In the case of acne, we always say that it is better to treat it from the inside out, because there are many different types.  Some are now saying that the same rule of thumb applies to wrinkles.  You should target it from the inside and let it seep out through your pores and therefore work in taht way.  it has some logic to it.  After all, if you eat healthy foods, your whole body as a general rule tends to maintain a lot of its defenses, the skin being one of them.  So what are these foods?

1. Miso

This paste made generally for soup from the fermented soybean is rich in proteins and amino acids, which is good for the skin.  In addition, it has been conducted to the increased presence of estrogen like properties and hyaluronic acid, a natural and oil free moisturizer produced within our own bodies.  It is speculated that womeni n Japan often maintain their youth due to daily consumption of miso soup.  However, we are skeptical considering Japanese women in America who do not consume Miso on a regular basis maintian often the same youth.

2. Salmon

This one actually has some credibility to it.  Salmon is a superfood rich in essential oils and in omega 3 fatty acids.  in the right amounts, it provides your body in general and your skin with various benefits, including softer and younger looking skin.  there is also speculation that it works as an anti inflammatory.

3. Walnuts

Walnuts are also good sources of omega 3 fatty acids and can reduce inflammation in the skin and prevent damage to the skin by means of sun exposure. 

4. Olive oil

Finally, this anti inflammatory has an ingredient known as olecanthal.  it is a free radical scavenger, thereby preventing aging by preventing free radical damage.  it protects collagen and elastin cells by doing this and essentially protects your skin.

If you are tired of wrinkles, most people think that you are probably a woman.  After all, men look more dignified with age.  But there are some men who also suffer the same complexes and problems, because just like women, they don’t like premature aging or aging in general.  They don’t like having wrinkles, not being able to play ball with the guys like they used to, any of these things.  And they find that they don’t feel like women are looking at them the same way as they used to.

But if you look at it from a scientific perspective, you don’t have to go searching for a special wrinkle serum meant especially for men.  You may have a different skin type from your girlfriend or wife, but it’s not because of your sex.  It’s because people in general tend to have different skin types whether sensitive, tough, normal, oily, dry, etc.  But there are also essential ingredients that have been tested across different skin types and seem to work, because they are naturally found in the skin, such as peptides.

While we recommend a formula with the highest possible amount of the powerful ingredients such as peptides, we know that they can be expensive, and they are not necessarily for everybody.  So like we would with women, we suggest that you keep up maintenance on your skin, use a moisturizer, use sunscreen, etc.  And if you find yourself needing to reverse some signs of aging, we suggest finding ingredients that are proven to fight wrinkles and also are appropriate for your skin type as far as their sensitivity among other things.

If you go for a chemical peel, it can be rather expensive, and it also comes with requirements such as staying out of the sun for a certain period of time to protect sensitive skin.  They conduct this procedure by applying a chemical solution to the skin and allowing it to soak in.  They wait over the next day or so and depending on how deeply the chemical can penetrate the skin, it allows a layer of the skin to actually peel off.  These chemicals have in the past been referred to as exfoliating or wounding agents. 

The types of chemical peels differ, and there are differing results among other things.  But you should only go to a qualified practitioner to obtain them.  The number of coats differ, even the agents differ, and the time in between can differ between procedures and practitioners.  You are less likely to experience side effects and a bad after effect if you have a better practitioner for obvious reasons.

Superficial peels are the mildest types, and they find it can generally be used on all skin types.  They generally used a mild dilute of glycolic acid, which has been used in over the counter wrinkle and acne treatments.  They also use dry ice at times.

Medium peels tend to penetrate the skin at a deeper level, and they can cause second degree burns to the skin.  They use TCA as the main ingredient, and it can be done in several stems using TCA.

Deep peels are the most invasive of the peels.  They tend to penetrate several layers on the face, and they use a chemical called phenol.  This peel is definitely not for all skin types, and it is the most likely to be botched or cause long term side effects such as that permanently angry look many complain of.  They cannot be used on darker skin types for the simple reason that they tend to cause hypopigmentation of the skin.  Even in those with lighter skin types, these peels or deep resurfacing in general can bleach the skin and they should only be used in cases where all things have been carefully considered. 

