No one wants to look older than their actual age? I know this has been something I started thinking about as young as my early 30s. I have tried to be pro-active with both my inner health and outer health doing whatever I could to turn back or stop the aging clock and stay healthy. Most of us may know that feeling of looking in the mirror and wondering, what happened while I was sleeping!! Ladies, you especially, know what I mean!
Some people may say we should not be so vain, but don't we all want to look our best? Think about the time we take to dress nice, spend on our hair, have our nails done and don't forget that perfect handbag and jewelry that goes with your outfit. Your face is the first thing people will see when they greet you. So why wouldn't you want your face to look it's best?
Wrinkles may be the road map of life but there are things you can do to minimize that road map.
Aging of the skin does follow a biological timeline; however, you may be writing a few of those lines yourself. Certain habits and behaviors increase the risk of premature skin aging. Avoiding them can help keep your skin looking younger, longer.
Leading Cause of Wrinkles: Sun Exposure: A "healthy" tan is anything but. Tanning is a sign of skin damage, evidence that the sun's ultraviolet rays have penetrated and damaged the skin's support structure. Most wrinkles are caused by sun exposure throughout life. However, it is never too late to halt the process.
What you can do: Wear sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 with both UVA and UVB protection. Your hands and face are particularly vulnerable to sun damage, due to their frequent exposure. Make sunscreen application part of your routine. You do need protection all year round.
Mineral Oil: In 1996, a John Hopkins Study listed mineral oil as the number two cause of aging. So, STOP and turn over your products and check the ingredients! Aren’t you using that moisturizer to prevent aging? Mineral oil lurks in almost all cosmetics and personal care products make in the U.S. You could also be ingesting mineral oil from your lipstick! Mineral oil is linked to cancer, allergies and irritation of the skin, eyes and lung. Mineral oil has also been linked to a number of skin problems, including acne. The problem with mineral oil in moisturizers and other skin care products and cosmetics is that it clogs the pores of the skin. It limits the skin’s natural ability to purge toxins as well as prevents moisture from getting into the skin. That moisturizer you are using, that contains mineral oil, is just sitting on top of your skin like a film.
What you can do: Switch your skin care and cosmetics to a water based line that is free of mineral oils and other harmful chemicals.
Another Top Cause of Wrinkles: Smoking: Beyond question, smoking is bad for your skin. Smoking accelerates the aging process, wrinkling skin and making you look old beyond your years. You can usually tell a smoker by the smoker’s lips! You know what I mean, the wrinkles that show up on the upper lip! Early wrinkling is visible under a microscope in smokers as young as 20. Smokers will most likely have deeper wrinkles as well as an unhealthy color and coarser texture to their skin.
What you can do: Stop smoking! I know it’s not always easy to change a habit. Ask for help if you need to. Your health and skin will thank you.
How Facial Muscle Contractions Cause Wrinkles: Wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, better known as crow’s feet, or between the eyebrows, better know as frown lines, elevens or ‘the angry look’, are thought to be caused by small muscle contractions. Over a lifetime, habitual facial expressions like frowning, smiling, or squinting leave their mark on our skin.
What you can do: Wear sunglasses or corrective lenses to avoid squinting from the sun or nearsightedness.
How Sleeping Positions May Cause Wrinkles: The way you sleep may actually cause wrinkles. No matter how soft your pillow, it puts pressure on your face each night. Over years, this can etch lines into your chin, cheeks, or forehead. How do you sleep? I try to sleep on my back but I end up waking up on my side.
What you can do: Sleep on your back. People who don't sleep with their face on a pillow do not tend to develop sleep lines. I have also heard that silk pillow cases can help although I can't verify whether it really works.
Yo-Yo Dieting: Losing and gaining back large amounts of weight can damage the skin. Repeated stretching of the skin may damage the elastic structure that gives skin its youthful, firm tone.
What you can do: If you have decided to lose weight, do it at a reasonable pace. One to 2 pounds per week is recommended. Also, the slower you lose the weight, the more likely you are to keep it off.
And Don’t Forget Water: As we age, skin becomes thinner and drier. It becomes more important than ever to drink plenty of water, to keep skin hydrated and full.
What you can do: Drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day. Water helps to moisturize skin and increase its elasticity, and replenishes skin cells and tissues.
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