Preventing Aging - Botox, SPF, skincare: what I would do differently if I could rewind the clock
When it comes to the visible signs of aging, prevention is the best treatment. The way we look after our skin today impacts its health and appearance years from now, but I didn’t always appreciate that. If I could turn back time, there are a few things I would do differently…
Daily SPF
Firstly, sunscreen - lots of it! In my younger years, I reserved sunscreen for only the brightest of days to prevent myself from burning. Even then, scared that it flared up my terrible acne, I would wash it off at the earliest opportunity and leave my skin unprotected.
Today, I am never without my sunscreen. Even when I am short on time, it is the one thing I prioritise over anything else in my morning routine. I apply a daily, broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen to protect my skin from both the wavelengths of sunlight that cause burning (UVB) and those that cause up to 80% of the visible signs of aging (UVA). I use HydroPeptide Solar Defense Non-Tinted for its non-comedogenic properties and its antioxidants, which help combat free radical damage.
I wish I had started much sooner, but now I wear sunscreen every single day, in all seasons and regardless of my plans for the day.
Invest in Skincare and Professional Guidance
From the age of 12, I suffered with horrendous acne. I tried every off the shelf acne treatment I could, had numerous prescription topical antibiotics from my GP and plastered thick makeup over my face to cover as much of it as I could for years.
Eventually, the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) helped improve my acne, but it remained a daily concern for me far into my twenties. Whenever I changed or came off hormonal contraception, my acne would worsen, and my first pregnancy wreaked havoc on my skin. I resigned myself to being someone with bad skin and I lacked the confidence to go outside without covering it up under layers of heavy coverage foundation.
Then I discovered ZO Skin Health, and quickly learned and trained with more professional skincare brands. As I learned more, half of my excitement was about expanding my knowledge and the services I could provide for my patients, and half of it was about how I might be able to help my own skin.
Having tried seemingly everything under the sun through my teenage years, I was still sceptical but I now had two things going for me - access and insight into the best products on the market (not just those on the grocery store shelves) and the knowledge to know how and why to use them.
I had seen GPs and dermatologists before, each one offering me a single ‘treatment’ prescription that ultimately did not work. Now looking back, I understand why.
When I overhauled my skincare routine with professional products, used appropriately and correctly, the difference was profound. In a few weeks, my skin was completely different and the impact that had on my confidence was huge. I have been through a second pregnancy and continue to breastfeed my youngest with zero concerns about my skin. I leave the house most days without a scrap of makeup on and I couldn’t be prouder of that.
I enormously regret that I previously misspent so much time and money to end up in the same place I always began. If I could snap my fingers and point my teenage self in the direction of a healthcare professional trained in ZO products, I absolutely would!
Skip the Botox
At 24, ahead of my wedding, I went to try Botox. I did a bit of research in advance but really didn’t understand it well. I went along to a local practitioner who didn’t counsel me at all before injecting my forehead. In fact, I spent 10 minutes total in the clinic then was off on my way.
I left feeling unsure whether having the treatment was the right thing to do and not knowing what results to look out for or expect. In retrospect, Botox was not the right treatment for me at the time. I am frequently asked when is the right age to start having Botox and the answer is that it is different for everyone.
At 24, I had no wrinkles and very few dynamic lines that appeared on facial expression. I have a short forehead and a naturally heavy brow - features that I frequently see in my clinic and that deserve due caution and attention when treating with neuromodulators. Looking back, I would tell myself to save my pennies and not think about Botox just yet. I would also suggest doing more research before choosing a practitioner, and look for one that encouraged me to ask questions and ensured I had a thorough understanding of what to expect before starting a treatment.
Takeaway Tips
For anyone looking to take steps now to look after themselves for the long term I would advise the same:
Wear sunscreen every day, come rain or shine, and choose a good quality sunscreen that is broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher and ideally separate to other cosmetic products (i.e. not a moisturiser with an SPF rating)
Seek professional advice to guide you with your skincare. Dramatic improvements can be achieved with high quality skincare alone, but it’s equally no good having all the right products if you don’t know how or why you should use them
If you’re considering Botox or any other injectable treatment, look for a healthcare professional that you feel comfortable enough with to ask all of your questions. I always offer my new patients the opportunity to go away, think about what we’ve discussed, and rebook for a treatment on another date. I only offer treatments to my patients that I believe will help meet their aesthetic goals, and I want them to feel confident in my assessment and able to consent to treatment without feeling pressured to do so.
If you have a treatment you are considering that you would like to discuss with me, you can book an appointment here.