Before the peel, your doctor should ask you what depth of peel and other factors that you would like and base it also on your individual skin type.  They may ask you what kinds of results you want, which can determine a lot of things, and they will start preparing your skin or rather asking you to prepare your skin with daily cleanses, sunscreen application, and in some cases the use of a common acne medication known as Retin-A.  It can speed healing among other things.

Before any chemical peel, you should consider all your other options and if you really need a chemical peel due to all the risks to your skin among other things and sometimes undesirable results.  You should consider your doctor and the type of peel you want, and you should honestly consider other options if possible.

Popularly known as the alternative to botox in a jar, Argireline is known in the scientific community as acetyl hexapeptide-3.  While botox works with a small amount of botulism to freeze the muscles, but hopefully not freeze anything resulting in side effects, health concerns, or death for you, argireline is a naturally occurring peptide that works to relax the facial muscles, quickly reducing wrinkles, but not necessarily giving you that tight and drawn back look and not resulting in a complete absence of expression.  It is also far more affordable than botox.

Argireline is manufactured by the Spanish based company Lipotec, and as a hexapeptide, it uses a chain of 6 amino acids.  In releasing the tensions and relaxing muscles, wrinkles will quickly go away, though it should be combined with other peptides, as argireline is not one of those that will actually build higher levels of collagen and elastin, therefore not creating long term results, or at least not for a long time after you stop using it.  Still users are raving about it as a desirable alternative to botox.

Clinical studies have shown that acetyl hexapeptide-3 when used in the correct manner can be extremely efficient and can attract many consumers.  But users should be cautioned of the fact that again, argireline should not be the only active wrinkle fighter in any product you use as it does not rebuild collagen or elastin levels.  It should also be noted that no product should use more than a 10% concentration, and those that would suggest that or blatantly claim that they would use more should raise a red flag.  While 10% works great, there is a point at which your facial muscles can be relaxed too much.  With more than 10% argireline, your facial muscles can become droopy, sagging, and you can experience facial sag.  You should also note that it is recommended to use about 10%.  So if you see a concentration with 2-3%, it won’t cause facial sag, but it also won’t do its job.

Unlike botox, argireline does not work in one or two specific areas where injected.  In fact, it is not injected at all, but applied over the skin.  It tends to work wherever you put it on a regular basis, and significant results can generally be seen in 6 weeks.  However, it is important to be informed, even with a safe and effective ingredient such as this, in terms of what you are getting in terms of concentration and quality.

Most of us cannot logically afford botox.  Botox injections are extremely expensive, not to mention dangerous.  They are injecting you with small amounts of the poison botulism, scary thought.  And some have had bad experiences in the past and learned to avoid it all together.  But there are some who believe that you are in control to some degree of how your botox experience goes, if you have side effects, etc.  I’m sure there are ways to reduce the suffering, but are you really in control of that much?  So here are tips I’ve found:

1. Stop drinking for 7 days before, all alcohol, beer, wine, the hard stuff, no social drinking, nothing for 7 days before.  This apparently means you won’t be bruised up from the process.  I mean they don’t allow alcohol consumption right before tattoos, because from what I’ve heard, it thins the blood.  With bruises, the blood coagulates from what I understand.  So how exactly does thinner blood lead to bruising?  I am slightly unsure on that.
2. Don’t take aspirin.  Headaches are common, even though it is technically sometimes used to treat migraines.  But they usually subside within 24-48 hours. 
3. Stay busy just after.  You don’t have to go back to work if the headaches are especially bad or anything like that.  But if you keep your head in an upright position for at least 4 hours, the treatment will “stay put.”  It sounds weird, but they say it works.  So no resting, no closing your eyes and “sleeping.  I assume you can sit on a couch, just not lay down.
4. No big reactions.  Frankly, it freezes the muscles, and any big movement can have an affect on how long it lasts.  If you can avoid big facial expressions until it has time to set, well facial expressions are said to accelerate wrinkles to some degree anyway, so that might just be common sense.
5. Ignore the needle.  I for one don’t really like needles. I avoid shots if I can, I avoid the whole plasma centers and donating blood, because it’s one of those things you do if you don’t like needles.  Logically, you would also avoid botox.  But for those who think it necessary, and for those who get the normal treatments without anesthesia, a slight pinch is normal.  But if you think less about the needle, you are less likely to feel more pain psychologically speaking.
6. Don’t expect overnight results.  Now, I thought that was part of the point of botox, overnight results, quick results.  After all, the results only last about 4 months, and they are extremely expensive.  But apparently, it doesn’t work that fast after all.
7. Be prepared for side effects.  Side effects like headaches are normal, eye twitching, droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, general pain.  But what some don’t mention is that if you experience extreme side effects, medical side effects such as oh trouble breathing, that is far from normal and something you need to see your doctor about right away!  Botulism is still a poison, even in small amounts, and it could ultimately lead to death untreated.

We are all looking for those secrets to success, the ones that will magically make the pounds melt away while we sit back and watch it happen.  The truth is it doesn’t work that way.  To lose weight now and keep it off later, there are 3 major things to do, there are 3 major ways to function, and ways to set your weight loss goals so that you can achieve success.

First, make your weight loss goals measurable.  Obviously, you may not have a scale at home, because you don’t like to judge on weight.  So get a tape measure.  If you don’t know if you are making progress or not, if you cannot measure those results, how will you know if you are doing the right things or not?  Instead of just thinking I want to be thinner, set a specific goal.  Say I want to lose 10 pounds, maybe I want to lose 20 pounds, or even 30 pounds or higher.  But you have to set that number so you know what you’re working toward.

Second, make them reasonable.  If you say I am going to lose 100 pounds by the end of the summer(i.e. 4 months from now), you’re not going to make it, at least not without seriously damaging your health among other things.  If you set yourself up for failure like that, you are only going to be discouraged, because you will only fail.  You will definitely feel overwhelmed. But if you say I want to lose 2 pounds each week, that is more reasonable and more achievable.  When you surpass that goal, it will give you extra confidence, and when you meet it, you can be proud of yourself for meeting your goals.

Finally, make them actionable.  This means that you don’t focus on where you’re going so much as how you are going to get there.  So while you should know whether you want to lose 10 pounds or 50, this means making a game plan.  You aren’t going to lose weight by sitting around on your couch and exercising 20 minutes a day while sitting around with junk food the rest of the time.  If you did, you would be either a walking miracle or a walking disease.  So maybe you say I am going to start eating salads instead of other fatty foods I might eat once a day, I am going to start going to the gym for an hour a day, I am going to run for this long, lift weight for this many reps, I am going to drink 8 glasses of water each day, etc.

Many goals fail for one, two, or even all of these reasons.  People set unrealistic goals, expect to reach them without putting in the work, or they give themselves vague ideas that really set up no expectations.  The combination of course is the worst.  But by incorporating these concepts into your diet, you can achieve greater success.

Laser Genesis.  It has been used to treat wrinkles, pores, and skin damage in general.  It apparently uses “advanced vibrant even skin tone and smooth texture in both men and women.”  They use light to promote the growth of collagen.  It sounds a lot like those blue light therapies that are supposed to either kill bacteria or promote the growth of collagen. 

The difference is, Laser Genesis is an outpatient procedure performed by a professional of some type.  It uses a laser light to penetrate the dermis to hit the collagen producing cells.  They say it produces more even skin tones, tighter pores, and smoother skin texture, targeting the microvasculature vessels beneath the skin surface.  It diffuses redness and improves complexions.  It apparently decreases fine lines, wrinkles, and restores even skin tones.  It is more effective when combined with other treatments such as chemical peels.

