So, presuming you want to look at what’s out there with regard to anti-ageing treatments and don’t know where to start?

That you are doing all “the basics” but just want that little extra help?

There is an overwhelming amount of advertising and confusion about rejuvenation. The industry is largely unregulated and there are lot of horror stories on social media which can put all but the most informed off.

Rejuvenation isn’t just confined to injectables, which may always be a “step too far,” for many people.

I believe it’s always best to start with the basics to establish a good foundation for treatment, rather than jumping into more invasive options – getting started with an effective skin routine which involves daily wear of a broad spectrum sun protection, then adding in research-proven agents such as retinols to address specific concerns such as pigmentation problems.

I can’t overstress the importance of ALWAYS wearing a high factor SPF (at least 30 but ideally 50) during daylight hours as the vast majority of extrinsic skin ageing is proven to be “photo-ageing” (or sun-exposure related).

The next step may be then to think about ways of further addressing any skin concerns such as lines/ wrinkles and skin laxity.

Although increasing numbers of women now enjoy higher profile jobs and generally improved status in society, there are still discrepancies in the way society both deals with and portrays them, particularly in the workplace.

Ageing is generally portrayed in a very negative way , particularly where women are concerned.

Meanwhile social media places pressure on young women to conform to an unrealistic, new “norm”.

The dictionary describes aesthetics as the “philosophy of beauty”– a misleading term as beauty is so subjective; however, the concept of aesthetics particularly from the perspective of beauty has evolved from studies of natural proportions and golden ratios which still underpin many principles of treatment.

Nonetheless, a beautiful woman may still be perceived as less attractive than someone less conventionally good looking who shines with inner confidence.

This really underpins my approach; I want to help mature ladies regain confidence.

Our differences can make us more attractive, not less and I don’t like the new look that many young women are aspiring to, of over-inflated lips and aggressive cheek bones -the clone filler look.

This creates a very negative public perception of aesthetics when in reality, good treatment should be natural and subtle.

A good skin care routine should be a fundamental basic if you are keen to look your best. This should ideally comprise a cleanser with exfoliating action (or a separate exfoliator), followed by an active agent for any specific concerns or at least an antioxidant, a non-occlusive moisturiser and a high-protection SPF.

As we age, cell turnover slows down and dead cells (keratinocytes) accumulate on the surface of the skin (the epidermis). This leads to dullness, often with dry patches and areas of uneven pigmentation. The skin may look more sallow or yellow. The fundamental principle of any skin care routine is to stimulate cell turnover by removal of this thick, dead layer of cells to restore a glow to the complexion.

Restoring a thin, healthy epidermis also restores the barrier function of the skin allowing it to hold in moisture and better absorb active ingredients. This improves the “resilience” and appearance of the skin.

There are a vast number of skincare ranges available which can be quite confusing. As a rule, the more effective skin care kits tend to be sold through pharmacies and medical outlets as cosmeceuticals, particularly if they contain high-strength active and proven ingredients such as retinols and require supervision.

Many such brands have good quality research behind them that (as a rule) high street products do not, regardless of high price tags…

This is changing slowly with the introduction of lower-priced, more effective products into the high street, making good skincare more accessible.

Such products should be able to back up their claims with research.

A holistic approach to well-being should be the gold standard of any aesthetic consultation as a healthy healing response is the best starting point and requires good cellular health.

The British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (BSLM) bases its advice on 6 pillars:

These are: healthy eating, mental well-being, healthy relationships, physical activity, minimising harmful substances and sleep.

It recommends eating more fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds; beans and legumes & advises the avoidance of ultra-processed food, if choosing meat and fish. It suggests unprocessed forms with fewer hormones and additives as well as wholegrain or wholemeal varieties of starchy foods such as rice, pasta and bread.

The BSLM prioritises the importance of physical activity, with regular exercise helping us to live longer, reduce periods of ill health and increase the all-important “health span”.
Exercise releases the body’s own “feel good” hormones: endorphins and enkephalins, enhancing mood and reducing depression. It also improves blood flow to the skin, improving skin quality.

We know that sun damage contributes to the biggest proportion (approx. 90%) of extrinsic skin ageing (ageing affected by external influences) known as “photo- ageing”.

Harmful social habits such as smoking and alcohol also increase cellular (and skin) ageing by accelerating the formation of free radicals.

Free radicals are formed naturally in the body by normal physiological processes such as breathing and can be mopped up by the body’s own reparative mechanisms. However, this process can soon be overwhelmed if additional free radicals are added to the mix from sun damage, smoking and excessive alcohol.

Current research into anti-ageing medicine is looking at different ways of combating cellular ageing by addressing the 9 hallmarks of ageing (see blog on longevity medicine and https://nuchido.co.uk/ for more information on this topic).