HabitsThat Make Skin Age Faster
December 7, 2008 by rainier
Old skin is wrinkled, dry and saggy, and has a mottled colour. In fact, these changes are more to do with exposure to sunlight than with simply getting old. This is why the exposed areas on the hands, face and neck seem to age faster and look less attractive than the smooth and even skin on the tummy.
Here are 7 habits that contribute to aging skin, making you look older than your years:
1. Cigarette smoke: 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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
I’ve been considering trying the vitamin enhanced moisturizer from MADE FROM EARTH, but this is the first time I’ve bought it and I’m certainly not sorry I did. It has made a noticeable difference in the appearance of fine lines as well as deeper wrinkles that have developed over my 65+ yr. lifetime. It only takes a tiny bit, though – I too thought it was expensive – but since it only takes a small amount to cover your face – the bottle lasts for so long its cheaper than stuff in drug stores, without the harmful chemicals.
If you accidentally use too much, just wait about 20 minutes and wipe off the excess with a tissue. My husband is using it instead of his usual aloe and likes it, also. Most of the reveiws I read about the vitamin enhanced moisturzier seem to be younger, so I thought I’d let you older buyers know it will work for you as well.