Androgens are hormones responsible for development and maintenance of male characteristics.  But, they also provide health benefits to women too.  Some estradiol, one of the estrogens, is derived or produced from testosterone.

Testosterone is produced in women in the ovaries along with estrogen and progesterone, and in the adrenal glands.  Testosterone levels in women are about 10% of those in men. But, even at 10% of men’s levels testosterone plays an important role in the overall health of women.

Women really go through two “pauses” when they age; menopause characterized by declining levels of estrogen and progesterone, and andropause characterize by loss of testosterone.  Testosterone levels in women begin to decline in their 20s usually long before they experience declines in estrogen and progesterone.

Just like in men, androgen deficiency or low T can adversely affect the health of women.

Benefits of Testosterone in Women

The “hormone of desire” is testosterone and that’s true for both men and women.   Sex drive or libido is closely tied to testosterone levels in both sexes.

Testosterone also improves mental well-being in women, increases energy levels, improves body composition by maintaining muscle mass, and therefore better metabolism. Testosterone is anabolic which means it improves bone density, too.  Most women are aware of estrogen’s role in bone density.   Estrogen prevents bone loss, but testosterone stimulates bone production.  So if you already have suffered bone loss estrogen alone may not be enough to achieve better bone health. You might need a little “vitamin T”. Healthy testosterone levels may protect women against breast cancer as well.

Restoring testosterone to normal levels can also lower LDL or the bad cholesterol and increase the beneficial or good HDL cholesterol when given topically or in an injection.  Women frequently report fewer joint and muscle aches and improved flexibility, mobility, and less stiffness after receiving testosterone replacement.

Testosterone probably provides more “feel good” effects for women than other hormone replacement therapy.

What Are the Risks of Testosterone In Women?

The risks are minimal when doses are used to simply restore a woman’s level back to a healthy range.  The main side effects include hair growth (facial and under the arms) and acne. What would you expect? Testosterone is the “male” hormone. If doses are excessive clitoral enlargement and deepening of the voice can also occur, but I have not seen (or heard) this in practice. But like any hormone it’s important to be monitored closely by a physician if receiving hormone replacement therapy.

How is Testosterone Administered to Women?

Oral testosterone, though available, are not used in women or men because they are associated with adverse liver effects.  Most women prefer testosterone replacement in cream form that is applied daily. Topical testosterone can be transferred to other individuals and even pets for a few hours after application so it’s wise to apply any topical hormone to an area of the body less likely to come in contact with others, or easily covered by clothing.

Testosterone can also be given through an intramuscular injection, which is usually performed weekly.  Some women prefer injections as they sometimes forget to apply the creams on a daily basis. Adequate testosterone levels in women can be achieved through either mode of delivery, and it is more a matter of personal preference (in men it can sometimes be difficult to achieve good testosterone levels with creams).

If you want to be the complete women then you should consider testosterone replacement if you’re deficient in that all important “male” hormone.

According to the Hayflick Limit Theory of aging, each cell can only divide a certain number of times, which is felt to be around 50 times before the cell dies or quits functioning.  Every time the cell divides the telomeres gets shorter and shorter.  At some point the telomeres become too short to protect the chromosomes and our DNA. You can think of the telomere as a wick burning in the candle. Once the wick gets too small the flame goes out and the candle “dies”.

We now know that our lifestyle can dramatically affect the rate at which our cells divide and therefore how fast or slow are telomeres become shorter.  A recent article “Telomeres, lifestyle, cancer, and aging” published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care (2011, 14:28-34) highlights the harm to telomeres from smoking, obesity, and stress.

Smoking accelerates telomere shortening. A person who smokes a pack a day for 40 years sees telomere shortening equivalent to 7.4 years of life.  Obesity is even more harmful to our telomeres causing telomere shortening equivalent to 8.8 years of life.  But guess what is even more harmful to our telomeres?  Daily stress!  Telomere shortening in stressed women was equivalent to 10 years of life.

On the flip side athletes have longer telomeres than non-athletes.  Longer telomeres are also associated with diets high in antioxidants, vitamin D, and omega 3 fatty acids.  So, this should drive home the point that how we live influences how long we live.

