Sooner or later, we all start looking old, but how about aging before time? The truth is, more than half of us look older than we truly are because we either engage in habits that increase our aging, or we do not readily support a youthful body through inactivity. Hence, you should find out bad behaviors that might contribute to premature skin aging and avoid them at any cost.
Sun exposure
Although our skin needs daily sun exposure for its dose of vitamin D to keep skin and bone healthy, over sun exposure is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Excessive UV rays exposure reduces your skin cells and blood vessels, making your skin dry and leathery. Moreover, tanning beds are even worse for your skin. A tanning bed enhances up to 15 times more risky radiation than sitting in the sun, resulting in brown spots, wrinkles, and worst of all, skin cancer.
But do not worry too much because you can use sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun’s dangerous rays. Apply sunscreen to your face and any exposed body parts every morning, every day, and even all day [1]. Make it a part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth and washing your face.
Sleep deprivation
The term “beauty sleep” comes from the fact that the skin automatically repairs and regenerates itself at night. And if you do not sleep enough eight hours, Mother Nature has less time to work her magic on your skin.
Yes, falling short on sleep showed increased signs of skin aging proven by fine lines, wrinkles, and reduced elasticity. The skin barrier function is also decreased, which means that the skin’s restoration is 30% less compared to good-quality sleepers. And if this condition keeps extending, it might cause inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis and eczema.
So, if you can, try to clock in between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. And before you lie on your bed, do not forget to apply moisturizer to your whole body to make your body get dehydrated when you sleep.
Smoking
It is not surprising that smoking is on the list of bad habits that might lead to premature aging of your skin. It triggers enzymes that break down the collagen and elastin proteins. Also, it reduces the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin by inhibiting blood vessels and circulation. What is more, cigarette smoking negatively impacts your mouth, such as staining your teeth or gum recession.
If you are a smoker, you should quit now. However, it is easier said than done. Hence, you need to talk to your doctor about techniques and medications to get rid of this habit once and for all.
Alcohol
A glass of wine now and again gives no harm to skin health, but regular drinking might make you look older than you truly are. That is because alcohol is a natural diuretic. So, the more you drink, the more dehydrated you become. And do you know that insufficient hydration results in damage to your organs and premature skin aging?
The best thing is to cut down your alcohol intake to one drink a day so that your liver is able to get rid of toxins and impurities from the body. As a result, the moisture and texture of your skin complexion will improve.
Drink less water
When you drink less water, your body will pull water from tissues, especially from your skin, to uphold the concentration in your blood. And when it does that, not only your skin feels drier but also your eyes look sunken, making you look older. Depending on your weight and activity level, hydration changes. But it is generally best to aim for half your weight in ounces per day. For instance, a 200-pound woman should drink about 12.5 cups of water.
Unhealthy diet
You are what you eat. If your constant diet is full of processed foods, red meats, sugary, white bread, or margarine, you are not treating your skin well. That is because these kinds of foods are the main factor that causes inflammation in the body. And this swelling might result in wrinkle and flare-up formation. They even add unhealthy levels of cholesterol, fat, and sodium into your body, boosting the change of obesity.
Stock up on foods rich in alpha-linolenic acids and omega-3 fatty acids, such as avocados, salmon, flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, and olive oil to help maintain your skin supple and soft. Besides, do not forget to consume more fruits and veggies because they are full of vitamin C, zinc, selenium, beta carotene, and other nutrients that support collagen production in the body.
Neglecting the skin around your eyes and neck
The skin surrounding the eyes is the thinnest and comes with a few oil glands. Squinting, either working in front of your computer or under the heat of the sun, can lead to wrinkles in the outer part of the eyes. Meanwhile, some often scratch or rub their eyes might increase the inflammation in this area, leading to dark circles and fine lines.
The skin on your neck is similar to the skin around the eyes. When we just focus on the face, the neck area is often neglected and it easily gets the same damage from environmental factors.
Regular use of electronic devices
The warning of blue light emitted from handheld devices or computer screens is dangerous to the skin. That is because this light can dive deep into the layers of the skin and prevent the recovery of the skin barrier that might lead to hyperpigmentation. Also, you might have older-looking necks because of regularly looking down on phones or laptops, creating wrinkles on the neck.
Lack of exercise
Healthy aging starts with regular physical activity since it promotes helpful hormones like testosterone, reduces cortisol levels, enhances mood, and regulates blood pressure. It also maintains your weight stable and extends your lifespan. Doing your best to exercise for about 30 minutes 5 times per week will lower cardiovascular disease as well as age-related illnesses.
Stress too much
Nothing can age you as fast as a constant sense of stress, worry, and anxiety. Yes, extended periods of stress can change your DNA. Chronic stress caused by family unrest, work, and other factors, results in increased blood pressure, sleep deprivation, and acne breakouts. People who are suffering daily stress do not walk proud and tall like those who are feeling good about themselves. They tend to move slower and challenge their bodies less.
Take some time daily to switch off and enjoy some quiet time to lower stress levels. Read a book, go for a walk, soak in a warm tub, or do yoga to calm your mind and promote your mood.
While it is impossible to turn back the clock on aging, there are some things you can do to slow down the aging process. By knowing which habits might lead to premature skin aging, try to make small changes to your daily routine to be the pink of health.
