According to D’Anne Kleinsmith, MD, cosmetic dermatologist, “Age spots should really be called sun spots, because they are caused by being out in the sun.  They have absolutely nothing to do with your liver and little to do with your age, other than the fact that they occur on older people.”  Does it not make sense then to always wear sunscreen before going outside?

According to Mother Nature.com, remember the 15 rules:

1. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15.
2. Place the sunscreen on 15 minutes before going out in the sun even if is cloudy

Wear the sunscreen for 15 times longer than you could if not protected and that is 30 minutes.  So with SPF sunscreen of 15 you can stay out for 7 hours.

Seems simple enough, but what if you already have liver spots or sun spots, what can be done?  There are many natural things that will remedy the problem and many creams also available.  Here are some natural facelift methods to consider:

Use Aloe Vera: If you have an aloe Vera plant, chances are you know about the great healing qualities of the gel sealed within its leaves. It is wonderful for using on sunburns and moisturizing the skin. The gel can also act as a natural skin lightener, as it contains a substance that helps reduce the amount of melanin at the top layer of skin. Apply fresh aloe Vera gel right from the leaves two to three times a day for about three months and the spots should fade.

Buttermilk: Used for many years in holistic cosmetic practice, buttermilk really moisturizes and lightens the skin. Lactic acid helps promote collagen secretion and removes melanin from the epidermis as well. The buttermilk should be slightly warmer than room temperature and can either be used as a wash or as a spot treatment. After rinsing the buttermilk away from the skin, cold water should be splashed in order to close the pores and protect the skin from dirt and bacteria.

Gotu Kola: This is a Chinese herb that you most likely won’t have just lying around the house. Powdered gotu kola mixed with an equal amount of ginseng, and a tiny bit of cayenne, then stirred into a cup of herbal tea is a very effective spot lightener. This should be used as a spot treatment as is said to work very quickly.

Lemon Aide: Use the juice of a lemon.  Dip a cotton ball in the juice twice a day and rub on the skin where the age spots are.  This remedy will take from 6 to 8 weeks before you start to see the spots fade.  The juice of the lemon will safely remove the upper layer of the skin and will help to lighten the spots.

Red onion rub: Rubbing a piece of red onion on the age spots will work also.  The red onion will have approximately the same effect as the lemon juice remedy.

Learn to cover up: If all fails and the spots will not fade then there are makeups that help. If you have really dark spots then a heavier-based makeup must be used.  If they are not real bad then you can use a water based makeup.  Makeup will cause acne to be worsen, so if you have acne avoid oil based makeups.

Creams and Lotions for Age Spots

There are many products available in the cosmetics section of drug stores, department stores, and specialty stores that help to reduce the appearance of age spots. Skin lightening products or bleaches can be applied to the spots to reduce the melanin that has made its way to the outer layer of skin. Melanin is the hormone within our skin that gives it pigment. Sunlight promotes the production of melanin, giving the skin a tanned color, but it also reduces the production of collagen, which gives our skin its elasticity.

These products can be pricey, depending upon the brand name and treatment required. They do not offer overnight success also. Fade creams usually take at least two months or more to take effect.

There are many options available to help remove age spots, but first it is very important to ensure that what you are trying to remove is indeed an age spot or liver spot. Upon noticing a new age spot or if one becomes abnormal or painful, see a physician right away to be tested for skin diseases.  These easy methods could be a safe alternative to surgery.

The search for the fountain of youth can be traced from the 3rd century with Alexander Romance to modern times with the mystical and very handsome David Copperfield.  David Copperfield in 2006 bought a group of islands off the Bahamas claiming they held the fountain of youth.  He paid 50 million for his islands.  He stated, “the waters had magical, life altering healing powers” Now is this David the magician and illusionist or is this David the businessman?

There are so many ads that promise us eternal beauty from creams and lotions to ultrasound facials.  As the world becomes so consumed with beauty, we must step back and ask our self if we are truly taking care of our self or are we simply opting to go the surgery route.  Plastic surgery is in demand and increasingly rising.  In 2008 it was reported that there were over 10.2 million people who had cosmetic procedures done, both natural and surgical.  Is this the new rave or just pure insanity? Many may go to these lengths to correct some of these common problems and a few are listed here:

Crow’s feet One of the first signs of aging, especially for women, is often crow’s feet, which are three little lines that find homes at the outer corners of the eyes. Crow’s feet are a common result of sun damage, squinting and exposure. Crow’s feet are often treated with collagen, Restylane and Botox injections, but there are also many topical creams available on the retail market as well.

Prevention is worth its weight in gold, so make sure not to squint. Try wearing a large brim hat and dark sunglasses.  If you must be in the sun, wear a good sun screen also.  A diet rich in berries is suggested and the consumption of flax seed oil added daily.

