The six areas you’re neglecting in your anti-ageing regime

You cleanse, tone, moisturise and prime your face religiously, applying lotions and potions around your eyes and complexion.

So why don’t we apply the same due diligence to other areas of our skin?

Here, with the help of leading Sydney-based dermatologist, Dr Natasha Cook, FEMAIL reveals the six areas you might not be caring for in your anti-ageing regime, and how to start giving them some love now.

Here, with the help of leading Sydney-based dermatologist, Dr Natasha Cook (pictured), FEMAIL reveals the six areas you might not be caring for in your anti-ageing regime

Our lips are often one of the first places to show signs of ageing, insofar as they lose volume and collagen at a rapid pace - make sure you apply SPF to them, too (stock image)

Our lips are often one of the first places to show signs of ageing, insofar as they lose volume and collagen at a rapid pace – make sure you apply SPF to them, too (stock image)

Lips 

Our lips are often one of the first places to show signs of ageing, insofar as they lose volume and collagen at a rapid pace.

And yet, still many of us don’t look after them on a day-to-day basis.

‘The biggest mistake or neglectful thing people do with their lips is they forget to protect them from the ageing effects of the sun,’ Dr Cook told FEMAIL.

‘The sun is the single biggest cause of ageing the skin.’

Dr Cook added that the ‘lower lip ends up being a high risk for skin cancer as people forget to protect it’.

‘The natural protuberance of the lower lip means it gets more UV damage, which most people don’t think about.’

Try investing in a lip serum and balm with anti-ageing properties and SPF – and moisturise your pout at all opportunities. 

It’s worth remembering smoking will also add wrinkles around the mouth.

'We don't always apply the same anti-ageing ingredients that we do to our face,' Dr Cook said - you need to make sure you look after both so they don't age at different rates (stock image)

‘We don’t always apply the same anti-ageing ingredients that we do to our face,’ Dr Cook said – you need to make sure you look after both so they don’t age at different rates (stock image)

Neck

‘I feel bad about my neck,’ wrote acclaimed author, Nora Ephron. 

And it seems she’s not alone – as while many women look after their face religiously, their moisturising doesn’t always extend to the neck.

‘We don’t always apply the same anti-ageing ingredients that we do to our face,’ Dr Cook said.

The five areas you’re neglecting in your anti-ageing regime

* Neck

* Hands

* Feet

* Lips

* Arms

* Chest/Décolletage 

The best ingredients for the skin on your face, neck, chest and hands are AHAs vitamin A, C and B3.

‘Think of your neck as an extension of your face,’ Dr Cook advised. ‘Your neck will otherwise age more rapidly than the facial area and look disconnected.

‘I always tell my patients to look at the face, neck and chest and treat it as one entity.’ 

Finally with your neck, remember sun protection at all times. Your neck is often out in direct sunlight, and therefore exposed to harmful UV rays.

Hands

Many people see them as a tell-tale sign of someone’s age, and because they’re always exposed to the weather and hard work, our hands often do make us look old before our time. 

The best way to make sure you’re looking after them is to moisturise and remember SPF (yes, even on your hands).

‘Simplicity is important so you can sustain a regime,’ Dr Cook advised. 

‘And prevention is better than cure, so start early and young with your sun avoidance and strict standards with protection.’ 

Hands are very exposed to the elements - and so are often one of the first places to show signs of ageing - protect them with daily moisturiser and SPF (stock image)

Hands are very exposed to the elements – and so are often one of the first places to show signs of ageing – protect them with daily moisturiser and SPF (stock image)

Chest/Décolletage

As with the neck, while many of us look after our face – often our chests can quickly end up crepey and wrinkled.

Along with sun exposure, they are regularly crinkled when sleeping or through wearing ill-fitting bras. 

‘The top three anti-ageing ingredients should be sunscreen – especially zinc oxide – AHAs – especially lactic acid to increase cellular metabolism and new cell production – and vitamins A, C and B3,’ Dr Cook said.

‘Don’t forget fabric can help as protection. A hat, sunglasses and a scarf wrapped around your neck and chest will help hugely.’ 

Feet 

Ever got to the pedicurist and been somewhat ashamed of your hardened feet? You’re not alone. 

It’s often a case of out of sight, out of mind for our feet – and while you may have good intentions, many don’t moisturise them. 

Invest in regular pedicures, scrub away dead skin and apply copious amounts of moisturiser – especially before getting into bed to give it time to soak in. 

You’ll notice the difference.

When it comes to your feet, invest in regular pedicures, scrub away dead skin and apply copious amounts of moisturiser, said Dr Cook (pictured)

When it comes to your feet, invest in regular pedicures, scrub away dead skin and apply copious amounts of moisturiser, said Dr Cook (pictured)

Arms

Finally, it’s time to think about your arms. Directly exposed to sunlight much of the time, our arms cop a lot of harm from UV.

Make sure you’re applying sunscreen daily – if wearing short sleeves.

‘It’s also a great idea to work from the inside,’ Dr Cook said. ‘What we put into our bodies helps slow the ageing process, as well as reverse DNA damage caused by UV.’

The dermatologist recommends anti-inflammatory foods like fish, olive oil, leafy green veggies and lycopene in tomatoes.

‘Green tea and supplements like niacinimide can help to reverse sun damage and ageing of your skin,’ Dr Cook said.

She finally recommends fish oil capsule, resveratrol (which is found in red wine) and curcumin – a powerful anti-inflammatory found in turmeric.



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