Coco Chanel once said, "A woman has the age she deserves".  She was probably referring to attitude and energy, but, no doubt, 'maintenance' as well. C'mon, why not look as good as you feel!

If you've looked in the mirror lately and spotted a crease, or two, or three, or twenty....Or, you just know you're not getting any younger and it's time to take action, you are not alone.

Face the face facts: Aging is inevitable. But, don't give up without a good fight!

Looking youthful at forty, fifty, sixty years is not just for celebrities anymore. There's a whole self-preservation movement going on spurred by new-and affordable-treatments ranging from professional and in-home services. Some that may surprise you!

On the South Shore, we are lucky to have cutting-edge products and services available to us. For example, South Shore Skin Center offers cosmetic procedures that range from anti-aging chemical peels to Botox to laser treatments.

Some people, however, are hesitant to take that trip to the dermatologist's office. And if that's you, there are other ways to tackle the situation in the privacy of your own home. The Nu Skin Galvanic Spa, for example, is an affordable system that combines a patented ageLOC gel with a handheld device that sends micro-electric currents into the skin in order to neutralize the free radicals that accelerate the aging process. (No idea what a free radical is? Read on!)

Also, ever considered acupuncture? Well, you should. It stimulates collagen production-the protein responsible for skin strength and elasticity.  

Full Disclosure

Here's the deal: You want to avoid wrinkles, brown spots, broken blood vessels? Avoid the sun.

"With more emphasis on prevention, the message needs to get out about how bad the sun is," says Dr. Richard Eisen, a dermatologist and director of the South Shore Skin Center with offices located in Plymouth and Cohasset. Of course, the sun provides healthy vitamin D, but continuously exposing your skin without sunscreen causes more damage than good, he says.

Hats and protective clothing-long sleeves, etc. should be staples in the wardrobe. More importantly, sunscreen should be used every day starting in the spring!

"The ultraviolet index starts to rise dramatically in New England in April and May," Dr. Eisen says. This is important to understand, because in May the air may feel cooler than August, so we don't slather on the sunscreen, yet, we are more at risk to exposure.

"Rays are stronger in May than August," Dr. Eisen explains. "And in May, people going out in the sun could be getting [skin] damage."

The damage, Dr. Eisen says, is cumulative, and when we get a tan, well, we may look good, but our skin certainly does not feel good. "Tanning is a response that comes as an afterthought in skin trying to protect itself from continuous damage. But the damage is already done," he says. And, it results in wrinkles.

Repair, however, comes in many forms. First, conditions of the skin need to be assessed to formulate a treatment based on your needs. Topical or deep? Peels, for example-which use a solution to smooth skin texture by removing damaged outer layers--  are a quick office visit that allow a patient to go home, go to the gym, supermarket, or shopping with no downtime other than some mild redness and fine peeling of skin, which can be counteracted with moisturizer.

Botox-still a best seller-is great for 'active lines', the lines that permeate the face as a result of smiling or furrowing the brow, Dr. Eisen says. Botox works by relaxing the muscles that contract to form these lines.

Fraxel lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), on the other hand, improve skin conditions by targeting blood vessels, brown spots, or diffusing redness caused by rosacea or other skin conditions. It can also tighten and rejuvenate the skin.

Such services at the dermatologist's office range from $75-to-$5,000, depending on what is needed. And, it often requires a couple of visits.

But, if you want to take a bit more control of the situation, there are other options, like the Nu Skin Galvanic Spa.

About-Face

The Galvanic Spa is a handheld system-dubbed the iPod of the cosmetic industry-which, through gentle messaging action, enhances circulation and draws impurities out of the epidermis, leaving skin looking young and vibrant. When used with the patented ageLOC facial gel-which was developed by scientists-the currents emitted from the handheld device transport key ingredients into the skin to revive appearance by fighting off free radicals. By definition, a free radical is an atom with at least one unpaired electron, which makes it highly reactive (stealing electrons from other molecules). In other words, a free radical kick-starts the aging process.

To that end, Nu Skin Enterprises, the maker of the Galvanic Spa, ageLOC, and many other products, teamed up with scientists at Purdue University and discovered a new and potentially significant internal source of aging-an enzyme called arNOX. Present on the surface of our cells, this enzyme is capable of generating skin damaging free radicals in the epidermis around the clock, the company says. That's where the Galvanic Spa and ageLOC come in (to stop the clock!).

"The Galvanic Spa is an alternative to invasive surgery and injections," says Margaret Connolly, a Nu Skin distributor in Norwell. "It firms skin and smoothes fine lines and wrinkles on the face," she says. But it's not just a facial treatment, as it can be applied to any part of the body that needs skin elasticity restoration. "It tones and reduces cellulite and flab in arms, legs, and the abdomen," Connolly says.

 

                                                    

Connolly began using the system herself and immediately saw a difference in skin texture, she says. Priced at $350 for the Spa and ageLOC package, it just takes two treatments a week for about five-to-ten minutes at a time. You'll notice tightening the first time you use it, Connolly says. "And it does have a cumulative effect, so eventually you can use it just once a week."

Ancient Chinese Secret

If needles don't bother you, try turning to the traditional Chinese medical practice of acupuncture to aid in the graceful aging process.

In acupuncture, hair-fine FDA-approved (and sterilized) filiform needles are delicately inserted into parts of the body that access pathways (meridians) which facilitate the movement of its own energy (Qi).

"It's giving the body a signal. Like turning on light switches that say pay attention to this part of the body," says Jennifer Wilczenski, a Scituate-based licensed acupuncturist.

Wilczenski has had her practice for two and a half years, and recently, she has been trained in facial acupuncture, a natural way to obtain balance and beauty.

"Acupuncture, in general, is phenomenal for treating stress," says Wilczenski, as it is used for treating medical conditions that include headaches, insomnia, and anxiety. Likewise, it can also release stress-based tension in the face that can cause the lines that contribute to the aging process. In addition, it stimulates collagen production, increases blood circulation for a healthy glow, and tones facial muscles in for a firmer look.

 

                                                         

Typically priced around $150 per treatment, facial acupuncture takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half. It includes facial massage and lotion, and it is recommended that a series of treatments are done over the course of a few weeks. But, "It's a little more spa-like. It's not just needles," says Wilczenski, who will start offering facial acupuncture services in May.

Drugstore Don't

Of course, by now you're asking yourself, "What about that cream I just bought at CVS?"  Well, Dr. Eisen cautions consumers of over-the-counter anti-aging creams, as he notes that they just might be more fluff than real stuff. "Most of the products on the market spend tremendous amounts of money in advertising and packaging, and the actual ingredients don't do anything," he says.

So before you open up your wallet, check to see if the product you are purchasing has published research to back its results. In the meantime, check out some of the other options we just told you about!

And, above all, for all of you South Shore Sun Goddesses, we leave you with two words: 'Spray Tan'.

"It's sad to grow old, but nice to ripen."  ~Brigitte Bardot

 

By Stephanie Neil

Stephanie Neil is a journalist. Her business, technology, and human interest stories have appeared in a variety of print and online newspapers and magazines including eWeek, Managing Automation, The Harvard Alumni Bulletin, Huggies Baby Network, South Shore Woman, and The Boston Globe.  She lives on the South Shore with her two kids, two cats, and a dog. Contact info: stephanieneil@comcast.net  or 781-378-1652. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieNeil

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