A FIRM BELIEVER THAT OUR DNA DOESN’T NEED TO DEFINE OUR DESTINY, DR COOK SHARES HER PERSONAL PRESCRIPTION TO BOOST YOUR SKIN’S LONGEVITY.
While I spend a good part of my in-clinic days with patients diagnosing and treating skin conditions, I’m just as interested in the opportunity for prevention and prejuvenation. Inspired by scientific research into the ageing exposome, I’ve developed these 6 smart-but-simple lifestyle behaviours to help boost skinspan™ for healthy, radiant skin for longer.
FOOD IS FOUNDATIONAL
Eating a balanced, plant-rich diet helps to boost antioxidant protection and support the skin. Eat the rainbow; choose dark-coloured fruits and vegetables (like beetroot, kale, tomatoes, berries, spinach) to fight free-radicals. I’m also a fan of intermittent fasting and time-restricted eating, also proven to boost longevity.
MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE
Daily exercise is key to support longevity. It can be as simple as a morning or evening walk, low-impact, core-strengthening exercise like pilates combined with some regular strength and resistance training. If you don’t move it, you really do lose it. Strong muscles and bones literally support our skin.
PRIORITISE SLEEP
Poor-quality sleep causes inflammation and contributes to premature ageing. Consistent rest is vital for skin repair and recovery so pay attention to your sleep hygiene and habits (think: screen time, stress, sugar) and aim for 7-8 hours nightly.
SUPPORT WITH SUPPLEMENTS
Consistent Vitamin, nutrient and hormonal supplementation will influence longevity. Supplementing your diet with the likes of Vitamin B3, D3, Olive Oil, Curcumin, Resveratrol and Quercetin offers proven longevity benefits. Consider seeking professional advice for a tailored approach.
PROTECT WITH SPF
Being diligent about wearing broad-spectrum SPF 50 (ideally one that’s been tested in Australia) is the most important way to preserve your skinspan™. UV exposure creates havoc on the skin’s surface and at a cellular level, causing inflammation, DNA damage and of course, skin cancer.
PREJUVENATE WITH LASER TECHNOLOGY
When it comes to the biological ageing of the skin, early intervention is the most effective prevention. Professional laser treatments help to not only resurface and refine skin texture but work on a cellular level to reboot Collagen reserves to keep skin looking refreshed and rejuvenated for longer. Whether it’s rosacea, acne or the signs of ageing, if we confront it we can correct it.
