Aging Isn’t What It Used to Be

We can’t stop the clock. But we have more ways than ever to influence how we age.

There was a time when getting older simply meant accepting what came with it. Wrinkles. Brown spots. Thinning skin. Changes in texture, tone and firmness. Maybe a new bottle of moisturizer and a little more determination to stay out of the sun.

We know a lot more now.

Today, we understand more about protecting skin before damage occurs. We have treatments that can improve many of the visible changes that come with time. And increasingly, researchers are looking beyond what we see in the mirror to understand aging at the cellular level.

No, we haven’t figured out how to stop aging.

But our arsenal against it has certainly changed.

We Got Much Better at Prevention

One of the biggest advances in dermatology has been understanding how much of what we once considered “normal aging” is actually the accumulated effect of sun exposure.

That makes sunscreen one of the simplest anti-aging treatments we have.

And sunscreen has come a long way too. You no longer have to settle for the thick white lotion you remember from the beach. At Midwest Dermatology, we carry dermatologist-recommended sunscreens for different skin types and needs, including lightweight formulas for acne-prone skin, tinted options, mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin and tone-adapting formulas that can help reduce the appearance of redness. For patients who want a higher level of protection, SkinBetter Tone Smart provides broad-spectrum SPF 75 protection.

Explore our dermatologist-recommended sunscreens and find one that fits your skin and your life.

We Can Change Much More of What We See

This may be where aging has changed most dramatically.

Today’s cosmetic dermatology gives us an entire range of ways to address the changes that happen to the face and skin over time.

Botox, Dysport and Daxxify can relax the facial muscles responsible for expression lines. Fillers can restore support and volume where aging has changed the contours of the face. Laser treatments can address concerns such as sun damage, pigmentation, texture and wrinkles.

And then there are newer technologies such as Ellacor Micro-Coring, which uses tiny hollow needles to remove microscopic cores of skin, improving moderate to severe wrinkles and skin laxity without traditional surgery.

The exciting part isn’t simply having more treatments. It’s being able to choose among them.

Our providers can evaluate your skin, listen to what bothers you and help determine which treatment, or combination of treatments, makes sense for your face and your goals.

The goal doesn’t have to be looking 20 years younger.

It can simply be looking healthy, rested and like yourself as the years go by.

Now We’re Looking Beneath the Skin

Perhaps the most interesting change is happening where we can’t see it.

Scientists continue to learn more about the cellular processes associated with aging, including changes in cellular energy, oxidative stress, inflammation and the body’s ability to maintain and repair itself.

That has fueled growing interest in longevity, with the focus expanding beyond simply how long we live to how well our bodies continue to function as we age.

And it raises an interesting question for dermatology.

If skin reflects some of what is happening inside the body, should our approach to healthy aging include more than what we put on the skin or do to its surface?

Meet Continuum Intelligent Age Delay

That question is part of the thinking behind Continuum Intelligent Age Delay, a dermatologist-formulated supplement developed by Midwest Dermatology’s Jason Papenfuss, M.D.

Intelligent Age Delay takes the conversation about aging beneath the surface. Its four ingredients, NAC, NMN, glycine and quercetin, were selected to support healthy aging at the cellular level, including antioxidant defenses, cellular energy, collagen production and cellular renewal. The formula is also third-party tested.

It doesn’t replace sunscreen, good skin care, healthy habits or dermatologic treatment. Instead, it represents another way of thinking about healthy aging: supporting the body from within while we continue taking care of what we see on the outside.

Learn more about Continuum Intelligent Age Delay

Aging Well Looks Different Now

Maybe that’s the biggest change of all.

We have more tools. We know more about prevention. We can treat wrinkles, volume loss, sun damage, pigmentation, texture and laxity in ways previous generations couldn’t. And now we’re beginning to think more seriously about what healthy aging looks like from within.

None of that means we need to fight every wrinkle or pretend we’re not getting older.

It means we have choices.

Want to know which choices make sense for your skin? Talk with a Midwest Dermatology provider about your skin, your concerns and what you would like to improve.

Call (402) 933-0800 or schedule online at midwestderm.com.

Your Best Skin Starts Here.