Healthy skin comes from a myriad set of factors. Some things, such as our genetic blueprint, are inherited and at this juncture there isn’t much that can be done to change that. This is an area of active research, however, and will most likely represent the way of the future in terms of medical therapy for a large variety of conditions and ailments. Other factors, such as environmental exposure and smoking, may be altered to our benefit. There are clear benefits to be derived from avoiding sun exposure, UV light irradiation and tanning beds in order to keep our skin from aging prematurely and developing wrinkles or sun damage. Similarly, smoking has been shown to cause a plethora of unwanted effects such as skin wrinkling, and of greater concern it increases the risk of many cancers.
Nutrition is another extremely important contributor to our appearance and how our bodies age. Much of the specifics of the way cells respond to noxious stimuli and recover or repair themselves are still under investigation. However, there is mounting scientific evidence that “we are what we eat”, and that our nutritional intake very much influences our bodies and how we age. “Nutricosmetics” combine using both topical and oral agents to make skin look younger, and in some cases even reverse some of the damage already caused. Anti-oxidants and glycation inhibitors such as carnosine are known to have positive effects on the skin and to contribute to younger looking skin. Foods that are known to be high in anti-oxidants are tomatoes, blueberries, green tea and red wine may all contribute to youthful skin. Although the exact amounts of each of these necessary to produce optimal results have not yet been ascertained, adding them to your diet in moderation may well prove beneficial to your skin’s appearance.
Dr. Olivia Hutchinson, a board certified female plastic surgeon in NYC, will be happy to discuss your nutrition as it pertains to your appearance as well as the way it impacts any plastic surgery procedures you are considering. Please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Hutchinson.