Beyond Lifestyle: Improving Telomere Health

The authors of the book, The Immortality Edge (available on this website through Amazon) recommend several supplements that have been shown to slow the rate of telomere shortening through their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Fish oil:  3,000 mg twice a day of a high quality supplement
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine:  1,000 mg twice a day
• Anthrocyanins extract:  700 mg with each meal
• N-Acetylcysteine:  600 mg twice a day
• Coenyzme Q10:  200 mg to 600 mg a day (higher end of the range for those with heart disease)
• L-Carnosine:  1,000 mg daily
• Phosphatidylserine: 300 mg daily
• Alpha-Lipoic-Acid:  50 mg to 300 mg daily
• Vitamin D:  2,000 IUs to 8,000 IUs daily (dose determined by vitamin D blood levels with a goal reaching 50 ng/dl to 80 ng/dl).

Can Anything Be Done to Lengthen Telomeres?

Yes, TA-65 a nutritional supplement made by TA Sciences activates telomerase, an enzyme that lengthens telomeres.  Individuals taking TA-65 for one year were found to have improved markers of immune function, improved total and LDL cholesterol, improved fasting blood sugars and insulin levels, improve blood pressure, improvements in memory and attention, and improvements in bone density.  All of the above were statistically significant findings.  In addition, some individuals reported better energy, better sleep, improved skin appearance, improved visual acuity, and improve sex drive.

Keep your telomeres as long as possible for as long as possible by eating well, getting plenty of exercise, managing stress well, achieving an optimal weight, and avoid smoking.  Take telomere healthy supplements and for those of you who want to be more proactive consider taking TA-65.

So how might testosterone be related to inflammation? It appears to have something to do with the enzyme phosopholipase D. The higher the activity of phospholipase D the more inflammation, and in women phospholipase D is more active than in men.  Testosterone appears to suppress phospholipase D activity. Not only that, but activity of phospholipase is diminished in female immune cells with testosterone treatment suggesting a cause and effect relationship.

But, it doesn’t stop with phospholipase D.  It’s known that inflammatory markers like interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1beta increase with age and inhibit testosterone secretion.  And, other studies suggest that testosterone supplementation reduces some of these inflammatory markers.

Testosterone and Cardiovascular Disease

Though we think of cardiovascular disease as a “plumbing” disorder, it is very much an inflammatory disease.  Heart disease increases in men with age and that corresponds to declining levels of testosterone in men seen with aging.  It might very well be a loss of protection against inflammation that contributes to the rising incidence of heart disease in men with aging. As we have mentioned in other posts, testosterone also enhances nitric oxide production which improves blood flow providing another mechanism by which testosterone appears to protect against cardiovascular disease.

Men with metastatic prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy, or therapies designed to lower testosterone, are at increased risk of heart disease.  See our post, “Cardiovascular Disease Linked to Treatments that Lower Testosterone”.

So evidence is mounting that inflammation leads to heart disease and lower testosterone levels leads to increased inflammation.

Estrogen Levels in Men

Healthy estrogen levels in men are between 16 pg/ml and 34 pg/ml.  Estrogen in men is largely derived from the aromatization of testosterone into estrogen.  There tends to be more aromatization into estrogen as men age.  In fact, it is not uncommon for a 55-year-old male to have higher estrogen levels than a 55-year-old woman.

Health Benefits of Estrogen in Men

Healthy estrogen levels can reduce LDL cholesterol, improve blood sugar control, and reduce abdominal fat. Increased abdominal fat is more likely with lower estrogen levels in men.

Estrogen also facilitates bone density.  Men with low estrogen have been shown to be at increase risk for hip fractures. And, higher estrogen (healthier) levels in men are associated with greater bone density.

Men with healthier estrogen levels have also been shown to be associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in this study. And, this study showed healthier estrogen levels in men to be related to healthier lipid and blood glucose metabolism.

