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Myth No. 1: Every Wrinkle Tells A Story.
This one is true - sort of. Yes, every wrinkle does tell a story, but not the kind of story you are thinking about. Wrinkles don't regale others with your tales of adventure and bravado, says Palm Beach Dermatologist Gary Marder. "They just let people know that you have spent way too much time in the sun."
Myth No. 2: If Your Mom Got Wrinkles Early, You're Doomed.
Sorry, you can't blame your wrinkles entirely on your parents! Genes are only part of this equation, and not a big part at that. Today we know so much more about premature skin aging - and the biggest culprit is extrinsic aging, as in sun exposure and environmental factors. Wearing sunscreen with an SPF30 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays is the best way to make sure your skin stays lineless as you age. "Wrinkles are not from age, 95% of them are sun-related," says New York City dermatologist Ron Shelton, MD. If you take a set of twins, one who spent a lot of time outdoors and the other who didn't, the outdoorsy one will have substantially more wrinkles, he says.
Myth No. 3: Smoking Makes You Look Older And More Sophisticated.
This is half true, says Shelton. Smoking doesn't make you hipper, but it definitely make you look older. Aside from all of the other health risks associated with smoking, it also causes premature wrinkles. Most Gen Ys aren't too worried about heart or lung disease, but they do not want to age like their parent and grandparents did.
Myth No. 4: Drinking More Water Means Fewer Wrinkles
Drink water to stay hydrated, but drinking like a camel won't prevent wrinkles on its own. "If you are dehydrated, you don't look good," says Shelton. And by good, we mean youthful too. Drinking more water will make you look brighter and feel better. Dehydration - even low-grade dehydration - can cause headaches, dizziness and fatigue. But as far as wrinkles go, H2O is no panacea. There is no one size fits all formula for how much water you need each day. It varies based on age, gender, activity level and other factors. The Institute of Medicine says men should aim for 13 cups and women should go for 9 cups of total beverages every day. Drink up!
Myth No. 5: Daily Use Of Moisturizer Means You Can Skip The BOTOX
Not true, says Shelton. This is not to say that you should skip the moisturizer aisle at Sephora. Judicious use of a moisturizer can hydrate skin and plump-up fine lines, but it won't erase wrinkles alone without support from BOTOX or other weapons. Daily moisturizers such as Skinmedica TNS Ultimate Daily MoisturizerTM SPF20, have a potent blend of growth factors, collagen, antioxidants and matrix proteins that help replenish the skin's natural supplies of these nutrients, plus an SPF. Others such as Cerave's Facial Moisturizing Lotion and NeoStrata® Exuviance Age Reverse Hydrafirm replenish your natural stores of hyaluronic acid. According to Marder, "Hyaluronic acid is the same compound that is used in the most popular soft tissue fillers like Restylane®, Juvederm® and Belotero®." In truth, the only FDA-approved topical treatment for wrinkles is retinoic acid.
Myth No. 6. The Only Way To Get Rid Of Wrinkles Is Through Injections.
Needle phobes can breathe a sigh of relief. There are other ways to banish crow's feet and under eye wrinkles that are needle-free and virtually painless, says Shelton. For example, Pelleve uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin at the skin's lower levels. The wrinkle-releasing effects appear gradually, but you look more refreshed right away. A slight swelling gives the skin a plumper appearance. The real skin smoothing benefits are visible within six months after about three treatments every three to four weeks. A booster treatment after six months can increase shelf life of this anti-wrinkle Rx. Talk to your dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Wendy Lewis is President of Wendy Lewis & Co Ltd Global Aesthetics Consultancy, author of 11 books and Founder/Editor in Chief of http://www.beautyinthebag.com.
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