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.

Home Remedies That Work

Honey and olive oil: Using raw honey works the best and always use cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.  Mix the two together and dab with a cotton ball on the corners of your mouth.  Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes and then wash off with a cotton wash cloth.

Coconut Oil: Use the coconut oil the same as the honey and olive oil mixture, but with the coconut oil, do not wash off.  Let it soak into your skin overnight to rejuvenate the skin.

Vitamin B Supplements: Poke a hole in the capsule containing the oils of vitamin B and rub on the wrinkles at the corners of your mouth.

Rice & Rosewater:  Rice and rosewater paste is great to help rejuvenate the skin temporarily. If used as part of a skin care regimen, the effects may seem permanent, but will gradually fade if the treatment is stopped. It requires only three ingredients and perhaps a half an hour of your day to use rice and rosewater paste. This should be made immediately before use in order to yield the best results.

Mix together one cup of rice powder. Add equal parts milk and rosewater, but only enough to create a thick paste. Mix it together until it is textured just a bit thicker than smooth peanut butter, and then apply to any visible wrinkles. Let the paste sit for about twenty minutes, or until it begins to dry out and cake. Splash cold water over the paste, rinse it off and then wash your face with a gentle soap and warm water. The skin will appear taut, with wrinkles having dissipated considerably.

These home remedies will help prevent wrinkles and to diminish the fine laugh lines around your mouth for most.  Although, no remedy is good for everyone, it is good to try them before you consider going under the knife and having invasive cosmetic surgery. If you are looking for longer lasting results you should consider the natural facelift system.

When looking at the many alternatives, it is good to be aware of possible harm, danger and possible even death if the procedures are done incorrectly.  It is good to research the latest fads going on and just see how wonderful they really are. There are many alternatives today including Thermage, Thread-lift, acupuncture, creams, lotions, exercises, treatments and more.  The first rule in any search for knowledge is lots and lots of knowledge.

Thermage: According to many ads, Thermage will save you lots of money, help you to avoid a hospital stay and reduce the recovery time.  Ah, but what about the horrible pain.  This is what many have forgotten to tell you about.  According to ageless-beauty.com, “In the wrong hands, Thermage can be dangerous. If you don’t do your homework, you stand a small chance of undergoing a procedure to improve your confidence and self esteem, but ending up looking older or, worse yet, deformed and in long-lasting pain.”  For most, Thermage is not an option at all, and would not be considered as an effective anti-aging remedy.

Thread lifts 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 difficult as a facelift, it still has many side effects and dangers.  Some of the dangers include: scarring, swelling, inflammation, infection and possible visible sutures if the patient has thin skin.  They are given local anesthesia and have to endure the pain of having a barbed needle placed in their face.  The worst part is that this alternative does not last.  It is merely temporary and must be repeated again every few years.

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.

Acupuncture: Although the Chinese have used acupuncture for thousands of years, it is no where close to being a safe and effective alternative for a facelift.  It can be both painful and expensive.  The main dangers with acupuncture are that the art is not regulated and any “Tom, Dick or Harry” can administer acupuncture without a license or even a clinic.

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.

A face life with threads, for example, often involves requires down time as well as adherence to a soft diet for about 7 days. The typical recovery time involves avoiding strenuous activity for 24 hours and then resuming regular activity after about 7 days. One risk of the face lift with threads is that you actually may not even see results. The procedure is also carries other risks. If you feel the face lift with threads procedure is not right for you, then you may want to consider one of the non surgical facelifts listed below.

Thermage®

This is one of the most popular facelift without surgery. It can be incredibly effective and is very non-invasive. This natural facelift is used by both dermatologists and plastic surgeons. This non surgical face lift utilizes heat to promote collagen growth in problem areas of the face. Thermage rejuvenates the facial area and is a popular anti-aging procedure used by both men and women.
Laser Face Lift

This natural facelift procedure does not use anaesthesia and this procedure does not involve cutting or incisions. During a laser face lift, a doctor uses laser technology to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Minor discomfort or discoloration may appear after the procedure, but usually subsides within a week or two. These two methods, Thermage® and Laser Face Lift, are both excellent methods of natural face lifts. You can consult with your dermatologist for more information and choose a natural facelift procedure that will best work for you.

When undergoing a face lift without surgery, such as the Thermage technique, you may experience mild discomfort and redness can occur. The side effects are temporary and usually do not last long. Thermage is a natural facelift that is much less expensive than facelifts, costing usually around $2,000. A facelift ranges in price and could cost anywhere from $6,000 to $25,000. A face lift also means the patient has to undergo anaesthesia, which means there are some risks involved.

Besides a face lift or a crf face lift, another option is a life lift face lift. This is method is considered to be a “mini face lift,” though it is not one of the non surgical face lifts. It is less invasive than the more traditional face lift procedures. A lifestylelift removes fat and removes wrinkles and fine lines. The recovery time is also shorter than a regular face lift. A lifestyle lift is performed while the patient is under anaesthesia. But, what is gaining popularity are the natural face lifts, specifically non-surgical facelifts, like Thermage. The basic information you will find is that face lifts are intense procedures and it may be better to opt for a natural face lift rather than a face lift with threads. Many people receive satisfactory results from natural facelifts, while spending less money and time.

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!

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.