We’ve mentioned in the past the mortality rates are higher in men whose testosterone levels are in the lower third of the reference range compared to men with levels in the upper third of the range. Mortality rates are also higher in men with lower estrogen levels.

What Happens with Too Much Estrogen?

Estrogen levels that are too high can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and rheumatoid disease.

Too much estrogen in men seems to thicken the arterial walls and some studies show that heart attack patients were more likely to have higher estrogen levels than men with normal coronary arteries.

Both low testosterone and high estrogen levels in men are linked to type 2 diabetes.

Too much estrogen can lead to chronic inflammation and raise C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker.  Testosterone minimizes inflammation.  This may explain why women are more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases than men – they have high estrogen levels and low testosterone levels.

High estrogen levels can also lead to breast development (gynecomastia) or nipple tenderness.  Some men also report being more emotional if estrogen levels are too high.

What Can I Do if My Estrogen Levels are Too High?

For men whose estrogen levels are too high there are several options. Aromatase inhibitors can be prescribed that block the conversion of testosterone into estrogen.  They work extremely well and have a long half-life.  Anastrazole is the most common aromatase inhibitor used in men. Generally 1 mg a week is all that is needed to bring estrogen levels into the healthy range.

There are some nutritional supplements that can also be considered. Chrysin which is extracted from the blue passionflower is an aromatase inhibitor but is poorly absorbed. However, if taken with piperine (pepper extract) has been shown to be better absorbed and lower estrogen levels.  The usual dose is 1.000 mg to 3,000 mg a day.

The cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabblage, Brussel sprouts) contain indole-3-carbinol (IC3) which balances estrogen metabolism.  The usual dose of IC3 is 200 mg to 400 mg a day.

Resveratrol has been shown to attach to estrogen receptors.  This essentially blocks estrogen from linking to the receptor lessening the effects of estrogen.

So estrogen is not just for women.  Like all hormones the key is balance – not too little and not too much.

Eat Breakfast

If the body goes too long without a meal metabolism will slow down as the body tries to conserve energy if it senses that it is being starved.  Breakfast is essential for breaking the overnight fast.  Studies show that people who eat breakfast regularly are less likely to become overweight. Eating breakfast is the best way to get the day off to a quick start. Eat breakfast – that’s simple.

Eat Frequently

That sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it?  But, the body functions better if it has a nice steady stream of energy.  Frequent eating prevents overeating that tends to occur if one waits too long in between meals to eat.  Try to consume something every 3 to 4 hours.   Infrequent eating can lead to crashes in blood sugar and fatigue.

Don’t wait until you are starving to eat, and don’t eat until your full in the stomach. Eat frequently – that’s simple.

Eat Smaller Portions

Next time you’re asked “do you want to super size it”, say “no”.  Avoid super-size portions at all costs.  Studies show that when presented with more food than then we really need we tend to overeat.  So put on your plate only the amount of food that your body truly needs. Eat smaller portions – that’s simple. Also, consider eating foods that provide volume while controlling calories. Basically eat foods that will fill you up without filling you with calories.  Fruits and vegetables that contain fiber are examples.  Soup is another way to fill the stomach limiting the overall amount of food you eat at a meal.

Avoid White Foods

Avoid white pasta, white potatoes, white rice, and white bread.  These are high glycemic foods, which promote fat gain.   Healthier choices include whole wheat pasta, sweet potato, brown rice, and non-white breads, but don’t consume to excess. Avoid white foods – that’s simple.

Avoid Processed Foods

Avoid processed food that contain sugar, fructose, or corn syrup.  These are sure to raise insulin levels and that will not only promote fat gain, but make it more difficult to burn fat for calories.  Plus, they increase inflammation in the body accelerating the aging process. Stay natural. You don’t see many doughnut trees out there, do you?  Avoid processed foods – that’s simple.

Make Water Your Beverage of Choice

About 55% to 60% of our body is water.  Some people mistake the need for water and the need for food.  So if you feel hungry try consuming water first and see if the hunger pangs don’t go away.  Consume water throughout the day.  That way when you sense hunger, you probably are truly hungry.  Plus, water improves blood flow and delivery of oxygen all of which makes us healthier, and it helps remove toxins from the body. Drink water – that’s simple.

