Several habits or lack thereof are known to age your skin prematurely. The following list contains the biggest offenders. You stand a good chance of looking older and damaging your skin if you:
1. Do not have a good daily skin regimen.
Taking care of your skin should be as routine as brushing your teeth. You go to the dentist regularly for examinations and cleanings. Your skin deserves at least as much attention as your teeth. You need to polish, clean, and nourish your skin each day with products that will keep it healthy and clear.
2. Fail to use sunscreen every day.
Sun exposure without protection is the most damaging thing you can do to your skin. Use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF on your skin every day. Give your skin time to absorb sunscreen before sun exposure, at least 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Remember to wear sunglasses when you are outdoors. Squinting can cause crow’s-feet and frown lines, not to mention damage to your vision.
3. Smoke.
Cigarette smoke triggers biochemical changes that accelerate ageing. People who smoke are more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin with a yellow tinge. Smoking depletes the body of vitamin C, a key antioxidant that helps to keep your skin plump and moist.
4. Drink too much alcohol.
Alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates the entire body, as evidenced by the intense thirst of a hangover. When your skin is dehydrated, it becomes scaly and taut with superficial lines and premature ageing. Dehydration becomes more prevalent with age. Regular, habitual excessive drinking will only intensify the problem. Make sure to drink plenty of water whenever you consume alcoholic beverages.
5. Are a couch potato.
Moderate exercise is an important part of anti-ageing skin care. Exercise increases circulation and blood flow to the skin, stimulates neurons, and produces sweat that cleanses the body from the inside. Increased circulation carries more oxygen and nutrients to the skin. More natural oils are produced that keep your skin looking healthy and young.
6. Eat processed and fried food along with too many simple carbs.
Processed food is dead food. It has lost most of its nutrients in processing. The natural nutrients that are lost are often replaced by synthetic additives, and then there are toxic preservatives, food colourings, and other chemicals. Processed food is loaded with sugar and salt, both of which are bad for your skin. To look younger, you need to eat more whole and raw foods.
7. Engage in yo-yo dieting or weight cycling.
The starve-and-binge cycle, known as weight cycling, is very damaging to your skin, especially if a lot of weight is involved. Repeated stretching by gaining weight may damage your skin’s elasticity; conversely, losing weight too fast can leave your skin saggy. Yo-yo dieting also throws your hormones out of balance, increasing the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Too much cortisol causes inflammation, which ages you.
8. Don’t get enough quality sleep.
Sleep deprivation or disturbed sleep can lead to dull skin, dark circles under the eyes, and eventually fine lines. When you do not get enough sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol, which breaks down or destroys collagen and elastin fibres in the skin.
9. Stress out chronically.
Stress causes eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, and there is a strong connection with acne. Stress disturbs your body’s homeostasis and throws your hormones out of whack, creating free radicals and impairing the rejuvenation of your skin. Your skin’s barrier protection can weaken when you are under stress, which affects skin hydration and your immune system.
10. Sleep every night with your face on your pillow in the same position.
If you sleep on your side every night, your cheek, jawline, and neck are pushed against the pillow. Your skin could be folded or creased for several hours a night. Over the years, those folds become etched into your skin to form sleep lines. Sleeping in the same position not only affects your face but could make your décolletage crepey. A facedown position may cause wrinkles in your forehead. Sleeping on your back is the best way to go. There is no pressure on your face, and you breathe more oxygen.
