Terri Ramsey Beavers Many things in our lives affect our skin health and appearance—some that we can’t do anything about, some that can be influenced by our actions. While we can’t stop aging, we can at least try to prevent premature wrinkles, lines and spots by practicing a healthy lifestyle and a few anti-aging tricks. Here’s how to prevent premature skin aging:
Eat a balanced diet
Did you know that the best way to prevent premature aging effects of the skin is through your diet? According to studies, eating a diet full of fresh fruit and veggies can prevent and even reverse the damage caused by aging. These ingredients are usually full of vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant and an iconic supplement for anti-aging. Vitamin C kills free radicals that cause damage to the body and cause premature skin aging. This vitamin is also great for boosting skin elasticity and firmness and improve the production of collagen. On the other hand, diets full of refined sugar and additives can have the reverse effect on your skin.
Another thing that concerns your diet is rapid weight loss and gain. So-called “yo-yo” dieting can stretch the skin and make it sag, which is something that’s very hard to fix. At some point, your skin will stop bouncing back after your weight change, so it’s much better to have a balanced eating schedule and keep a healthy weight throughout your life.
Use retinoids or retinol
Retinoids and retinol are vitamin A compounds found in the treatment of many skin conditions. In general, they improve the look of the skin and provide users with skin rejuvenation by boosting skin cell turnover (how quickly your body makes new skin cells and sheds dead ones). But, what’s probably the most interesting in retinoids and retinol is that they can boost collagen production. Collagen is an important compound for skin appearance which makes skin strong and resilient and able to withstand stretching.
Retinoids are prescription-based medications that reduce the signs of aging, while you can get retinol over the counter since it’s much weaker, yet quite effective too. But with both compounds, make sure to consult your doctor because they might not be safe for pregnant women. If you’re not planning for a baby, you can start using retinoids and retinol at any age, even as a preventive anti-aging strategy.
Opt for anti-aging cosmetic procedures
While creams and serums can do wonders on your skin, if you want a more direct approach to skin improvement, find a good dermatologist and consult with them about certain procedures. These anti-aging cosmetic treatments can address skin issues on a cellular level and help you manage both existing and future skin conditions. There are many different anti-aging treatments, from hyaluronic acid injections and lasers to botox, fillers and chemical peels. For instance, skin needling is very popular in Australia, and if you find a good skin clinic in Sydney, you can expect great results from this minimally-invasive procedure. Skin needling includes piercing microscopic holes in the skin, which triggers the tissue healing process. The response boosts the production of collagen and elastin, the compounds that reduce fine lines, acne scars and wrinkles. Skin needling is also good for skin rejuvenation, pigmentation and reduction of enlarged pores.
Protect the skin from the sun
Whether you’re lounging at the beach, gardening or running errands, staying protected from the sun is critical. What you can do to stay shaded is to seek physical cover, cover your skin with long and flowy clothing (especially if it has sun protective factor) and opt for glasses with UV protection. However, the best way to protect your skin from harmful sun effects is to apply sunscreen every day. Sunscreen with broad spectrum protection of at least SPF 30 is a great way to block all UV radiation that can cause premature skin aging. UV rays accelerate the breakdown of cells, making your skin look older, leathery and damaged. And sun can also cause uneven complexion, spots and redness that never looks great.
Avoid squinting
When you make certain facial expressions like squinting your eyes, you need to contract the muscles around your eyes and in the forehead. When you do this movement all the time, the lines that appear on your face can become permanent. To prevent squinting, make sure to wear seeing glasses when reading or watching TV and sunglasses when you’re outside.
Stop smoking today
Cigarettes are loaded with harmful chemicals and toxins, all of which can cause harm to your body, most visibly, the skin. Smoking also creates lines around the mouth and wrinkles around the eyes. And that’s not all—expect skin discoloration and uneven complexion as well. Luckily, the sooner you quit, the better chance of regeneration and recovery your skin has!
Taking good care of your skin, both from outside and inside, will return the favor and keep your looking young and fresh for a long time.