Exercise With the Goal of Improving Metabolism

Exercise is important, but for many people the standard 20 to 30 minutes of steady pace cardiovascular exercise is insufficient for losing meaningful weight.  More calories can be burned with strength training (moderate intensity or better), plus additional calories are burned and needed to repair the micro-damage that occurs with strength training that ultimately leads to building more muscle and more muscle burns more calories.  So strength training becomes a positive upward spiral reducing fat and increasing muscle mass.

Also, performing short bursts of intense exercise repeatedly will elevate metabolism for extended periods of time compared to steady pace aerobic or cardio exercises. Following high intensity interval training metabolism stay revved up for many hours after the exercise. See “Natural Metabolism Boosters“, “High Intensity Interval Training: Short and Sweet“, and “Increasing Growth Hormone with Sprint 8″

Exercise – it’s certainly challenging, but it too is simple to do.

Losing weight is certainly challenging, but doing these easy and simple recommendations will go a long way to achieving a healthy weight and feeling better.  Follow these steps and you will lose weight quickly. Live Young!

What is High Intensity Interval Training?

High intensity interval training involves exercising at maximum or near maximum exertion for short periods usually 20 seconds to a minute followed by a rest period or lower intensity exertion and repeated several times.  Studies are showing that HIIT can deliver the same cardiovascular benefits in less time (if not better) as steady paced aerobic exercise done for longer periods (30 to 60 minutes).

4 Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training

• Increased Metabolism
• Improved Insulin Sensitivity
• Enhanced Growth Hormone Production
• Improved Nitric Oxide Production

Increased Metabolism

High intensity interval training stimulates a higher post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) than does steady-paced aerobics. This means HIIT  triggers a better after burn.  Following a session of HIIT your metabolism stays revved up higher longer than it would following steady paced aerobics.  You burn more calories throughout the day following HIIT.  This makes controlling or losing weight easier.

Improved Insulin Sensitivity

High intensity interval training is terrific for improving insulin sensitivity.  Insulin resistance is associated with diabetes and metabolic syndrome increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and obesity. What is not appreciated is that the muscle is the largest source of insulin receptors.  By exerting muscles at maximum or near maximum exertion induces metabolic changes and improves insulin sensitivity.  This means you need less insulin to move sugar from the blood to the tissues. Insulin is inflammatory and promotes fat gain.  So keeping insulin levels low is critical to great health.

Enhanced Growth Hormone Production

One of the main benefits of growth hormone is on body composition.  Studies show that growth hormone injections (in those growth hormone deficient) leads to a 14.4% decrease in body fat and a 8.8% increase in lean (muscle) mass – less fat, more muscle.  Growth hormone is released in response to vigorous exercise.  For this to occur exercise must be intense enough to break the anaerobic threshold.  High intensity interval training   breaks the anaerobic threshold.  Moderate to heavy strength training is another stimulus of growth hormone release.  By improving body composition the risk chronic disease goes down. Growth hormone is also a healing or rejuvenating hormone in adults, another reason increasing its natural production is healthy.

Improved Nitric Oxide Production

Nitric oxide is the simplest and probably the most important molecule in the body next to oxygen and water. Nitric oxide is a chemical mediator in the many biochemical reactions that take place in the body.  Nitric oxide is essential to cardiovascular health. It is likely that the quality of your health is directly related to your ability to produce nitric oxide. Nitric oxide can be increased by eating green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, but it can also be increased with exercise.  Aerobic exercise will increase nitric oxide production, but HIIT performed at 90% of maximum heart rate is better at improving endothelial function and nitric oxide production.

So there you have it – 4 reasons to incorporate high intensity interval training into your exercise plan, program, or routine. Before you engage in HIIT be sure to be evaluated by a physician if you are over 40 and/or are at risk for heart disease.

See “High Intensity Interval Training: Short and Sweet“, “Increasing Growth Hormone with Sprint 8“, “Fat Burning Exercises: High Intensity Interval Training“, and “Boosting Nitric Oxide with Exercise” “Natural Metabolism Boosters“.