This could very well be because light technology has not actually been proven to kill bacteria, reduce wrinkles, increase collagen production, etc.  On the bright side, it won’t damage sensitive skin cells or any other skin cells.  But when it doesn’t work, and I can guarantee you’re paying quite a bit of money for it, it defeats the whole purpose in quite a few ways.

You should expect when receiving this treatment to feel a warming sensation.  This warm feeling can continue for up to 30 minutes after treatment, and some may also feel mild tingling and increased firmness for up to a day after treatment.  Isn’t the point to increase firmness on a more permanent or long lasting basis?  Normal activities can be resumed immediately after treatment, and you should probably use a good sunscreen, and you may have a rosy glow to your skin.  Some require multiple treatments according to distributors and so on.  But I suspect this is just to get more of your money. 

If you are getting microdermabrasion, you may require multiple treatments. But you should be able to see results after one treatment.  Multiple treatments are simply used to get better results and more noticeable results.  It is also proven and guaranteed to work.  On the other hand, Laser Genesis is not proven or guaranteed to work.  You have their word, that is as long as you are paying more money into the system.  If you don’t see the results you wanted, you probably should have gone in for more treatments or so they say.  But the reality is you’re not seeing results, because it doesn’t work.

            Everybody is always looking for ways to reduce their wrinkles.  But some of the best ways to reduce your chances of wrinkles are surprisingly simple.  Some you may not even think of, may not even occur to you.  But we outline them below.

1. Sleep On Your Back

Apparently, sleeping in certain positions night after night can lead to “sleep lines” that become etched into the skin and don’t disappear when you wake up.  Sleeping on your side can increase wrinkles in the cheeks and chin, and sleeping facedown gives you a furrowed brow.  So sleep on your back.

1. Eat More Fish

Salmon and other fish are potent sources of omega 3 fatty acids and protein, the building blocks of the skin.  It can nourish skin, keep it plump, and reduce wrinkles.

1. Get Reading Glasses!

Some of us continue to squint either due to pride or because we just don’t think about it.  So if you are having trouble seeing, get yourself a pair of reading glasses, which will help you to avoid repetitive facial movements such as squinting, which overworks facial muscles and creates wrinkles.

1. Trade Coffee For Cocoa

Cocoa has high levels of epicatchin and catechin, which protect your skin form sun damage, improve circulation, affect hydration, and make your skin look and feel smoother.

1. Eat More Soy

Research has shown that eating more soy may help to protect your skin against the sun’s damage or even heal some of it.  Apparently, soy based supplements improved the skin’s structure and firmness after just 6 months according to one European based study.

            Hollywood and the rest of America alike have been using botox and wrinkle fillers for ages.  Both are injections, and both are meant to solve wrinkle problems ranging from crow’s feet to forehead wrinkles to smile lines.  On one hand, botox is guaranteed but comes with multiple side effects.  But on the other hand, wrinkle fillers use less invasive methods, but don’t quite have the same effects most of the time.  Botox injections last about 4 months, and the time frame for wrinkle fillers ranges.

            I’m not one to use either one.  I’m not particularly fond of needles first of all.  But second, I’ve heard about all the side effects, the risks, the lack of effects in some cases, and the expensive costs.  And frankly, why not age gracefully instead of having that moot look on your face when using botox for example.  I mean the whole idea of injecting myself with a small amount of poison.  I don’t really feel all warm and fuzzy about ingesting a small amount of antifreeze known as the preservative propylene glycol.  I definitely don’t feel all warm and fuzzy about injecting botulism into my skin. 

            Specifically speaking, wrinkle fillers are meant to attack lines on the forehead and around the eyes, sunken acne sacrs, and nasal lines or wrinkles between the nose and lips.  Botox on the other hand is meant to target worry lines, crow’s feet, deep forehead wrinkles, eyebrow droop, down turned lips, and neck lines.  Both can make significant and yet temporary differences in these areas.  Some fillers can take a few months to show.  But the effects of botox are usually immediately visible. 

