AGEING GRACEFULLY

Last January 2010, I was rotating in the Department of Psychiatry in Western Visayas Medical Center. I was fortunate to be there when the Department of Family Medicine was holding an interdepartmental conference about “AGEING GRACEFULLY’’. A lecture was given by the beautiful renowned dermatologist in Iloilo, Dr. Aileen Montero. Here is an echo of that lecture:

We definitely did not find the fountain of youth. We could not STOP ageing therefore, it is inevitable. But what we can do is to somehow slow ageing or in other words – age gracefully. We wouldn’t want be the next Madam Auring who will try all the new technology to recreate our 17 year old face in our 60 year OLD face. Rather we would want to be an Audrey Hepburn, a Susan Sarandon or in the Philippines, a Vilma Santos, who weathers grow up & grow old in calm, smooth waters. When we age, from the tip of our hair to our toes, there would be some quite of transformation as we enter into the golden years. While we use to have a full cheeks and slimmer waist line, as we grow older, the face thins out while the waist keeps expanding. Blame it on gravity! Some studies have pointed out some remedy for ageing. Like:

1. Calorie restriction – but then again, restricting ourselves with all the calories we need make us go through life in an almost empty gasoline in our tank. Making us yes, age gracefully but definitely die early, brutally speaking.

2. Antioxidant Intervention & Resistance to Stress- this is evidence- based and we all could attest to this. We need all the vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E to fight all the free radicals in our bodies that causes us to age prematurely. And stress is one of the major culprits to those unwanted wrinkles. Stress equates to crow’s feet and frown lines.

3. Hormone replacement therapy- giving estrogen replacement in most women resulted to no acne, smoother and even skin

But the most tried & tested of all is lifestyle modification.

1. Diet- more vegetables and fruits, less meat and portion control

2. Exercise – aerobics, dancing or walking for 20mins at least 3x a day

3. Weight Control

4. Stress Control – what relieve your stress? Know yourself and indulge.

5. Sense of meaning & purpose in life – pray, meditate and be self-giving

IF YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD!

Tested agents used to slow ageing:

Tretinoin & AHA (Alpha-hydroxy Acids) – both are exfoliating agents that slough off the ageing skin to reveal newer taunt skin

One should be conscious while watching TV because some tend to squint or get too intense in watching that could create lines on the forehead. It’s called the 11. You get the 11 number on your forehead because of that bad habit. To know if you are making the 11, you can put a scotch tape across your forehead and you’ll notice the tape wrinkling up.

Some resort to using Botox injection, using a bacteria called Clostridium botulium that paralyzes nerves to create a taunt wrinkle-free skin. There are 7 subtypes and it should be use in caution. There is a famous Filipino newscaster who seem going overboard with the Botox. Her name starts with a C and a D. Hehe…

Here are the possible topical treatments that aids in slowing ageing:

1. Vitamin C- not the tablets though it somehow have an effect. The injectable vials are more potent though are rarely bought in pharmacy. These one can be bought through the manufacturing company

2. Vitamin E

3. Cooper Peptides- the main ingredient of Neutrogena

4. Palmitoyl Pentapeptides- the main ingredient of Olay. Not the Olay Total Effects which claims to fight the 7 signs of ageing. It is actually a repackaged Olay cream that has long been in the market. Rather this age buster can be found the Regenerist line

5. ALA

6. DMAE

7. Coenzyme Q10- main ingredient of Nivea

8. Lycopene- found in Ponds. Lycopene like some tomato catsup claims to have too. Its effect on the skin like they say, rosy pink glow, is just it, the red pigmentation like a tomato. So too much of this lycopene thing could later make you look like a very red tomato

9. Isoflavones- or what we know as soy. Secret weapon of Aveeno line

10.Green Tea Extracts- found in most Japanese line like Shiseido and She Uemura

To Restore, we have the:

1. Fillers

2. Alografts- uses collagen

To resurface, we have the

1. Chemical peel like glycolic peels or TCAs

2. Dermabrasion like the diamond peel

3. IPL- laser that promises better skin tone and less wrinkles

4. Thermage – using heat to renew skin but should be done properly or else you get a burnt skin. More damage than wrinkles & sags.

Lastly, here are some few more tips on ageing gracefully: Dress appropriately. for your age Wear the right eyeglasses. Less is more when it comes to makeup. Treat yourself well. And don’t forget to....smile…...