When someone tries to guess your age, the first thing they will consider is your skin. Not your physique, not your clothes, not your self-confidence but your skin particularly in the facial area. This is a crucial area, your dead giveaway. If you are lucky, your skin will take some years off your age but if not, you will definitely gain some more years than your true numbers.
Causes of skin aging are determined by your current health and lifestyle. When you make unhealthy choices then and now, it can cause premature skin aging. Some of the skin’s aging factors are environmental, illness, lack of personal hygiene, vices and of course, let’s not forget to blame our genes because it can also be hereditary. Combine any of these and you will get a look much older than your actual years.
While aging is a natural occurrence to human, seniors can somehow alleviate it by engaging in a healthy lifestyle while avoiding nasty habits which make the skin age fast. Cigarette smoke is one of the leading causes of skin aging, both for smokers and non-smokers. First and second hand smoke depletes your body’s reserves of Vitamin C. One puff and it will quickly send some trillion free radicals which will then circulate all throughout our bodies. Also, cigarette smoke contains 4000 toxin, known and unknown, which will travel through our blood stream. Some of these toxins are sure to end up into our skin structure. Cigarette smoke reduces oxygen supply in the blood and lessens collagen levels of the skin.
Sun exposure is still the leading cause of skin aging, not to mention skin cancer. If you love tanning then you might want to reconsider doing so since this practice is not safe anymore. But truth be told, sun exposure is inevitable. Anywhere we go, there is sun shining above our heads leaving unprotected skin with dry and leathery appearance. And no, lotion is not enough. Use sunscreen that protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays and it should be SPF 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be used each day, all year round, all four seasons long.
Your body’s toxins make your skin age faster and it accumulates inside of us if we don’t eliminate them fast enough. If seniors live a sedentary life with poor eating habits, it will definitely show. By exercising, you sweat and when you sweat, toxins come out. Exercising will also tone your muscles up preventing it from sagging and promotes great blood circulation. Mild detox every once in a while will also help you in getting rid of harmful toxins inside your body likewise support clean digestive track.
Studies have shown that alcohol consumption is bad for senior’s skin. Alcohol dilates small blood vessels making it appear flushed. It also interferes with vitamin A and dehydrates the skin causing permanent damages overtime.
We all know that stress is bad. When you are stressed, you frown hence the formation of frown lines. It also makes you look tired and sullen. Try to kick stress out of the window by learning meditation for proper handling of problems and try to maintain an adequate amount of sleep every night to avoid dark circles from forming under your eyes. If you are experiencing some trouble sleeping, consult your doctor at once.
