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Diva
updated 3 May 2012, 13:17
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Fri, Apr 27, 2012
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Getting older doesn't mean looking old

It is inevitable... we all age. We celebrate milestone birthdays, we make bucket lists, we promise to cherish the rest of our years on this planet.

But we also have to deal with the effect the years have taken on our bodies... inside and outside.

Skin

The human body's largest organ shows its age with dullness, pigmentation, wrinkles and sagging.

The dullness is due to accumulation of dead cells that are no longer shed frequently while sagging and wrinkles are caused by the degeneration of collagen and elastin which contribute to keeping skin plump.

The rate at which the skin ages is determined by genetics, diet, stress, pollution and smoking.

Topical treatment: Vitamin A (retinol) is the most powerful wrinkle fighter.

However, medical grade retinol creams are only available on prescription. Vitamin C helps with its anti-oxidant effect and hyaluronic acid helps to replace moisture that the skin loses.

Chemical peels: Mild peels even out the skin's tone, texture and fine lines. Deeper peels tighten skin with time.

Laser: New facial rejuvenating laser treatments such as the Cutera Laser Genesis target multiple ageing issues at once, leading to the reduction of fine lines around the eyes and forehead, dark circles around the eyes, size of pores and rough skin texture.

There is no down time and it is safe on tanned skin.

Radiofrequency: Thermage using radiofrequency is the top overall skin tightening technology with no down time.

Botox: Removes expression lines on the forehead and around the eyes.

Fillers: A liquid face lift works with fillers: When used along the cheekbones, it can take away the downward droop of the face.

Plus, it provides instant brightness to the face by filling out deep eye circles.

Body

Perimenopause, menopause, andropause come with ageing and affect the body and mind.

Hormones are essential for vitality as well as a sharp, positive mind and, thanks to today's stressful lifestyles and possibly poor nurtrition, some people suffer from hormonal disorder as early as their late 30s.

Bio-identical hormone therapy: Molecularly identical to hormones produced by your body, these are safe alternatives for depleted hormones.

It is formulated to your specific requirements by a compound pharmacist, based on medical history, a physical examination and blood test.

This fortnightly column by Dr Komathy Rajaratnam (founder of The Lifestyle Clinic at 16-03 Camden Medical Centre, tel: 6733-0788) will deal with beauty and aesthetic issues relevant to the Indian body type.

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