But, is it all bad – getting older that is?  Much of that depends on you.  Aging is inevitable, but getting older is more a state of mind. It is possible to age youthfully, but it’s going to take some effort. Little good comes without effort. The key is maintaining a health lifestyle.

Not everything you hear about aging is true.  In fact, many things you hear are probably false.  So let’s take a look at some of the many myths related to aging.

You’re going to become senile.  The odds are you will maintain your mental capacities well enough to have the ability to live independently.  This is more true the better your general health. In actuality, senility effects 20% of adults. Not that that’s a great percentage, but the chances are you’ll keep your wits together.

Vitamin deficiencies can cause symptoms of senility which are reversible with vitamin supplementation.  B12 and B6 deficiencies are linked to cognitive decline and vitamin C deficiency is more likely in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.

You’re going to become depressed and unhappy.  Aging in an of itself is not a risk factor for depression.  But, there are changes that occur with aging, like declining hormone levels, that can increase the risk of depression, or exacerbate it. Depression later in life is also associated with other illnesses like stroke, heart disease, cancer, etc.  So that’s another reason to stay healthy and avoid developing any chronic diseases.

In reality, though many older individuals may look depress, most of the time they are not.

You’re going to lose muscle and experience declining energy levels.  While these 2 changes frequently occur, they don’t have to, but this is where it’s going to take effort on your part.  Studies show that 70+ year olds still respond to exercise in terms of gaining strength and improving endurance as those who are younger.  One study of active 53 to 75 years old showed that they had muscle function similar to that of those in their 20′s.

So the loss of muscle strength and mass has more to do with lifestyle than aging.

Regular exercise and proper nutrition will help  maintain energy, but sometimes help is needed.  It’s very important that sex hormone levels be optimal (testosterone, estrogens, thyroid, DHEA, growth hormone in particular). So if you lose energy as you age be sure to have your hormone levels measured.

You’re going to lose the ability to learn.  Only if you want to.  Not too long ago I heard an expert in Alzheimer’s research say that the best way to maintain cognitive skills as we age is to always be engaged in learning something new.  This helps to maintain brain plasticity.  Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to adapt to physiological changes of the body as well as changes in behavior and in the environment. In other words, learning new skills, tasks, and obtaining new knowledge keeps your brain more nimble.

We used to think the brain was rigid or did not change after a certain age (teens or early 20′s).  That’s not true.  Your brain has the ability to learn new things, though the speed at which learns does slow down some, and the way in which it learns may change, too.

Is there something you always wanted to learn or do?  Don’t let your age prevent you from pursuing all you can be and all you can do.  Keep learning and keep doing.

During my sports medicine training we had a common piece of advise for our older patients, “keep on keeping on”.

Image by nathansnostalgia via Flickr

Years ago, a lot of women count on hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms. Measuring up to expectations, HRT indeed relieved these unwanted symptoms as well as minimize other risks associated with menopause, such as osteoporosis, while still in the dark that the treatment is a minefield of side effects. Alas, a big study later revealed that the side effects of hormone therapy, including of breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, coronary heart disease, and strokes, greatly override its benefits, prompting the medical world to make a dramatic shift in how they manage menopause. Nonetheless, estrogen supplementation is still used for particular cases where it can significantly benefit the patient. Because of this development, a lot of women get confused whether or not they should undergo HRT, and if they do, what should they do to minimize the risks. So to help clarify things, here are answers to three questions that may be nagging at the back of your mind.