Wrinkles around the mouth and nose are another common sign of aging and one that can be alleviated early on in life by smiling more.   Frowning will put on more wrinkles than a nice sweet smile.  Avoid such things as alcohol, smoking and drug abuse and switch to a diet rich in antioxidants.  drink lots of water and keep your skin as hydrated as possible.
By properly protecting your skin with sun screen and avoiding the hottest times of the day (10 am to 2 pm), there is a chance of avoiding many wrinkles on the face, mouth and nose.

Loose, sagging skin around the jaw line and neck Collagen is what keeps our skin tight and plump, essentially keeping everything where it should be. As we age, collagen production is slowed down and our skin begins to lose elasticity. This brings about a sagging, loose appearance as gravity takes effect. The loose skin collects around the jaw line and into the neck, often causing the “turkey gobbler” appearance. This can be rectified with surgical measures or other alternatives such as the Natural Face Lift System.

There are many, many signs of aging, but what shows most prominently is wrinkles and sagging skin. As we age, the simple fear of not getting old will set in, but aging is part of the life process and we will all face it one day.  Aging gracefully is the key and prevention is imperative.  With the help of over the counter lotions, diet, exercise, facials and liposuction, the fountain of youth could be closer than anyone of us imagined.

Mini Facials:

A mini facial is the most inexpensive type to request.  With this facial you will probably receive exfoliation, cleansing, face mask and some pressure point massage therapy.  This type of facial may be done at home also using some home made natural facelift solutions.  Spas will generally use prepackaged solutions known to give immediate results.

Some of the favorite homemade facials would include aloe vera, oatmeal, honey, olive oil and selected herbs.  A very cheap exfoliating mixture is 1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil mixed together.  Rub this mixture over your face and then rinse with cold water.

A very cheap facial is with honey and the juice of a lemon.  Combine the two together and massage over the face.  Leave on the face for 1/2 hour and then rinse with warm water and pat dry with a soft cotton cloth.

Luxury and Prescription Facials:

These facials will be more involved and tailored to your skin tone and needs.  This of course cost more and will last longer.  It is usually necessary to have a before consultation with your salon to know exactly which treatment is necessary.  With all facials, it is recommended to have an allergy test done prior to avoid any complications later.  Needless to say some products may cause allergic reactions on some individuals.

After the Facial Treatments and Precautions:

After the facial, wait at least 24 hours before applying any makeup and lying in the sun.  There have been a few instances of reactions with certain ingredients in the facial used.  Although these facials use mostly natural ingredients, they may react with the combination of makeup, creams, moisturizers and toners.

Note: Facials are a preventative measure for the prevention of wrinkles and the signs of aging down the road.  Facials cannot remove the damage to the skin already created but can improve, tone and rejuvenate your skin to a younger looking you.

Getting rid of crows’ feet does not have to mean trip to the operating room and a long recovery time. Moisturize the area frequently in order to keep crows’ feet from appearing in the first place, or to at least prolong the inevitable. Let’s face facts, we all age, and aging takes a toll on our bodies. When we spend the majority of our time outdoors, these signs of aging become more apparent much earlier in life (around the 30-year mark instead of closer to 40). Make sure to use a cream that offers glycolic acid, which encourages the growth of skin cells that are fresh and new, replacing wrinkles.

This video will show you some of the hazards that are common when you try to get rid of crow’s feet through the use of plastic surgery:

Another way to is by using sunscreen. The sun is the biggest contributing factor to this sign of aging, and protecting your sensitive skin can be a great way to make use of proactive remedies. Reapply the sunscreen as needed, and wear a hat or sunglasses to further protect your face.

There are some other very effective home remedies for getting rid of crows’ feet once they have begun to appear. They include, but are not limited to:

The Citrus Remedy. Blend a teaspoon of lemon juice with a tablespoon of orange extract. Apply this mixture directly to the crows’ feet, and leave this on the skin for 10 minutes. This method offers very fast results.

An Oily Approach. Oil is a natural lubricant, and works great for this application. Blend a tablespoon of castor oil with an equal amount of sesame oil. Apply to your whole face. Leave the mixture on your face overnight, and rinse well with warm soapy water in the morning.

Avocado and Almonds--A Cure for Crows' Feet

The A’s Have It. Finally, one of the most popular at-home wrinkle remedies involves avocado and almond. Blend three teaspoons of sweet almond with a whole avocado. Dab the mixture on the fine lines and leave on for about fifteen minutes. This works great for fine lines all over the face.

