Explainer: Aging and treatments for anti-aging?

Hyderabad: Aging affects different people and different parts of the body, which is a natural process. People would face the gradual decline of physiological functions necessary for survival and reproduction.

Anti aging treatments are gaining more attention with people, particularly females above the age of 35 facing aging-related challenges including wrinkling, scars in the face, and hair loss.

Compared to traditional practices, the reliability of modern treatment for anti-aging remains high, however at a relatively higher cost. While traditional practices result in temporary rejuvenation, the effects of modern treatments can prevail for over a year.

What is an anti-aging treatment?

Anti-aging treatments are aimed at slowing down, stopping, and reversing the aging process and its relevant effects on the human body and skin. This involves both surgical and nonsurgical procedures.

Signs and causes of aging

The important signs of aging include dry skin, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, dark circles, sagging skin, liver spots, and crow's feet.

The major contributors to aging include stress, poor diet, UV exposure, and lifestyle habits including lack of sleep, smoking, and alcohol.

Common treatments available

While several forms of treatments are available for anti-aging, the advancement of technology in the medical industry has led to the evolution of more technology-based treatments as well.

Dr. V Anand Kumar, consultant dermatologist, KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad said, “Most commonly botox and profhilo are used for skin rejuvenation treatment, as part of the anti-aging treatment. Regenerative medicines also play an important role in the treatment”.

Botox and profhilo treatment

Botulinum toxin (botox) is a pharmaceutical substance used to treat conditions like facial wrinkles, excess sweating, neck spasms, lazy eye, and migraines.

Profhilo treatment is another nonsurgical treatment like botox, used to treat fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and dull complexion. The process improves skin hydration and elasticity as the injected hyaluronic acid attracts water to the deep layers of the skin.

STEM cell treatment

This type of treatment is categorized under regenerative medicine, which involves injecting stem cells into the body to slow down the aging process.

“The adult stem cells are extracted from the hair follicles and injected in the hair skin areas to stimulate the dormant cells. These stem cells derived from stem cells and can differentiate into a specific cell type is called progenitor cell,” Dr Anand Kumar added.

Treatment for scars

There are several types of scars on the human face due to reasons including keloid scars (occurring due to cured wounds), hypertrophic scars (due to excess collagen production), flat scars, stretch marks, and atrophic scars.

“Laser treatment is commonly used for managing scars in the face including hypertrophic scars. People above 35, particularly women, face problems including wrinkling in the face. The anti-aging treatments are getting more attention in the age group”, Dr Anand Kumar said.