Connect the dots: the REAL attribute that makes you look old

Think fast: When you think of signs of physical aging, what is the first thing that comes to mind? 

 If this was Family Feud, the person who slammed the buzzer quickest and blurted out "wrinkles" would certainly be the winner. “Gray hair” might be next on the list, followed by perhaps “glasses”, and then maybe “balding”, with possibly a “cane” or “dentures” coming in last. 

What was your first mental association with aging?

Because of society’s deeply ingrained notion of what “old age” looks like-- a combination of wrinkles, glasses, and gray hair-- it comes as a surprise to learn that a recent study done in Austria proved that NONE of the above things are the leading cause of an aged appearance. Any revised guesses on what the culprit might be?

For the Austrian study, photographs of middle-aged women were photo-shopped into two distinct sets: one version with extremely uneven skin tone, and one version with an abundance of deep wrinkles. Both sets of pictures were then showed to a group of people who had to rate the attractiveness and youthfulness of the women's faces. Across the board, it was the women with the uneven skin tone that were voted less attractive and older than their wrinkled versions. The consensus of this study: brown spots age you even more than wrinkles.

Brown spots, age spots, sun spots, (previously also called  “liver spots”) all refer to the same thing, and that speckled discoloration is the skin’s natural response to long-term sun exposure. The spots you see today didn’t occur from your sun exposure this past summer; instead, they are the result of skin being exposed to too much UV rays over the course of years and years. (On average, it takes about 10 years for sun damaged areas to pigment and manifest as “brown spots”.) The fairer the skin, the more susceptible you are to visible brown spots, but even those with darker skin need to be wary of damaging UV rays too. According to Dr. Susan Taylor, director of the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, EVERY skin tone is susceptible to UV-induced discoloration, which is why sunscreen is a must, no matter how dark your skin color is. “In fairer skin, you get freckles or sun spots, and in darker complexions, an uneven skin tone,” she says. 

Thankfully, today’s science enables us to be able to prevent future damage (with proper diligence) and get rid of the unwanted marks currently showing. 

A high SPF is very important when trying to prevent future sun damage. Skin experts across the board pretty much agree that a broad-spectrum physical block sunscreen provides better protection than the chemical versions. Whereas chemical sunscreens have to be reapplied often, the titanium and zinc oxide in a physical blocking sunscreen actually sit on the surface of your skin and deflect UV rays until they are washed off. (SkinCeuticals makes a version that our entire office, AND Oprah, love!) 

When dealing with pre-existing pigmentation, different treatments are recommended for different skin colors. The fairer your skin, the more receptive it is to laser treatments, whereas the darker your skin is; the greater the risk of burning, darkening, or hypo-pigmentation (spot bleaching). Asian skin is especially tricky, as it can look pale, despite there being a lot of underlying pigment that risk discoloration during laser treatments. (To prevent against unwanted side effects, darker skin usually has to be pre-treated for up to two months before laser treatments.)  

Photorejuvenation laser treatments target the areas of concentrated pigment in your skin, and destroy it. After treatment, the brown spots darken and shrivel up, before sloughing completely off your skin. Once the healing process is complete, the skin has returned to it's original state: clear and pristine.

The only way to prevent more sun spots though, is to make sure your skin is constantly protected (i.e. sunscreen!) regardless of the season, temperature, or current weather. (UV rays are present even while it's cloudy or raining, and can affect your skin even while you're indoors through windows or driving.) Make sure to always cover your face, and apply a dab or two into the backs of your hands. 

Taking a few extra minutes in the morning to make sure your skin is safe can end up saving years from your appearance. (Not to mention, help prevent against skin cancer!)