            Frankly, our skin ages, develops stretch marks, wrinkles, etc, because it loses its ability to produce collagen and elastin.  It really has little to do with fillers or the lack thereof in your skin.  Fillers have used ingredients like hyaluronic acid.  The unfortunate part is while hyaluronic acid can be found as a naturally occurring cushioner in the skin, it can also be found as a moisturizer in much more affordable creams.  It does not necessarily reduce wrinkles on a long term basis, but it does moisturize, and is quickly processed by the body.  Other fillers use bovine collagen, human based collagen, and body fat.  But none of these have any real side effects.

            Botox side effects include swelling, redness, bruising, and lumpiness most of the time.  But less common side effects include drooping of eyebrows, blank looks, double vision, tooth problems, facial pain, nausea, muscle weakness, indigestion, heartburn, high blood pressure, respiratory failure, difficulty swallowing, neck pain, headaches, anxiety, and death in extreme cases.

            Botox and wrinkle fillers are extremely pricey.  The natural market is always progressing, and many are finding better and more viable solutions there, both for long term health and avoidance of side effects.  If you are considering any one of these procedures, you should talk to your doctor and see if it is even an appropriate option for you in the first place.  But we would suggest staying away all together.

            We have all been looking for that elusive anti wrinkle cure.  We want creams, serums, extreme changes without extreme procedures.  There are unfortunately no natural cures that can provide overnight results as a surgery or botox procedure would.  But we have found a few foods that may prevent wrinkles or even diminish some fine lines.

            The first are blueberries.  Blueberries are packed full of antioxidants and they are truly the best anti wrinkle food available.  They are also packed with nutrients and they are packed with fructose sugar, which can satisfy sugar cravings as well as providing the proper amount of sugar.  With this high amount of insoluble fiber, it can actually promote weight loss without reducing the nutritional value.

            The second is beans.  They are one of the major sources of plant protein.  Peas, beans, and chickpeas are generally known as legumes.  Generally, they have about 215 calories per cup, and those have the highest concentration of protein combined with the lowest level of fat in any food.  They are also known to be high in potassium while simultaneously being low in sodium.  Studies show that eating these on a regular basis can lower cholesterol levels.

            The third is tomatoes.  A medium sized tomato accounts for only 25 calories on average, and they are high in potassium and fiber, while being low in fat and sodium.  Tomatoes and strawberries significantly reduce the chances of dying of cancer, partly due to their potent content of antioxidants.  And even canned, crushed, peeled, whole, or stewed tomatoes can contribute to these goals while flavoring sauces, casseroles, soups, etc.  Spaghetti sauce can contribute to your diet efforts. 

            Fourth, you will find tofu.  This is another food packed with protein and low in fat.  It is essentially tasteless and takes on the taste of the food around it.  It is otherwise known as soybean curd, and it is also rich in calcium and iron.  There are different varieties, and it can easily be implemented into any diet. 

            Then you will find cabbage.  Cabbage is not appealing to some, but at only 33 calories per cup of cooked cabbage, it is truly a wonder food.  It can be found in sauerkraut, coleslaw(the calories depend on how much dressing is used), and in many other sources.  Eating cabbage once a week can reduce your risks of developing colon cancer.  Greece and Japan, countries with the highest amount of cabbage in their diet, also show the lowest rates of earth death and colon cancer in the world.

            Finally, there is omega 3.  We have all heard of these.  You can find them in salmon and other various sources.  They are called the healthy fats or the “good fats”, and if eaten from the abalone, you will only consume 90 calories, or with the herring, 236 calories.  It has been known to lower the risk of heart disease, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, relieve inflammation and stiff joints, and may not only reduce wrinkles, but may also improve your hair.

            Overall, all these foods are high in nutrients, low in fat, and they can contribute to healthier skin.  Foods like blueberries can kill free radicals that may be damaging skin, and omega 3’s can moisturize and supplement the skin without making it oily.  If you are looking for an everyday way to supplement your diet and reduce the common signs of aging, these are a few of the foods that can help.