By Kylie Blanchard

“No matter what age you are, you need to follow four basic skin care steps,” says Shelly Botsford, family nurse practitioner at the UND Center for Family Medicine in Bismarck. “You need a good cleanser that fits your skin type, you also need to exfoliate one to three times a week, moisturize and apply sunscreen every day.”

Botsford stresses the importance of consistent sunscreen use. “You can have a moisturizer and sunscreen all in one, but that should go on your face every morning no matter what you are doing. The number one cause of wrinkles is sun exposure.”

Healthy, smooth skin can certainly be passed from generation to generation, notes Botsford, but everyone has to do their part in keeping their skin healthy. “Genetics do play a role. If your mother and grandmother had beautiful skin, you are at an advantage,” she says. “But the biggest factor is how much sun damage you have done throughout your life.”

Avoiding tanning beds and direct sunlight are big steps in keeping skin healthy. “Use a broad spectrum sunscreen and avoid direct sun on the skin,” says Botsford. It is important to look for a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection, she adds, and one that also contains ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, or some of the newest ingredients on the market, mexoryl or helioplex.

The skin near the eyes is the most sensitive to damage, she says. “The skin around the eyes is most prone to aging. Start young, it’s never too early to start babying that skin around your eyes.”

Collagen, a protein found in the connective tissues of the body, also plays an important role in youthful looking skin; but as women age, collagen breaks down and the skin’s elasticity decreases. Creams such as Retin-A and Retinol can help to promote collagen growth. “Every woman over 35 should be on Retin-A or Retinol to start promoting collagen,” Botsford adds.

Botsford offers tips for every stage of a woman’s life to keep skin looking young and healthy:
• 20s – Focus on protecting the skin from sun damage and follow the four basic steps
of skin care: cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and protect.
• 30s – Begin using an anti-aging cream and thicker moisturizer. The use of Retin-A or
Retinol can help reduce the presence of fine lines and sun spots.
• 40s – Use a Retin-A or Retinol cream along with a good moisturizer and
anti-aging eye cream on a daily basis. Microdermabrasion treatments may also
help give skin a smoother appearance.
• 50s – Menopause will cause skin to lose its elasticity that is supported by estrogen.
Continue using anti-aging creams and remain well hydrated. Consider pulsed light
therapy if there is an increase in brown spots or skin discoloration.
• 60s and beyond – Increase the thickness of moisturizing creams and stay well hydrated.
Collagen will continue to decline, so a proper skin care regimen will become even
more important.

Proper skin care is not just for women, notes Botsford. There are ways to get every member of the family involved in keeping their skin healthy. “For men, put a pump soap in the shower,” she says, adding bar soaps can be harsh on skin. “Also put a pump moisturizer by their sink.” For children, focus on reducing sun exposure by considering products like long-sleeved swimming attire and UV resistant clothing along with sunscreen.

Botsford says she sees patients at every stage of skin care and offers the SkinCeutical line of skin care products to her patients. “The reason I brought in this skin care line was because of the sunscreens that contained titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.” She also offers patients other treatment options including Botox and Dermafill injections, microdermabrasions and Pulsed Light Therapy. “Pulsed Light Therapy provides treatment for acne and acne scars, sunspots, brown and uneven coloration, Rosacia or redness, red blood vessels and dark facial hair.”

But ultimately, Botsford says, skin care starts with the basics. “It’s basically cleansing and mosturizing. It’s getting skin clean and getting a good moisturizer on that has a sunscreen in it.”

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Skin Care Tips for Everyone
• Regularly cleanse and moisturize your skin
• Apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater at least a half-hour before going outside
• Wear protective clothing when outside, including long-sleeves and a wide-brim hat
• Don’t smoke – it is one of the top contributors to premature aging of the skin
• Drink water and stay well hydrated
• Eat a balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables rich in antioxidants