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Ageing Skin What You Can Do About It Oestrogen plays many important roles in the skin. Keratinocytes, Langerhans cells, melanocytes,
sebaceous glands and fibroblasts are all under hormonal influence. Hence, decreased oestrogen levels result in a decreased
capillary blood-flow velocity to the skin.
What is skin ageing? Wrinkles
are thought to be caused by changes in the dermal tissue, which is composed of fibroblasts. Older skin has been shown in multiple
studies to have decreased amounts of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Much research has gone into how to prevent the
loss of these three main components of the dermis. Although dermal fillers containing collagen and hyaluronic acid have been
developed to replace these components in the skin, much interest has focused on preventing the loss of these vital components.
Skin ageing seems to accelerate after menopause. It is known that the decline in skin collagen that occurs with aging occurs
at a greater rate during the first few years after menopause. In fact, some 30% of skin collagen is lost in the first 5 years
after menopause.
What can be done to prevent ageing? Antioxidants The free radical theory of ageing, proposed in 1956,
is one of the most widely accepted theories to explain the cause of ageing. Free radicals lead to inflammation, damaged DNA,
and damaged cell membranes. Therefore, free radicals alone can cause the breakdown of collagen, even in the absence of UV
exposure. The use of antioxidants to prevent photoaging and the breakdown of
collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid has become very popular in the dermatology and skin care fields. Numerous studies have
supported the use of green tea extract, vitamin C, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, lutein, lycopene and red clover to prevent photoaging.
Antioxidants can be applied topically and must also be taken orally to achieve maximum success. Most formulations on the market
contain too little of those beneficial extracts to have any effect to have any effect on your skin. In addition, antioxidants
can be very unstable, hence be easily destroyed by the other ingredients in these products, such as synthetic preservatives.
For example, vitamin C has the added benefit of increasing collagen synthesis; however, it is a molecule that is difficult
to stabilize, and proper formulation is essential to achieve efficacy.

Vitamin A Natural derivatives of vitamin A, an important anti-oxidant, have long been known to
improve wrinkled skin. A plethora of clinical trials confirmed early observations that those treated with vitamin A derivatives
for acne had less photoaging than those not treated with it. More recently, evidence suggests that vitamin A derivatives also
play a role in the prevention of ageing. This occurs because of its inhibitory effects on damaging several collagen-degrading
enzymes. It has been demonstrated that in particular a specific derivative of vitamin A inhibits the production of these harmful
enzymes. In addition, UV exposure has also been shown to decrease collagen
production. Clinical trials demonstrated that collagen is substantially reduced within 24 hours after a single UV exposure.
Pre-treatment of the skin with vitamin A derivatives was shown to inhibit this loss of collagen. Therefore, pre-treatment
of the skin with the right and natural derivative of vitamin A, when used consistently, is very beneficial in preventing as
well as treating photodamage. Oestrogen also plays a role in maintaining collagen
and hyaluronic acid. In fact, the naturally occurring oestrogen in our body was found to be as effective as all natural vitamin
A derivatives in stimulating the development of new connective repair zones in photodamaged skin, which resulted in a skin
thickening response.
The increase in skin thickness among patients receiving plant-based estrogens (Phytooestrogens)
has been observed. It is currently believed that these skin thickness changes seen with ageing are due to hormonal effects
on collagen, elastic fibres and dermal hyaluronic acid content. Prevention of skin ageing is a concern for many.
Claudia Louch has developed a new customised approach to skincare which addresses each individual’s unique differences.
Based on sound scientific principles, each patient is treated internally and externally to their specific condition. The preventative
treatments focus on preserving collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastic tissue. The naturally preserved, bio-organic skincare
products are handmade and customised for each patient. This is combined with an internal, customised treatment of plant derived
anti-oxidants, not in supplement form but as phytomedical (plant based medicine preparations) and phytooestrogens (extracted
from plants).
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