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" When Dr Rebecca Booth wants her female patients to take the risk of osteoporosis seriously \u2013 she tells them one thing: Osteoporosis affects your face too. &amp;#039;Most of them are shocked believing the common bone condition affects the larger bones in the skeleton such as the spine, hips and legs \u2013 but not the face,&amp;#039; explains Dr Booth.   The gynaecologist and author of The Venus Week explains:  &amp;#039;Women&amp;#039;s facial bones between the ages of 40-65 look very different to facial bones at 20-40. Facial bones begin to lose density and volume at the same time as other bones, and for women this begins as early as age 27. That&amp;#039;s why it&amp;#039;s so important that women keep up their intake of Vitamin D supplements and dietary calcium.&amp;#039; While one in four women over the age of 50 are diagnosed with osteoporosis, the ageing process guarantees facial bones lose density with time in all of us. It has a profound impact on how we look. Notice how the chin recedes, the eye sockets deepen, the brow protrudes. In addition, the skin on top of this intricate structure succumbs to gravity which is why jawlines slacken, jowls develop and so do double chins. &amp;#039;So even if you have cosmetic surgery to address these, the skin may be tightened but the bones underneath are still degenerating,&amp;#039; adds Dr Booth.   As such, one area of exploration in cosmetic surgery in the US is assessing whether bone grafts in the face would improve the long term outcome of facelifts.  She believes understanding how collagen or &amp;#039;human glue&amp;#039; works will help with solutions.  &amp;#039;Oestrogen promotes the production of collagen, which is a building block of both skin and bone, yet, this beauty and bone enhancing hormone is programmed to decline beginning in the late twenties and accelerating in the 40s and 50s as it follows the fertility curve. The result affects three key facial areas that we regularly see in the mirror: our eyes, lips and neck/chest... Optimal bone health starts with a diet high in plant protein. While we tend to focus on calcium rich foods for bone, the truth is that the frame of bone is a protein based collagen network, and that without a strong collagen frame, the calcium cannot &amp;quot;stick to it&amp;quot; so to speak.&amp;#039;  She adds that hormonal ageing is one of the least known or discussed causes of wrinkles, dry, and sagging skin. Knowing the impact of waning oestrogen on our skin can provide us with an understanding of how to combat some of the fallout of hormonal ageing.  With menopause it is the loss of elasticity that causes these changes in the face, joints, artery walls, and of course vaginal tissues.  Oestrogen has a powerful role in the promotion of our human elastic glue: collagen. This means that with hormonal ageing (accelerated by menopause) we women stand to lose more than our reproductive responsibility. On the other hand, she says that men have a very gradual decline in testosterone (also a collagen supporter) as their reproductive organs do not have a programmed retirement; this helps them maintain their bone density, muscle strength, even experiencing less wrinkling compare to same aged women.  Dr Booth, who is also co-founder of VENeffect skincare, gives the eyes as an example of how osteoporosis affects the face:   &amp;#039;The orbital bone, that encircles our eyes, is a central feature of the face, and as bone density declines with the aging process, our orbits widen a bit, causing our eyes sink ever so slightly, resulting in dark shadows and a loss of volume below the eyes. We focus on the wrinkles, but the framework of the bone is vital to support our skin.&amp;#039;  Tip: Keeping your bone health optimized with a diet rich in healthy bone builders: phytoestrogen rich plant protein, calcium rich foods, and adequate daily vitamin D, can slow facial bone loss and even reverse it!   Dr Booth says that as bone density is strongly tied to collagen content, a bone density test can be said to roughly reflect a body&amp;#039;s collagen.  So what&amp;#039;s the secret to maintaining collagen levels?   Dr Booth says to avoid smoking, too much sun, diabetes, poor nutrition, stress (from excess cortisol), and poor hydration.  Take a look at HRT (hormone replacement therapy) which can dampen the effect of declining skin elasticity, loss of bone density, and even positively affect elasticity in arteries. But there are well-defined risks along with these benefits so talk it through with your GP. Eat a diet high in plant protein (soy protein, hummus, nuts, nut butters) can offer the support of plant oestrogens, or phytoestrogens, which have a positive effect on collagen. Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oils and flax seed oils) are known to help with joint lubrication and therefore flexibility. Vitamin D (at least 1000 IU a day) is now being thought of as a hormone as it has so many varied effects on body systems and can contribute to a healthy, flexible, bone matrix. Plus it has positive effects on skin as well. Foods rich in calcium. I000mg prior to menopause and 1,500mg a day after menopause. Calcium rich foods include dairy, almonds, kale, salmon, spinach, tofu and many other sources. Vitamin C: 400mg day can help support healthy collagen. Exercise! Muscle development can stimulate new growth of collagen and prevent atrophy, or loss of muscle mass that can contribute to sagging tissues and declining bone density.   "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/a26779/osteoporosis-affects-the-face-too/>