Most women and some men want to look as youthful as they possibly can for as long as they can. Sadly, sun damage, stress, unwholesome foods, smoking, and several other factors may age a person’s face faster than we’d like to.

If you don’t want a traditional facelift procedure, there are other ways to keep your skin looking and feeling young.

Here are dermatologist’s top 9 ways to restore youthful skin for a younger looking you.

1. Avoid the Sun

Everyone knows that the sun causes damage to your skin and, as a result, makes your skin look old. Even using sunscreen, which is a must at all times, is no match for a large sun hat or staying inside.

The sun’s UV rays cause dark spots, redness, degradation of the texture of the skin, reduced elasticity, pigmentation or uneven skin tones, wrinkles and so much more damage that all lead to an older-looking face.

There are effective ways to fix sun damage, but it’s good practice to avoid being in direct sunlight as much as you can.

2. Vitamin C

The latest trend in beauty care is Vitamin C. It is one of the top three antioxidants for helping to reduce damage from the sun. Vitamin E and Beta-Carotene are also important, but Vitamin C in serum form has been proven to be the best for younger-looking skin.

Vitamin C boosts the production of collagen to prevent wrinkles, reduces the appearance of fine lines and promotes elasticity. These are all marks of youthful skin.

This vitamin will also help lighten skin discolouration such as stubborn dark spots, reduces redness, erases under-eye darkness and helps with hyperpigmentation.

3. Retinol (Vitamin A)

Most dermatologists will prescribe Retinol to combat dark spots, wrinkles, and other sun damage. Vitamin A helps to stimulate the creation of new skin cells which make a person look younger.

Retinol prescribed by a doctor is stronger and can even out skin tone, reduce acne and breakouts. It has the power to renew skin better than over-the-counter serums and creams.

A few side effects of this treatment include redness and a heated sensation after application. Over time, there will be more dry skin to deal with, so a good and thick moisturizer is recommended after a Retinol application.

This is a slow-acting treatment and you won’t see an improvement on your face for almost 12 weeks of nightly use, so practice patience.

4. Dermal Fillers

These are injections, typically filled with a Hyaluronic acid. This is a kind of sugar that is naturally created within the body. This serum is injected into deep depressions and wrinkles, plumping the skin and smoothing the dermis to a youthful glow.

The Hyaluronic acid swells, filling the lines and valleys on your face. This type of treatment will last anywhere between six and 12 months before another injection may be required.

You may experience redness and small bumps at the injection site, but these side effects go away in a short time.

5. Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is short bursts of laser light which actually remove layers of the skin. This treatment is good for flaws on the face such as prominent blood vessels, acne scars, sun-damaged spots, brown and age spots.

The laser resurfacing takes the dull, damaged skin off the surface and leaves plump, smoother skin. This procedure will also tighten the skin and help in the production of collagen, which creates a younger-looking membrane.

6. Radio Frequency (RF)

Radio frequency is skin tightening, similar to laser resurfacing, but with less damage to the dermis. There is no downtime and there are no scars to worry about after the procedure.

RF heats the deepest layer of the skin with a low radio frequency that encourages new cells as well as collagen. This makes the skin younger-looking, firmer and thicker.

This procedure can lift the skin, creating a smoother, brighter, and younger-looking skin over the entire face. Some individuals opt for this procedure in tandem with dermal fillers to renew their face.

7. Start on the Inside

To have youthful skin, you need to start from the inside. Your first step should be to eat more fresh produce and plants, and less processed ingredients. An antioxidant-rich diet will improve your skin over time. You can also use lemons on your face as a lightener for dark spots.

Add avocados to your diet as they are packed with good fatty acids. Papaya is another natural and great-tasting fruit that will help give your face that youthful glow.
Eat more nuts and seeds. Add sunflower seeds and walnuts to your daily snack routine and your skin will be clearer and tighter.

8. Avoid Sugar

Sugar is damaging to your entire body, but it may also cause acne and age spots on your face. It breaks down collagen, which is crucial in keeping your skin smooth and tight.

Additionally, there are many foods that are processed and, when eaten, turn into sugar. Avoid refined sugar found in, for example, white pasta and white bread. Eating whole grains is fine and should be part of your diet. You will need to become more mindful of what you are putting into your body if you want to improve the skin on your face.

Another problem may be smoking. If you smoke, you may want to re-assess your situation and avoid smoking. Smoking breaks down the skin’s elasticity, creating wrinkles and deep lines which makes you look older.

9. Aloe Vera

People have been using Aloe Vera as medicine for hundreds of years. You can purchase the gel in a pill form, so you don’t have to struggle with the unpleasant taste.
The most effective way to use Aloe Vera is directly on your skin. Keep a plant in the kitchen and another in the bathroom as they are easy to grow. Break off a long leaf and use a little at a time as a natural moisturizer. It’s good to know that it can heal cuts and burns.

To have beautiful-looking skin, take care of yourself inside and out, and practice the 9 tips we discussed. The skin is the largest organ of your body. Do not wait until you start experiencing problems to take care of it.