Image via Wikipedia.
As skin ages, its elasticity weakens, causing wrinkles and other signs of aging to appear. Cell renewal slows, collagen production slowly decreases, and dead skin cells slough less efficiently. Our skin is at the mercy of the many forces we exert on it: sun, harsh weather, and our own bad habits.
Luckily we can take steps to help our skin stay supple and younger looking. Follow these 5 anti-aging recommendations to help you look younger than your years.
1. Use sunscreen and limit time in the sun, especially during prime-time hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
UV rays damage skin. Unprotected skin that is exposed to the sun gets dry and leathery, wrinkles and sagging increase, and pigmentation becomes irregular.
When outside be sure you use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher that provides full-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen even on overcast days – up to 85% of normal UV rays penetrate through clouds.
2. Exercise regularly.
Everyone knows that exercise is great for your heart, lungs, and mental outlook. However, many people do not realize that regular exercise is one of the keys to healthy skin.
By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry waste products, including free radicals, away from working cells. Exercise has also been shown to ease stress, which can ease the severity of acne and eczema breakouts. Finally, exercise adds a healthy glow to the complexion.
3. Use alcohol in moderation.
Excess alcohol use causes small blood vessels in the skin to dilate and increases blood flow near the skin’s surface. Over time, these blood vessels are permanently damaged, creating a flushed appearance and broken vessels on the skin’s surface. In addition, excessive use of alcohol can lead to enlarged pores and uneven skin surface.
Alcohol also puffs out the face and, over time, reduces elasticity thus causing sagging and bagging.
4. Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
Exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases depth and number of wrinkles and dehydrates skin.
Image via Wikipedia.
Nicotine causes narrowing of blood vessels in the outermost layers of the skin and slows blood flow to the skin, depriving it of oxygen and important nutrients. In addition, it depletes Vitamin C, which is key to production of collagen, which keeps skin firm and smooth. In addition, repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — contribute to wrinkle formation.
5. Use moisturizers regularly.
As we age, the skin produces less protective sebum and fewer moisture-binding substances. This leads to dehydration, which can lead to significant signs of premature aging – dry skin appears, dull, flaky, and rough and is easily prone to wrinkles.
Moisturizers not only increase the skin’s water content, they also protect the skin and encourage sloughing of dead cells that makes the skin appear more smooth. A skin moisturizer works by sealing moisture into the outer layer of the skin and by binding moisture in the lower layers of the epidermis.
The number of moisturizers and miracle claims on the market can lead to confusion. Since it is important to choose the best moisturizer for your skin’s specific needs, we will cover key components in moisturizers in the next blog to help you read and understand moisturizer ingredient labels.
While it is inevitable that, as time takes its toll, some signs of aging will appear, there is a lot you can do to slow their progression. Follow the simple steps above and you will enjoy youthful skin that glows with vitality longer.
Recommended Reading:
Causes of Aging Skin, via Skin Care Physicians
Skin Aging — How Skin Ages, by Mark Stibich, via About.com
Aging Skin: 7 Habits That Make Skin Age Faster, by Sharon O’Brien, via About.com
Reasons Why Skin Ages, via LA Skin Care Center
Exercise for Healthy Skin, by Peter Jaret, via WebMD
borlindbeautybuzz 