1. How do I know whether or not hormone replacement therapy for menopause is suitable for my case?

When determining whether to undergo estrogen replacement, consider a number of factors, such as your present health condition and medical history. With the guidance of your physician, determine your risk factors in relation to your medical history and assess whether the benefits can make up for the risks. Consider looking for alternatives to hormone replacement therapy for menopause if you have any of the following in your health profile:

• History of breast cancer in the family
• History of endometrial or uterine cancer
• History of venous thrombosis (blood clots in the veins, such as those experience during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills)
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, like severely heavy periods or spotting between periods
• Chronic liver diseas
• Gallbladder disease
• Smoker

2. How can I minimize the adverse effects of hormone replacement therapy for menopause?

If not for its side effects, the intake of HRT should not be a problem since it has been proven to be effective especially in relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. But with the adverse events being the bone of contention, then you may be wondering if there could be ways to minimize the incidence of side effects. Well, there is and that is by altering the dosage or by shifting to another form of HRT. The detrimental cardiovascular effects associated with HRT may only involve orally administered progestin and equine estrogens in Prempo since these are the ones involved in the WHI study that revealed the adverse effects of HRT. Other forms of HRT, including topical estradiol and estriol may not bring in similar dangers. Make sure though that you perform these adjustments with the guidance of your doctor.

3. For how long should I be under hormone replacement therapy for menopause?

The element of time is another factor in the incidence of side effects when taking HRT. Prolonged intake can possibly increase the incidence of side effects. Although the exact safe time frame for HRT be taken has yet to be established, experts argue on when it should be discontinued. Some say 10 years, others say earlier than 10 years. Hence, it is important to annually reassess with your doctor regarding your period of intake especially if you have developed a health condition that can make HRT riskier for you. Also, when you stop intake, brace yourself for the menopausal symptoms and risks to reappear.

Due to the adverse effects associated with hormone replacement therapy for menopause, women should seek constant guidance from their doctors in determining whether the treatment is appropriate for them, what to do to minimize side effects, and for how long should they be taking it.

Identical and fraternal twins were both included in the study. Up to 40% percent of skin aging is felt to be related to non-genetic factors like smoking and sun exposure.

Skin aging is often caused by exposure to the sun, also known as photo-aging. Photo-aging is the result of UV or ultraviolet exposure and is characterized by coarsely wrinkled skin, changes in skin pigmentation and telangiectasia (small dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin).

Factors Studied

The study analyzed the effects of the following on skin aging.

• Fitzpatrick type
• History of skin cancer
• Smoking and drinking habits
• Body weight

Results

A prior history of skin cancer contributed most to skin aging followed by increased body weight and then smoking. Interesting alcohol consumption was associated with lower scores of photo damage and other studies have shown no correlation between alcohol consumption and skin aging.  This study did not question the participants as to the type of alcohol they drink.  But, some forms of alcohol like red wine contain resveratrol and other anti-oxidants which are beneficial to skin health.

Several studies have linked smoking to premature skin aging.  This is the result of the fact that smoking decreases blood flow, inhibits collagen synthesis, and accelerates collagen break-down.

Avoid Premature Skin Aging

So avoid smoking and keep your weight down.  Be sure to protect your skin from ultraviolet radiation by staying well-hydrated and by using sunscreens if you’re susceptible to burning from sun exposure.  Low grade inflammation contributes to skin burning from sun exposure and is frequently the result of the American diet which is characterized by excessive amounts of inflammation omega-6 fatty acids and inadequates amount of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.

See the following articles.

“The Role of the Sun in the Aging Process”

“Anti Aging and Skin”

“Skin: Anti Aging Tips”

Face wrinkles are one of the worst enemies for beauty-conscious women and men as well. They naturally occur during a certain age. Most individuals will usually encounter facial wrinkles at one point in life, especially among those who are not extra careful in managing their skin, including those who are living an unhealthy lifestyle.

Causes of Wrinkled Face

Human skin consists of around 80% protein collagen. This is one of the three major components of the extra cellular matrix of the skin. The other two are the glycosaminogylcans or GAGs and elastin. Collagen plays a vital role on the skin. It provides strength to the skin, while elastin fiber gives the skin the ability to recoil and stretch.

It is, therefore, essential to keep the collagen in the skin well-preserved and in good and perfect condition. However, exposure to sunlight can damage both the elastin fibers and the collagen, causing wrinkles to occur in the end.

Aside from causing face wrinkles, excessive sunlight exposure can also do more harm like damaging the skin and speeding the aging process; thereby making the your skin look older than your actual age.

