These lifestyle choices contribute to aging skin
From Sharon
O'Brien, former About.com Guide
Many of the external causes of aging skin are determined by the health
and lifestyle decisions you make every day. Making unhealthy choices can cause
prematurely aging skin, and this makes you look older, faster.
An important part of any anti-aging skin care program is to know what
you may be doing that is harming your skin and speeding up your skin's aging
process.
Here are 7 habits that contribute to aging skin, making you look older
than your years:
1. Cigarette
smoke: Whether you smoke, or you spend time with a smoker, cigarette smoke
is damaging -- and aging -- to your skin. Research has shown that exposure to
cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness. This is
partly due to the behavior of smoking, and also because cigarette smoke
depletes your body of Vitamin C, which is a key ingredient for keeping skin
plump and moist.
Some researchers believe that exposure to cigarette smoke (whether you
smoke or not) is as damaging to aging skin as exposure to the sun's ultraviolet
rays.
2. Sun
exposure: Sun exposure is very aging to skin. Unprotected skin that is
exposed to the sun becomes more mottled in appearance. Freckles can turn into
brown sun spots, the skin takes on a dry, leathery appearance, and wrinkles and
sagging increase. The risk of skin cancer is significantly increased by sun
exposure.
The good news is that sun damage is avoidable, and if you start now,
you can improve the condition of sun damaged skin.
·
See your health care provider to assess the
amount of sun damage you may have, and to rule out possible skin cancers. He or
she may be able to prescribe medication that can help to reduce existing sun
damage.
·
If you want to avoid aging skin but don’t want
to avoid the sun, make sure you use sunscreen that protects against both UVA
and UVB rays. Choose sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher, and use it all
year-round, even on cloudy days. Clouds do not protect you from ultraviolet ray
exposure.
3. Lack
of exercise: Living a sedentary life contributes to aging skin, because
exercise helps to tone your muscles and get your blood flowing. Exercise should
be an important part of every anti-aging skin care program. Researchers have
also discovered that sedentary older adults are at higher risk for dementia .
In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, the benefits of a
regular exercise program will show on your face. Having a bright smile and lots
of energy will help you look and feel younger, at any age.
4. Exposure
to cold weather: Cold winds and low temperatures contribute to aging skin
by making skin dry, so if you venture out in the cold be sure to use a good
moisturizer.
It’s important to use moisturizer indoors too, as heated rooms can be
very drying to skin. Consider using a humidifier to help keep your skin more
comfortable and reduce the aging skin effects of heated rooms.
5. Alcohol use: Alcohol contributes to aging
skin by dilating small blood vessels in the skin and increasing blood flow near
the skin's surface. Over time, these blood vessels can become permanently
damaged, creating a flushed appearance and broken vessels on the skin’s
surface.
6. Stress: Maybe you’ve heard this
expression: “Don’t frown, your face could stay that way.” Stress and worry
cause frowning, and over time the muscles in the face actually conform to that
movement.
To help reduce aging skin due to stress, be aware of your stress level
and try to vary your facial expressions during the day. A good anti-aging skin
care program should include meditation, yoga, gentle exercise or other
relaxation techniques. Keeping stress in check -- and frown lines and aging
skin wrinkles to a minimum -- will help you look and feel younger.
7. Lack of sleep: Too little sleep makes you
look and feel tired. One of the first places lack up sleep shows up is on the
face, with dark circles and bags under the eyes, and sagging skin. Lack of
sleep is also a major factor in memory loss and symptoms of depression that
include low interest in daily activities and negative thinking.
Research has shown that most adults function best with 8-9 hours of
sleep each night. Reduce caffeine during the day (with none in the evening),
avoid eating at least 2 hours before bedtime, and maintain a sleep routine that
includes going to bed at the same time each night. For more sleeping tips, see
How to Get a Good Night's Sleep.
If you are having trouble sleeping, for any reason, it’s important to
see your health care provider.
While some signs of aging skin are inevitable, there’s a lot you can do
to look your best at any age. Taking good care of yourself is the most
important step in your anti-aging skin care program.
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This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
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