Before we talk about how you can start to change the appearance of your skin and slowing the aging process today, (less wrinkles, less fine lines, tighter, and more glow- sound good?!)…let me give you some foundation, and no, not the base of your makeup. I’m talking to you about why you age. Why you start to develop fine lines, then deeper wrinkles and finally there is NO hope to look youthful without a face-lift to reverse the damage done.
Before we talk about how you can start to change the appearance of your skin today, (less wrinkles, less fine lines, tighter, and more glow- sound good?!)…let me give you some foundation, and no, not the base of your makeup. I’m talking to you about why you age. Why you start to develop fine lines, then deeper wrinkles and finally there is NO hope to look youthful without a face-lift to reverse the damage done.
Your skin is an amazing, multilayered organ, protected by a couple of barriers. These layers moisten, nourish, shield and protect your skin from the constant bombardment of toxins and environmental factors which lead to premature aging.
The coating of your skin is an acid mantle, which keeps your skin slightly acidic at a relative level of pH 4 to 5.
This level of acidity keeps away hosts of bacteria while supporting good flora, making it hard for infection and bacteria to penetrate and thrive.
The lipid layer is a thin layer of fatty oils secreted by the sebaceous glands, protecting your skin by maintaining moisture so you don’t dry out- showing off any fine lines or wrinkles.
These layers are kept in prime condition through specific nutrients, minerals, vitamins and hydration.
But as time goes by, your skin undergoes biological, chronical and internal changes. Lifestyle is also a large factor in your cellular integrity which can directly attribute to whether you start to age prematurely or not.
Although there are a variety of known causes and factors that contribute to aging, two main schools of thought stand out: intrinsic and extrinsic factors. These two classifications can explain dark age spots, fine lines, and deep set wrinkles, discoloration of your pigmentation, and pretty much anything else that has to do with aging.
Intrinsic factors are primarily genetically determined. They take into consideration the integrity of your immune system, genetics and biological changes that naturally occur over time. You are able to somewhat influence the intrinsic rate of skin and cellular degradation with proper nutrition, mitigating your exposure to harmful UV rays and other damaging environmental factors.
UV radiation from the sun, is the number 1 cause of aging contributing to up to 80% of our environment factors that point to aging.
The extrinsic classification is comprised of environmental factors and lifestyle choices. These are not genetically determined. Extrinsic factors include everything that you expose yourself to like: alcohol consumption, stress, poor nutrition, overeating, chemicals (lotion, cleaners), pollution and dangerous UV rays. UV rays (from sun exposure) has been reported to contribute up to 80% of our environmental factors that attribute to aging.
The extrinsic factors are what we do have the greatest control over allowing us to modify the speed in which aging takes grasp of our skin and appearance.
Here are 10 quick tips on slowing the aging process you can start today!
1. Protect your skin every day! Long term sun, wind, and UV rays can lead to photo-aging and all cause significant damage to your skin like wrinkles. So whether you’re running errands or spending the day outside, sun protection is vital. You can protect your skin with a hat, shade, and covering up with clothing or using a natural sunscreen. If you choose a natural sunscreen, apply liberally and often to all areas of skin not covered by clothing. Pumpkin and strawberry both contain Zinc.
2. Cleanse your skin twice a day and after sweating heavily. Sweating, especially while wearing a hat/helmet can irritate the skin, so you want to wash your face as soon as possible after you’re done exercising or sweating.
3. Wash your face with a gentle scrub twice a week. Gentle washing helps remove pollution, environmental toxins, makeup, and other substances. Oatmeal is a terrific exfoliate.
4. Apply a facial, neck and chest moisturizer every day. Moisturizing traps water in our skin, giving more of a supple, full and youthful appearance. The woman of Japan are very cautious about skin treatment and keeping their skin white and bright.
5. Stop using skin care products that burn/sting. Most chemically latent skincare products subtly irritate your skin. Whenever irritation is present so it the appearance of looking older.
6. Stop smoking. Smoking quickly degrades the integrity of your cells. According to a Johns Hopkins, smokers were four times as likely as nonsmokers to report feeling unrested after a night’s sleep. Restless sleep is one of the extrinsic factors to aging.
7. Drink less booze. This is my least favorite, but it’s true. Alcohol is ultimately dehydrating, robbing our skin of the well needed moisture and full cellular capacity. Dehydrated skin is noticeable with puffy eyes, fine lines and wrinkles.
8. Avoid repetitive facials expressions. Every time you make a facial expression, you contract the underlying muscles. By repeatedly contracting the same muscles (often done over years and years), these lines become permanent. Sunglasses and hats can help reduce lines caused by squinting.
9. Exercise most week days. Increasing blood and oxygen flow throughout your body will increase circulation. Additionally, exercise gives your immune system a big boost, causing for toxins to be removed faster, allowing your face and skin to shine with radiance.
10. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Findings from many clinical studies suggest that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can help prevent damage that leads to the appearance of premature skin aging. Eating between 5-8 servings of antioxidant rich foods a day can benefit you greatly! Whereas, diets high in sugar and simple carbohydrates can accelerate instead of slowing the aging process.
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