Anti-aging skin care is a broad field based on reducing the visible effects of aging on the human body. In this introduction to the field, I cover the definition of anti-aging, the symptoms and the treatment of the skin in order to reduce the effects of ani-aging.

In order to investigate the field of anti-aging skin care, we must first define exactly what is aging, in relation to the skin.

Aging is a natural and inevitable process. As we grow older, the human body deteriorates over time. Although it has powerful abilities to renew itself, we all eventually succumb to the effects of time. Modern lifestyles dicate that most of us will die from heart disease, cancer or perhaps even violent means -- these can be considered premature forms of death. Ultimately, we would otherwise die from multiple organ failure as a result of aging.

That being said, the human body remains a capable one right the way through to our senior years. The obvious signs of our aging are curvature of the spine, loss of calcium in our bones (especially for women), wrinkles, skin tags or "age spots", baldness, greying of the hair and hearing and eyesight loss.

For a multitude of reasons, many of us wish to minimize these inevitable signs of aging. From this desire has spawned an entire industry devoted to anti-aging skin care.

The most effective anti-aging skin care regimen should start as early as possible, before the onset of any symptoms. Starting as early as your teens is beneficial in the long run. Prevention is better than cure but there are still many options for those in their later years.

A holistic regime is the most effective. Start by eating correctly -- stick to natural and organic foods. Avoid chemicals where possible. Drink plenty of water. Eat many portions of fruit and vegetables daily. Avoid stressful situations. Get at least eight hours of sleep every day. Stay out of the sun. This advice will hold you in very good stead.

In addition to this, there are a variety of commercial anti-aging skin care products that can aid in preventing the signs of aging.

Vitamin C and vitamin C derivative products can be found everywhere. Vitamin C both promotes the production of collagen and is also an anti-oxidant. Collagen is an essential protein found in human skin whilst anti-oxidants sweep up harmful free radicals from the body. However, vitamin C is highly unstable when exposed to air which reduces its anti-aging potential, hence why there are many vitamin C derivative products on the market.

Botulinum endotoxin (or "Botox" as it is more widely known) paralyses muscles for a temporary period. Popular for both men and women, it is commonly used around the eyes, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles popularly referred to as "crows feet". Whilst considered a drastic measure by relatively few, Botox procedures are actually amongst the safest forms of anti-aging skin care, when we compare the reward to the risk.

These are but two of the possible treatments to prevent the signs of aging. This field of skin care is a huge one and offers made-to-measure treatment options for everyone.