It is best to know some of the causes of a wrinkled face when battling against this problem. It is important to diminish them as soon as possible when you are faced with this issue. Fortunately, there are several treatment options to choose from when dealing with wrinkles.

Treatment Options for Face Wrinkles

Face wrinkles can now be treated in various ways although they all boil down to two major techniques of treating wrinkles. One of them is to use wrinkle remover products, which is one of the popular options today. The other method is an in-clinic procedure to effectively remove face wrinkles.

Which option is best suited for you depends on your condition, personal preferences and budget. The use of home wrinkle removal products is the cheaper option. This is quite convenient for some people because they can simply do the entire treatment at home.
On the other hand, an in-clinic procedure performed by an expert in skin care offers more promising results. Skin experts have various treatments to offer that are effective and fast.

There are two different options to treat face wrinkles through in-clinic treatments, and they are the surgical and the non-surgical procedures. Some of the popular in-clinic procedures to treat wrinkles are as follows:

• Dermabrasion
• Laser treatment
• Soft tissue fillers
• Injection
• Face-lift
• Chemical peel
• Botox or Botulinum toxin type A

Aside from the above options, there are also some free home remedies for wrinkle treatment, as well as homemade products to treat this skin problem or reduce its occurrence on the faces of many individuals. Several good examples are acupuncture, exercises, use of olive oil, coconut lotion or concentrate, peels, use of facial tape, masks home remedy and use of mask products, and massage therapy.

How to Prevent Wrinkles on Face

Wrinkles on face can be prevented. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. With that in mind, the best way to manage wrinkle problem is to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

If you don’t know where to begin, then take some of the well-proven advices from experts on skin care. One of the best ways to start is to minimize sunlight exposure. Although sunlight is good because it is an excellent source of Vitamin D, too much of it can also cause damage to the skin, causing wrinkles on the face.

Another way is to get enough sleep. It is during sleep time that the skin rejuvenates and repairs the damaged tissues in the skin. Depriving your body of the needed sleep will also deny repair to some of the damaged tissues. This will lead to wrinkle formation in the end. Also an important preventive measure is to load up on water and essential nutrients. Water keeps the body well-hydrated and washes out those harmful toxins. Water further helps in keeping the skin plump and moist, thereby reducing wrinkle appearance.

There are still other ways to prevent face wrinkles. Observing the above tips is a good way to start. You can also use some of the well-proven products in the market that contain natural ingredients for wrinkle prevention and elimination.

Things to Consider When Choosing for the Best Wrinkle Face Cream

There are several essential things that you need to consider when looking for the best wrinkle face cream. These things can tremendously help in choosing a product that is best suited to your budget and desired effects. They are as follows:

Cost – it is best to start your shopping with knowing how much you are willing to spend on these products. Don’t go over your budget. Remember, these products are more or less cosmetic goods. They should by no means be given more priority over the basic necessities in life like food and shelter.

Effectiveness – this is the one of the important buying factors. Always go for the most effective products. After all, the main reason why you are buying the products is to get rid of those wrinkles on your face. The effectiveness of the product against wrinkles gives you your money’s worth.

Side effects – don’t just focus on efficacy, but safety as well. This is crucial for your own health. Make sure to check the ingredients and look for doubtful components that may pose some health risks.

Research – there are several brands of anti-wrinkle creams that publish the results of their research, or give better advice to their customers. Check the results of several studies to get updates on the most recent developments in the battle against wrinkles. Some ingredients may have been proven to be more effective and safe.

Best Face Cream for Wrinkles

Having some face wrinkles can be bad news for you, but the good news is that there are now anti-wrinkle creams that can effectively help in managing wrinkle problems. The numerous available brands in the market can sometimes make it quite tough to choose the best face cream for wrinkles that is well suited for you.

It is important to note that there is no such thing as the best face cream for wrinkles for everyone. It depends on the type of skin that you have, as well as how your skin reacts to the product. Some brands may be effective for others, but for several individuals they are not.  There are also several brands of anti-wrinkle creams with a known and proven reputation for being effective. Perhaps you can start with these brands in your search for the ideal product that is appropriate for your skin.

