As you grow old, tremendous changes happen to your body, and your internal processes begin to slow. These transformations affect how your body functions and your general appearance. The skin and the face are usually the first indicators of aging, but there are several things you can do to appear younger, including:
1. Stay Hydrated
If you struggle with staying hydrated, your skin might be on the line. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), water intake impacts the human skin biomechanics and hydration, especially for people with low daily water intake. The recommendation on water intake varies depending on gender, age, size, and the prevailing weather conditions. However, WebMD recommends the following:
- Men: 3 liters of fluids daily
- Women: 2 liters of fluids daily
- Children: 8 glasses of fluids daily
Waters serves a vital role in your skin’s health, and without appropriate hydration, your skin looks gloomier, wrinkles appear, and pores become prominent. Nonetheless, water is not the only fluid that assists in hydrating your body’s largest organ. The lemon balm leaf extract helps enhance skin elasticity and curb tissue destruction.
2. Exercise Regularly
Working out has several benefits, and research indicates that a lifetime of frequent exercise slows down aging. When you exercise, you increment blood flow all through the body. When you raise blood flow, the nutrients, and oxygen nurture and carry away waste products from the skin – making young skin appear younger and healthier.
3. Prioritize Your Sleep
Sleep is necessary for general wellbeing, and lack of it tends to impact our appearance. Research on sleep deprivation impacts found that the sleep-deprived participants had more hanging eyelids, dark circles under their eyes, more swollen eyes, and more droopy corners around their mouths. Hence, adults are advised to sleep for more than 7 hours a day. If you clinically struggle with sleep, you should consult a sleep specialist.
4. Reduce Your Sugar Consumption
High consumption of sugar is damaging to the skin. It causes glycosylation of the cell membrane. Elastin and collagen are two vital proteins that are chiefly vulnerable to glycosylation. Damage to these proteins causes sallow, less plump, and more wrinkled skin.
5. Early Use Of Neurotoxins Can Slow Down The Development Of Wrinkles
Neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport have proven effects on curtailing the appearance of wrinkles. With the prevalence of smartphone usage, there is an amplified occurrence of wrinkling around the eyes. Young adults spend a lot of time on their gadgets making these motions, which can cause premature skin sagging and wrinkling. Hence, neurotoxins can stop the early signs of wrinkling in these regions.
6. Retin-A Is Not Just For Acne Anymore
Retin-A, a vitamin A derivative, is a standard anti-aging therapy for the skin. It was initially invented as a treatment for acne but was noted to have outstanding skin-improving properties. The skin’s outer layer gets thicker as we grow old, while the inner one gets thinner.
This causes thin skin, which causes wrinkles and shows cosmetic imperfections. Luckily, regular use of Retin-A brings about a reversal of this progression to some extent. The outer layer exfoliates while the inner one strengthens; thus, causing more beautiful skin to result.
7. Getting Noninvasive Skin Treatments Can Help Sustain The Integrity Of Your Skin
Procedures such as Intense Pulse Light, laser resurfacing, and chemical peels can assist keep skin healthy and blemish-free. Each treatment can cause enhanced collagen generation in the skin. Annual maintenance with these procedures can keep off the signs of premature facial aging. They are also cheaper compared to surgery.
8. Protect Your Skin From The Sun Every Day
Whether sunbathing at the beach or running errands, sun protection is paramount. You can protect your largest organ by hiding under a shade, covering up with IBKUL sun-protective clothing, and employing sunscreen with broad-spectrum. You are best advised to apply sunscreen daily to all skin, not protected by clothing.
9. Limit Alcohol And Caffeine Intake
Alcohol and caffeinated drinks are known as diuretics because they catalyze dehydration. While individuals can benefit from diuretics, they tend to make the body lose fluids, causing dehydration.
People seeking to maintain their youthful appearance should mitigate or do away with caffeine and alcohol intake. If you happen to enjoy these drinks, ensure that you drink water with your beverage to assist your body stay hydrated.
10. Quit Smoking
Smoking is awful for your wellbeing, and it can catalyze the skin’s normal aging process. According to Mayo Clinic, smoking causes skin sagging and the following facial transformations:
- Wrinkles
- Crow’s feet
- Pronounced lines
- Deep creases
Smoking is severely addictive, and it is hard to quit. Below are a few tips on how to resist tobacco cravings:
- Search for nicotine replacements
- Avoid triggers
- Constantly remind yourself of the repercussions
- Ask for help
Final Thoughts
Even people who already have signs of early aging can gain from making lifestyle changes. By protecting your skin from the sun, you offer it an opportunity to repair itself. Alcoholics and smokers who stop frequently notice that their skin looks healthier. And if premature aging bothers you a lot, you might want to consult a dermatologist.
Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Dachshund named Rufus.
