Amy's story offers both inspiration and warning to all of us who think we are indestructible! Amy is a 27-year-old graduate student at a nearby university, working toward her doctorate in molecular biology. Up until a year ago, Amy had been a stay-at-home mom, having postponed the completion of her studies to raise a baby daughter. An unexpected divorce necessitated that she return to school, and work long hours as a research lab assistant.
Amy devoted herself wholeheartedly to caring for little Emily, but also loved to work and study hard, and she appeared on the brink of exhaustion when I first met her. Only great strength of will kept her going. Yet, it was not fatigue that concerned her.
Amy consulted me because she wanted to begin dating again, but was concerned about her appearance. Despite generally excellent skin, she had deep, dark circles under her eyes, edema (puffiness) in her eyelids, and was developing "crow’s feet"—a network of fine lines on the outer edge of the eye. "I’m not even 30," Amy cried, "but I look and feel about 90!" While that was an exaggeration, Amy did look older than her years.
After learning Amy’s medical history and current skin regimen, I inquired into her eating and sleeping habits. "I am lucky to get six hours of sleep a night, and my schedule leaves little time for preparing meals." (Many of my female patients juggle full time careers, family demands, and household chores, often putting their own needs on hold!)
"Our skin is just a reflection of our inner health and well-being," I explained. "If we want to look good on the outside we have to follow a few simple rules: Eat enough quality protein for cellular repair, get enough sleep, eat lots of dark cooking greens and brightly colored fresh fruit and vegetables for their anti-oxidants, and be sure to add healthful, antiinflammatory fats, such as those in olive oil, wild salmon, seeds (especially flax), and nuts.
I told Amy that rather than making the puffiness around her eyes worse, drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day would help get rid of it. I also started Amy on a supplement regimen rich in essential fatty acids, anti-oxidants and B-complex vitamins.
The delicate skin around our eyes is often the first place to show the effects of encroaching years, largely because it has no oil glands and very little subcutaneous fat.
Now, most of my readers hear the words "very little subcutaneous fat" and consider this grounds for rejoicing. However, when it comes to the face, people—especially women—need a healthy layer of subcutaneous fat to maintain the rounded look of youth.
I also started Amy on a topical regimen that would restore the appearance of firmer, smoother, younger looking skin in the eye area. Topical DMAE would go a long way toward firming the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines. When combined with Alpha Lipoic Acid, DMAE would also help decrease dark circles and puffiness. I also recommended using topical Vitamin C Ester—a highly emollient, fat-soluble, non-irritating form of vitamin C that would help resolve the dry, papery, translucent appearance of the thin skin in her eye area.
As a final step, I gave Amy the highly emollient Alpha Lipoic Acid Face Finishing Moisturizer, to diminish the appearance of crow’s feet. This critical step also ensured that her eye area would stay well-hydrated, replenished, and nourished by its anti-oxidant, emollient-based companion therapies. The Face Finishing Moisturizer would also help to protect the delicate, thin-skinned area on the outer edge of the eye. Because squinting creates wrinkles, I recommended that Amy wear effective sunglasses when out in bright daylight—that is, sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays and offer glare-cutting polarized lens.
As always, I cautioned against applying anything not specifically intended for the eye area. Products designed for the face and neck can be deleterious to this very delicate area. However, Face Finishing Moisturizer can be safely applied to deep lines that radiate out from the eye to the temples.
Three weeks later Amy returned for a follow up appointment. "I want to thank you Dr. Perricone! Not only is my entire eye area more toned, the dark circles and puffiness are just a bad memory. And the diet and supplements give me great new energy and optimism."
I was delighted, but not surprised by Amy’s progress, since the anti-inflammatory diet I prescribe always helps build energy and restore skin to a more youthful state of smooth, supple radiance.
I urge you to give my diet program the three-day trial described on our Web site. The changes should be swift and obvious, and motivate you to try the full 28-day program outlined in The Perricone Prescription. I’d love to see your before-and-after photos—and as always, I welcome your feedback!
Warm regards,