Some of the top brands include Clinique Repairwear Deep Wrinkle Concentrate, and Vaseline creams for eye wrinkles, just to name a few. Read a review or two before deciding on a particular brand to use.

Also, anti-wrinkle creams for women are relatively different from anti-wrinkle products for men. Women have softer and more delicate skin. That is why women’s skin must be specially managed with extreme care.

Anti Wrinkle Face Cream for Men

Women are not the only ones beset with facial wrinkle problems, but men also face the same problems during certain times of their lives. The only difference is that most men do not give much attention because they are not very particular about getting rid of the wrinkles immediately. They usually allow these wrinkles to heal over time.

However, men today are increasingly conscious about how they look, and there are also more men searching for the best anti wrinkle face cream that is appropriate for them. Men’s products for face wrinkles have different formulation. The ingredients are more concentrated to better suit their genetic composition.

Thus, shopping for the best anti-wrinkle creams requires some research to ensure that the right products are used, and these products must not only be effective but safe as well.

Ingredients of a Face Cream for Wrinkles

In order for a face cream for wrinkles to be very effective, it must contain some of the basic vital ingredients. Each brand of anti-wrinkle cream has unique components that separate it apart from the rest. Consequently, different brands also provide different levels of efficiency in treating wrinkles.

Bear in mind that some brands of anti-wrinkle products have ingredients that are harmful to the skin, while others have several undesirable side effects. To avoid using such products that can only cause more harm than good, carefully check the ingredients and ensure that the basic components are there.

Basic Components of the Best Face Wrinkle Cream

The best face wrinkle cream in the market has what it takes to effectively get rid of those annoying wrinkles on the face without causing serious side effects. To easily sort out the best products in the market from the inferior ones, check the ingredients because they can significantly help in telling you that the product is effective. Some of the ingredients that the best brands of anti-wrinkle products in the market have are listed as follows.

The Coenzyme Q10 – this is a nutrient that aids in the regulation of the cells’ capacity to produce energy. This is quite effective in reducing fine wrinkles around the eyes, interestingly with few or no side effects at all. This also proves effective against the damaging effects of sunlight when applied prior to sunlight exposure.

The Retinol – This is another important ingredient, which is a vitamin A compound that is proven to be effective in combating wrinkles. This is a potent antioxidant that is widely used in many over-the-counter anti-wrinkle creams.

Kinetin – This component is considered as a plant factor that promotes moisture in the skin, and triggers the production of collagen. Kinetin helps in enhancing the skin complexion and improves the appearance of the wrinkle.

Hydroxy Acids – These acids are greatly beneficial in promoting newer skin with fresh looks by removing the upper layer of the old skin. They are usually composed of alpha, beta, and poly hydroxy acids.

Copper Peptides – Every cell usually contains traces of copper. In many face creams for wrinkles, copper is mixed with peptides to improve healing of the wound; as well as promote collagen production. This further boosts the beneficial effects of antioxidants.

FDA and the Face Wrinkle Cream

When using a face wrinkle cream, it is important to know what the FDA thinks about the product for safety reasons. What is surprising to note is that anti-wrinkle creams are categorized under cosmetic products by the FDA. That means, they have no medical values, and they are less strictly regulated compared to products classified as drugs for medication.

This further implies that these products have not undergone extensive testing procedures to evaluate their effectiveness against what the products are meant for. What the FDA is more concerned about regarding the use of face wrinkle creams is safety.

Face wrinkles are just normal for some people because they are simply part of aging, but for other individuals the effects can be horrendous to them. Wrinkles are sometimes signs and symptoms of abuse on the body by living an unhealthy lifestyle.  Regardless of the cause, it is best to prevent their appearance through lifestyle modification, combined with the use of some products for face wrinkles that are effective in getting rid of them. There are also in-clinic options to treat wrinkles assisted by skin care experts. Knowing the options on how to manage face wrinkles will put you in a better position to decide on the ideal choice on what is best for your skin.