects of pregnancy on your skin

Pregnancy is stressful on the entire body, and many of its effects can show up on the skin. These include:

• Stretch marks: Most stretch marks that appear during pregnancy disappear over time, but in some instances they simply don’t go away. Laser treatments offer a simple way to help reduce these unpleasant blemishes.

• Varicose Veins and spider veins: Unsightly varicose and spider veins are also associated with pregnancy, and fortunately there are several treatment options to successfully remove these flaws. See detailed information on varicose vein treatment and spider vein treatment options.

• Weight gain: While most women lose the weight they gain during pregnancy over the next six to 12 months, sometimes the fat stubbornly resists diet and exercise regimens. Liposuction, a very safe procedure when performed by a qualified dermatologic surgeon, can remove the last of post-pregnancy fat. See detailed information on excess fat treatment options.

Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy also produces a number of hormonal changes in the body, which can result in unwanted side effects. These can range from excess hair growth to skin discoloration or pigmentation problems, from a late outburst of acne to hair loss and fairly severe medical conditions. Consultation with your gynecologist as well as your dermatologic surgeon can help you understand the symptoms and their causes, and determine the best methods for treating them.

• Hormone-based birth control methods also produce hormonal changes in the body. Some of the most common side effects relating to the skin are the appearance of excess hair and pigmentation (color) changes. Chemical peeling and laser and intense pulsed light treatments can help improve these conditions.