Navigating the Myths and Realities of Anti-Aging Skincare

From lofty product claims to Pinterest DIY treatments, there’s a lot of misinformation and incomplete information out there about anti-aging in skincare. Which begs the question – what information about anti-aging skincare is fact – and what is fiction?

On The Skin Report podcast, Dr. Simran Sethi, an Internal Medicine doctor and Founder of RenewMD medical spas and Skin by Dr. Sethi, addresses some of the most common skincare questions! She breaks down topics like anti-aging ingredients, products, and treatments.

Read on to learn real science-backed answers to common anti-aging skincare questions, so you can achieve healthy and beautiful skin for years to come!

The Truth Behind Anti-Aging Skincare Products and Practices

In the skincare world, misinformation and disinformation regarding anti-aging practices, ingredients, and products are widespread. This can lead to damaging results.
For anti-aging skincare, incorrect use of products, ingredients, and methods may do more harm than good!
As a skincare professional, Dr. Sethi aims to promote science-back facts about skin health and renewal. She clears up the confusion around common skincare questions regarding anti-aging products and botox treatments.

Do Anti-Aging Products Really Prevent Aging?

Everyone ages with time, however, there are many ingredients that prevent or slow down the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, loosening skin and more.

The skin renewal cycle is the skin’s natural process of creating new cells. But as we age, our skin renewal cycle and collagen production slow down, leading to signs of aging.

Dr. Sethi recommends anti-aging products that nourish and fortify the skin renewal cycle as well as the skin’s collagen production. Topical anti-aging products often contain ingredients that help reduce the appearance of fine lines, like Vitamin C, peptides, and Retinol. These ingredients are great for your skin, as they improve its health and nourish the skin renewal cycle.

Therefore, ingredients that encourage cell turnover help us appear more youthful. This way, we are constantly making new skin, and our skin can continue to repair and erase skin damage at a rapid skin renewal rate.

What age should I start using anti-aging products?

People can begin incorporating anti-aging products into their skincare routine at any age. But according to Dr. Sethi, the earlier you start, the better!

The skin renewal cycle typically begins to slow down in our mid-20s. It will continue to slow, causing more time to pass between cell turnover and less regeneration to repair skin insults and erase damage.

Skin is a living organism that continually regenerates. That means that these anti-aging ingredients can improve our skin at any age. So while starting your anti-aging journey earlier is best, it is never too late to begin incorporating beneficial skincare products.

Does Botox Really Prevent Aging?

Botox is a neurotoxin that impacts muscle movements. With the muscles unable to move, the skin on top of these muscles will not fold or form creases. Therefore, when administered to the facial muscles, botox can help prevent the formation of facial wrinkles.

When used on the muscles over a prolonged period of time, botox can also affect muscle memory. Muscle memory is the involuntary facial muscle movements that occur throughout the day or night. However, by freezing the muscles’ ability to move, botox stops these muscle movements from occurring.

What is “Preventative Botox”

“Preventative botox” is a term that has gained popularity thanks to its widespread use on Tiktok. In reality, “preventative botox” is the same as regular botox.

According to Dr. Sethi, “preventative botox” is simply a marketing rebrand of botox to encourage more women in their early twenties to get the treatment. By spreading this new trendy term, younger audiences feel more pressured to start botox treatments earlier to “prevent” the formation of wrinkles – and botox providers gain more business.

What age should I begin Botox?

So is “preventative botox” necessary, and when should people begin botox? Well, people can choose to undergo botox treatments at any adult age. However, Dr. Sethi explains that the younger someone begins botox treatments, the more effective they usually are at preventing the formation of wrinkles before they become deep lines.

Anti-aging products and practices are only scratching the surface when it comes to skincare science. To learn more answers to common skincare questions, check out Season 2, Episode 9 of The Skin Report podcast!