It is not a must to opt for expensive and dangerous facelifts for crows feet when there are so many at-home remedies that work just as well for a fraction of the price and virtually no downtime at all. With no recovery needed, they are definitely an excellent alternative to going under the knife!

Thermage--is it worth the cost?

This product is considerably safer than procedures such as Botox, lipolysis injection, and even the traditional facelift. Thermage has a very short downtime when compared to more invasive and expensive procedures, but some patients report that the costlier options work somewhat better. In fact, while nearly three-quarters of facelift patients were very satisfied with their results, as compared to only just over one-third of Thermage patients.

That said, for some, the cost is the biggest concern. Going with a method that may not produce results that are as noticeable is preferable to paying much more than you can afford for something that you know will work. For these, make sure that you check with a doctor before undergoing any type of treatment, to make sure it will not interfere with any medicines or plans that he/she has you under presently.

How effective the Thermage treatment is really depends on how skilled the surgeon is/is not. Those that have more experience with the treatment do a better job than someone who is unfamiliar with it, obviously. Sometimes it pays to spend a little more for someone who really knows what he or she is doing.

The cost of Thermage depends on who does it and where you go to get it. The better and more qualified the provider the more you should expect to pay. However, as mentioned before, sometimes it is worth a little more money to get more noticeable results. On average, patients should expect to pay between $2000 and $2500, depending on the city/country they call home. Bigger cities cost slightly more in some cases.

Patients should remember that it can take up to six months to see the maximum result of the treatment, and it will have to be repeated every two years or so in order to maintain a youthful appearance. If you believe Thermage is right for you, consult with a doctor to find licensed providers in your area.

Liposuction, or some other mode of plastic surgery, is often the first thought for problems like these. They cannot usually be solved by traditional weight loss methods, like diet and working out, but there are alternatives. Choosing a less invasive method is normally better for you, and could save you thousands of dollars, too. Oddly, some people desire a chin cleft, while others seek to get rid of it.

Hate your cleft chin?

One of the best exercises for getting rid of or reducing a chin cleft is simply stretching the muscles and rubbing olive oil on the area. Flex the muscle by smiling broadly, frowning deeply, or biting the bottom lip as far down as possible. Gently massage a very small amount of olive oil into the indentation. It can take some time for results to become noticeable, but they last longer than most forms of plastic surgery.

There is some discussion as to whether cleft chins are inherited (hereditary) traits, and therefore unavoidable for some people. Collagen injections are one of the most popular non-invasive techniques, and they work well for those who can afford them. There are some risks involved, as with any medical procedure, but sometimes they are worth it to achieve your desired result.

Although there are only a very few facial exercises and techniques that will get rid of chin clefts, there are many people who actually pay to have them done. So many people in the world would rather choose to have this look than to get rid of it that much of the medical research in this area is focused on adding a cleft instead of eliminating one. However, if you choose to get rid of the cleft, remember that choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon to consult with is always your best bet.

There are, however, a multitude of options that work very well to achieve younger, smoother, and healthier looking skin without resorting to a facelift. Narrowing down the list can be very difficult, and it is important to stick to informational websites staffed or monitored by professionals, such as dermatologists or healthcare providers. Do not believe that someone is a professional just because a website says they are, double check all of the information that you decide to act upon with your doctor or a licensed pharmacist.

Our grandmothers were right: there are a few things in our kitchens that make for healthier and younger looking skin. Here are a few ways to look younger without the need for painful botox injections:

Olive Oil and Apple Cider

Blend a teaspoon of olive oil with a teaspoon of apple cider and let sit on your face for about 10-15 minutes. Shower immediately, being sure to rinse the face completely clean. While some say the mixture can stay on overnight, this can cause very greasy or oily skin, and the olive oil that gets in your hair can be a pain to rinse out.

Aspirin

Although traditionally touted as an acne miracle worker, crushing an aspirin and mixing it with water until it becomes pasty can help create the appearance of young, healthy skin. Just be sure not to get the mixture in your eyes.

The Healthiest Facial

Finally, blend together chamomile tea, honey, oatmeal, plain yogurt, sunflower seed oil, water, and pureed strawberries (if you do not want to use water, wheat germ oil also works). Apply the mixture to your face and rinse it away with cool water to avoid drying the skin.

Thermage treatments can be almost as painful to endure as a facelift is to recover from. In fact, many people report little or no change even after the painful and expensive treatments. For most, thermage is not an option at all, and would not be considered as an effective anti-aging remedy.

Thread lifts are another common plastic surgery alternative, though they should probably be classified as surgery. After all, a surgeon must pass a barbed needle under the skin in order to complete the treatment. While it is not as bad as a facelift, it still has characteristics that would normally classify it as a type of liposuction. If the barbs fail, the thread can pop out and become very painful and even leave a scar.

