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Waging a War Against Aging

The Latest in Anti-Aging Techniques

By Teri Brown

"Sun damage is the major cause of wrinkles, pigment problems, blotchy complexions and dry, rough skin, which is very aging," says Lewis. "The biggest mistake we make is not using enough of the right sunscreen and not applying it often enough."

Smoking and drinking heavily damages skin as well, and Lewis believes the key to skin that ages agelessly is caring for our skin while we are still young, before we have allowed too much damage to occur.

"Cleanse, protect and treat – every day," says Lewis. "Choose a skin care regimen you can stick to, and use it consistently to see results. I am big proponent of active ingredients – go for a retinoid, vitamin C, AHA, something that can actually make a visible improvement in the texture of your skin. Start early by using quality products that deliver results and adequate sun protection."

Surface treatments aren't the only way to fight aging. Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., and author of The Vitamin Bible (Warner Books, 1999) and Earl Mindell's Anti-Aging Bible (Fireside, 1996), believes that vitamins and nutrition are the optimal way to combat aging.

"Stress, diet and environmental factors are all responsible for our premature aging," says Mindell. "The 'standard American diet' is even more of a factor. It contains the stressors that I call FATCATSS – that's hydrogenated vegetable oils, trans fatty acids and saturated fats – that speed up the aging process by causing hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, sugar and salt round out the rest of the FATCATSS."

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