Anti-ageing practices have been employed for almost as long as ageing itself. There is no denying that as time passes, we become preoccupied with holding onto our youthful looks.

It is hardly surprising because so much of our vitality comes from the way we feel about ourselves or indeed how others feel about us.

This article explains the benefits of maintaining a youthful appearance throughout your life. We will explore some of the early anti-aging practices, both good and bad, and compare them to the treatment options available today.

It is fair to say that we ought to consider ourselves very fortunate for living in the modern era and being spoilt for choice. Our anti-ageing practices no longer focus on disguising our age because we can actually improve the quality of our skin and wider health.

You will appreciate this much more when you consider what our ancestors put themselves through to achieve a fraction of the result, or worse, made themselves look even older.

An age old practice

You may be forgiven for believing that anti ageing is a modern priority, but the reality is that it has existed for as long as we have had mirrors. It was particularly a concern among the elites of society who held titles and attended the royal court and indeed the Royals themselves. There was an enormous pressure to look their best and maintain a youthful appearance because they were highly judged. Their authority went hand-in-hand with their vitality as it was perceived as an indication of their right or ability to rule over the ‘commoners’.

We know from historic findings that anti-ageing rituals took place all over the world and date back to ancient Egypt. Let’s look at the rituals of our ancestors to understand the lengths they went to.

Ancient Egypt – Ancient Egyptian royalty like Cleopatra famously used milk baths to rejuvenate her skin. The lactic acid in milk served as an early form of exfoliant, smoothing and brightening her skin.

Ancient China – The ancient Chinese believed in the anti-ageing power of herbs and acupuncture. Ginseng was and is continued to be known as the “root of immortality”. It was consumed to promote longevity, while pearl powder was applied topically to improve skin radiance.

Medieval Europe – European women used lead-based cosmetics to lighten their skin, despite the toxic effects. Similarly, Elizabethan women famously applied white lead to their faces, inadvertently accelerating skin damage.

Renaissance Italy – Wealthy Italians used arsenic wafers to maintain a youthful complexion, another highly dangerous practice.

As you can see, not all practices were good for the skin, even though they were effective at altering its immediate appearance. Some of the above treatments had very serious health implications. Let’s take a closer look.

During mediaeval Europe, it was considered attractive and prestigious to have fair skin. This was partly because the nobility of society was not as exposed to the harsh realities of poor living conditions, tedious and often forced labour in the sun, and a poor diet, all of which contributed to skin imperfections. Because of that, the nobility attempted to emphasise their ‘fairness’ and it reinforced the association of being fair skinned equalled nobility.

The use of white lead in makeup and face creams was common among elite circles and so were the consequences that followed, and that’s how it became apparent that the practices were hazardous, afterall, the poor could not afford makeup or face creams.

The harms were numerous and included the following:

• Lead Poisoning – Prolonged use led to chronic lead poisoning, as the substance was absorbed through the skin. Symptoms included severe abdominal pain, headaches, muscle paralysis, and cognitive decline.

• Skin Damage – Over time, it caused skin irritation, scarring, and in severe cases, led to a condition called “lead palsy,” where muscles would weaken.

• Premature Ageing -Ironically, using white lead to prevent signs of ageing actually accelerated them. Users experienced dry, damaged, and prematurely aged skin due to its harsh properties.

• Fatalities – Long-term exposure leads to organ failure, reproductive issues, and even death.

Arsenic wafers were consumed as an ailment because it was believed to be nourishing for the skin, leading to enhanced beauty. The reality, however, was much different.

Here is what it really did.

• Arsenic Poisoning – Consumption led to arsenic poisoning, resulting in symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and severe weakness. Even small doses over time could build up, leading to more critical health issues.

• Skin Discoloration – Rather than providing a radiant appearance, arsenic exposure often caused hyperpigmentation, giving the skin a darker, blotchy look.
  
  
• Hair and Nail Loss – Chronic arsenic use could lead to hair thinning or loss and brittle nails.

• Cancer and Death – Long-term use of arsenic wafers has been linked to higher risks of skin cancer and various organ cancers. In many cases, arsenic consumption led to fatal outcomes.

Fast forward to the modern era

Today, we live in a world of treatments that are supported by modern science, clinical studies, and industry regulators. This means that while some treatments are more harsh than others, they are all determined to be safe and effective. In other words, you never have to try something on blind faith.

This is because clinicians like Sadie have to adhere to strict practice conditions to ensure consistency and your safety.

It’s true that sometimes things still go wrong, but that is a fact of life that applies to everything everywhere, but it is often the case that the bad cases you hear of either come from people that have abused the availability of treatments by aiming for extreme outcomes or by having more treatments than the professional community recommends.

Available treatments often include natural substances found and produced in the body, which reduces the risk of a bad reaction. And, even the less natural treatments have been tested thoroughly before being permitted in the UK.

The key is to find a good practitioner like Opulent Asthetics, who puts your safety and wellbeing first.

Modern treatments

Modern treatments are less invasive and some of the effects can be noticed almost instantly, while others either promote the regenerative processes in your skin for a more gradual but long-term effect. Generally, the downtime is minimal ranging from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the depth of your treatment. In any case, the adverse effects are generally minimised to swelling and light bruising.

The treatments currently available at Opulent Asthetics include:

• Skin boosters
• Dermal fillers
• Chemical peels
• Fat dissolving
• Anti-wrinkle injections
• Microneedling

More advanced treatments include:

• Stem cell therapy
• Faecal transplants
• DNA and RNA interventions

These, however, are still under development and their benefits are currently under review.

Final thoughts

When you consider the lengths our ancestors went to, the risks and consequences that they endured in their quest for beauty, it warrants taking a moment of pause to appreciate how fortunate we are to live in a time of modern science where everything is proven to be safe and effective.

In today’s world, treatments are available to everyone who wants them and not confined to only the highest ranks of society. So, while the fountain of youth is yet to be discovered, we have enough to fight off the effects of ageing to keep you looking and feeling your best while science continues to do its thing.

Anti-ageing treatments should never be about making you feel insecure about where you are in life. Rather, it is about making you feel empowered during your mature phase, so that you can continue enjoying all that life has to offer.

Maintaining a youthful look will help you embrace your vitality because you are as young as you feel and how you look affects how you feel, that is an inescapable fact.

It is unfortunate, but we live in a world that judges, so looking and feeling young will open doors for you in later life that may otherwise close. This includes finding love and keeping an active career.

At Opulent Asthetics, we pride ourselves on presenting the best version of you to the world, so you feel confident and worthy. But remember, you are already beautiful and that will never change.