Many creams and lotions can cause allergic reactions to the sensitive skin of the face and neck areas. It is important to talk with a doctor, pharmacist, dermatologist, or other healthcare professional before you use any, especially if you are taking any medications or have known allergy problems, particularly those to medications.

Similar to a thread lift, acupuncture can be painful and expensive, although it has no downtime and very minute chance of causing any type of allergic reaction. However, some long lasting side effects for a very few include nerve damage, full or partial facial paralyzation, and similar problems.

As you can see, simple is not always better, but these solutions are likely a better alternative to plastic surgery than a risk to your body. Overall, many doctors would recommend them highly over liposuction, and they will normally cost much less without a recovery period as well.

People seek an answer to common signs of aging.

Society today is overexposed to the young and beautiful, and the rich and famous. We see men and women old enough to be our grandparents but look younger than we do, with beautifully sculpted bodies and wrinkle-free faces. It’s on television, in movies, on the covers of magazines and even in the novels we read. With all of this exposure, it is no wonder that so many men and women suffer from image and identity problems.

No longer are we concerned with protecting and preserving our bodies and aging gracefully, but have have become preoccupied with preventing the aging process altogether. This is a very unhealthy mentality that society has adopted, as we are attempting to defy Father Time and Mother Nature both.

Many people fail to realize that our bodies are designed to age, to show the years of experience we have accrued. There are reasons as to why we conjure images of plump, smiling women with white hair and their faces plagued with wrinkles of wisdom when we think of the stereotypical grandmother. This is what is meant to be.

Aging gracefully is something that anyone can do. All it takes is some preventative measure, self confidence and healthy self image. A man or woman who shows their comfort and confidence in their appearance, age and wisdom has aged gracefully. However, for those who still find themselves concerned with the appearance of wrinkles and age spots, there are many steps that you can take in order to ensure these inevitable factors appear with grace, not marring your appearance but enhancing it.

Drug and alcohol abuse is among the leading factors behind the cause of premature aging. It also makes the skin age harsher than it would naturally, with wrinkles appearing faster and deeper by inhibiting collagen production. Also among these leading factors is tanning, both natural and in booths. Ultraviolet rays are extremely harmful to the skin. By wearing sunblock of S.P.F. 15 or higher every time you go outdoors, no matter what the weather or season, you can protect your skin from U.V. rays, as well as offer a barrier between your precious epidermis and any chemicals and pollutants in the air.

If society were more preoccupied with aging gracefully than preventing the process, we would find ourselves generally happier with ourselves. When all is considered, it is perfectly acceptable for a forty-year-old mother of three to have crow’s feet or laugh lines. When we look at women such as Diane Lane, Diane Keaton, Glenn Close, or Madonna, we see beautiful, smart, and confident women. They are the image of what we wish to be at their respective ages, but all have aged with confidence and grace – an example we would do well to follow.

Facials---A Natural Alternative

A facial is a fancy spa treatment, becoming all the rage among our fad-fascinated society. By using a series of natural ingredients, including minerals and vitamins, in combination with a eucalyptus or Aloe Vera base, facials are used mostly by women in hopes of keeping their skin looking young and healthy. Keeping in tradition, retail manufacturers have created a number of “do-it-yourself” facial kits that are available at department stores, grocery stores, beauty boutiques and drug stores.

These treatments are great for relaxing, getting a good cleanse of the skin and getting that refreshing feeling, the one that follows when you return home from a great vacation. They are great preventative measures for wrinkles, as the ingredients involved promote collagen production in the subcutaneous layer of skin and also use the steps and ingredients related to maintaining healthy skin. They cannot reduce the appearance of wrinkles, however, and they cannot undo damage.

Its no secret that these treatments can cost an arm and a leg at a spa. The creams and lotions used are usually hand made by a trained professional, using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients. Not only are you paying for the product at a spa, but you are paying for the time it takes to make the product and have it applied by that professional.

If you perhaps find the cost of a spa facial treatment to be disconcerting, it may be comforting to know that you can create your own facial treatment in your very own kitchen. The Internet offers a large variety of websites dedicated to providing the public with recipes for at-home facial treatments, and most of the ingredients you’ll find are probably in your refrigerator or cupboard. This is much more cost effective than visiting a spa.

Also available for those who may not have the time or interest in creating their own treatment substance are the at-home kits previously mentioned. These are, for the most part, equally cost effective and also require less time involved – buy it, open the box, follow the directions.

In short, facials are great preventative measures but they cannot undo damage that has already been done. This is part of good skin care and should be part of a daily routine for anyone who finds themselves concerned with the appearance of wrinkles and age spots.