4 BODY PARTS MISSING FROM YOUR ANTI-AGING ROUTINE

Aging can be an incredible experience. As you collect years, you learn more and more about yourself, growing more capable and confident with who you are, inside and out. Unfortunately, it can also bring anxiety, especially when you start to see fine lines and wrinkles on and around the face.

But aging doesn’t have to be a source of stress – at least not if you choose the right skin care treatments. Scrubs, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, fillers, and Botox can help you reverse the signs of aging without surgery, letting you age gracefully without losing your youthful glow.

The problem? Most people only focus on beauty and skin care for the face – and that’s a big mistake.

Aging can also impact other areas of the body, including the hands, chest, neck, and knees. You can – and should – make these critical zones an integral part of your overall beauty routine. We’ll explain why and how to make it happen.

#1. YOUR HANDS

The truth about hands is that they’re more used than nearly any other body part, and that means they’re exposed to the elements fairly regularly, too. Like the skin on your face, the skin on your hands can become sun damaged, roughened, uneven, and wrinkled as you age. If you don’t care for them properly from an early age, they’re also one of the first places you’ll see fine lines and wrinkles.

Whether you’re 30 or 70, you can take action now to reduce signs of aging on your hands. First, skip the harsh cleansers; they’ll strip important oils from your skin and make your hands feel rough, dry, and uncomfortable.

Instead, use a gentle cleanser formulated for sensitive skin with added moisture to re-plump tissues. Formulas with vitamin C and lemon may help to reduce age spots, melasma, and other unsightly blemishes. Follow your cleansing routine with a good high-SPF moisturizer – and don’t forget to massage a bit of oil into your cuticles.

PRO FIX:

What about a facial for your hands? Yes, that’s right – many of the same facials you use on your face are available for the backs of your hands, too.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask your aesthetician about injectable fillers like Restylane Lyft. Many of the same fillers used on the face are now FDA-approved to re-plump and inflate crepey skin on the hands.

#2. YOUR CHEST

Signs of aging on the chest can be disheartening. Many people (especially women) become intensely self-conscious, shying away from low-cut shirts or bathing suits out of a fear of how others will perceive them.

After age 30, the skin on your chest starts to lose elasticity; this happens because your body becomes less effective at producing collagen. The result is that the skin around your collarbone, shoulders, and decolletage can begin to appear thin, overly translucent, saggy, or even slightly skeletal. Left untreated, the skin will begin to develop vertical creases that worsen over time.

It’s also really common for melasma (age spots) to develop on and around the chest after around age 50 – especially if you spend time in the sun. Frustratingly, age spots that develop on the chest also tend to be larger in size and harder to treat.

How your chest looks as you age is tied to genetics – but that doesn’t mean you can’t intervene. Start by extending your facial care plan to include your chest, washing with a gentle cleanser once or twice a day. Then, add a good daily moisturizer based on your skin type.

If the skin on your chest feels dry, flaky, or rough, try massaging in a bit of coconut oil before bed each night. Argan oil formulas with vitamin C are also helpful because they smooth and plump the skin while also lightening age spots and evening out skin tone for a more airbrushed appearance.

PRO FIX:

Need a faster intervention? Consider microneedling. This quick and relatively painless process involves making tiny pinpricks in the skin on your chest, which triggers your body’s own natural regenerative processes. It also stimulates the creation of collagen to make skin more elastic, reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

If you’re experiencing moderate to severe sagging, or a skeletal appearance in and around the collarbone, ask your aesthetician about fillers. Low-volume treatments with Sculptra are especially useful for re-plumping skin in this zone.

#3. YOUR NECK

Think about the last time you looked at another person. You probably glanced at their eyes, first, and maybe then their hair, their nose, or their lips. From there, the eye is naturally drawn down to the neck – the third-most common zone for age-related degeneration.

What makes the neck such a hot zone for age-related issues? The neck naturally contains extra loose skin; it’s what allows you to move freely, turn your head in either direction and shrug your shoulders.

The problem? The skin in and around your neck eventually loses elasticity and volume over time. By age 50, a significant number of patients develop “turkey neck,” a rather unglamorous term for loose, sagging skin at the front of the neck. This is especially common after significant weight loss or weight gain.

So how can you keep your neck looking – and feeling – as youthful as you feel? Start simple by extending your daily cleansing routine to include your neck. Then, add a moisturizer specifically designed for treating neck issues. Look for formulas that contain peptides (which promote collagen growth and improve skin tightness) and polysaccharides (which encourage skin to retain more moisture.

PRO FIX:

If you’re still struggling with lax skin, stubborn fat deposits, or fine lines and wrinkles on your neck, you have options. A Botox neck lift can help you firm things up without turning to costly and invasive surgeries, while ThermaLift radiofrequency therapy stimulates collagen to help your neck become more elastic once again.

For sticky fat deposits (for example, a double chin), Kybella is a great option. This fat-melting injectable liquifies fat cells in your most troubling problem areas without leaving you with more loose, saggy skin. Most patients only need a couple of sessions to see permanent results!

#4. YOUR KNEES

Hands, shoulders, knees, and toes…okay, maybe just the knees. Because the knee is a major joint, the zone around it contains a lot of extra skin. Before around age 30, this isn’t really a problem; the skin is elastic enough to snap back into place as you stand, sit, and move around.

The problem occurs when your body’s natural collagen production slows down. As with other critical aging zones, like the neck, face, and hands, this results in fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging of the skin, which can make your legs look (and feel) older than they really are.

But that’s really just the beginning. While age spots aren’t as common on the knees, dry, rough, and papery thin skin is – and it can be incredibly uncomfortable to experience (physically and mentally).

First, switch to a good body wash – or just use the same cleanser you use on your face on your knees, too. Just be aware that what counts as “enough” moisturization for your face might be woefully inadequate for your knees.

After cleansing, assess how your knees look and feel. If they’re extremely dry, rough, and papery, try an overnight deep moisturizing session. Take a knee-high cotton sock and cut it just above the ankle. Then, slather on a deep-moisturizing night cream with collagen boosters. Pull the sock up and over the knee to cover it; the moisturizer will go to work overnight as you sleep, penetrating further into the skin. Follow this up by massaging in a firming cream after your morning shower for the best effect.

PRO FIX:

Did you know that your local aesthetics spa can also treat dry and rough skin on your knees? Some spas now offer “facials” specially designed for major joints, like the elbows, knees, and ankles – and they’re well-worth the investment.

In some cases, dry skin on the knees may actually need medical intervention, especially if the dry skin appears scaly, extremely red, or cracked. This is a prime location for psoriasis and eczema flares; a good medicated cream will help.

If all else fails, ThermiTight can help you restore elasticity in and around the joints by re-stimulating the production of collagen. More invasive options, like laser lipo and full liposuction or knee lifts, are available – but they aren’t without side effects, and may require several days of healing time before you can return to your daily activities.

The biggest takeaway here is that beauty isn’t just about your face – it’s a whole-body dedication to self-care from the ground up. Don’t consider it just another self-indulgent luxury; you deserve to look and feel good about your appearance, no matter what your age.