When Ponce de Leon traveled to Florida in the early sixteenth century, he did so in search of the elusive ‘fountain of youth’. Unfortunately for him, and for us, he never found the fountain. There is no secret cure (or fountain for that matter) for turning back the clock when it comes to aging skin. There are a myriad of services and treatments that can effectively reduce the signs of prematurely aging skin, but there are also things your can do to prevent skin aging in the first place. Make sure you avoid these five things that can prematurely age your skin:
Sun Worship:
The number one cause of aging skin is damage inflicted by harmful UV rays. If you, like many Floridians, worshipped the sun a bit too much in your youth or even more recently, you may notice the lines, wrinkles and dark spots associated with sun damage. Avoiding overexposure to the sun is the first step in stopping premature skin aging. Use a daily moisturizer that contains SPF 30 (or higher) and wear protective clothing when in the sun for prolonged periods of time (such as a wide brimmed hat, and SPF sun shirt) to avoid further damage caused by UV rays.
Smoking:
You’ve heard it since you were young, smoking is terrible for your health. While smoking causes extreme damage to your internal organs, your external appearance also takes a mighty blow every time you puff. Not only do smokers experience skin discoloration and dryness, but fine lines and deep wrinkles form on the face from the constant act of pursing your lips together while inhaling. Quitting is not an easy task, but it is more than worth it for the health of your skin and body!
Poor Choices:
Consuming too much alcohol, poor eating habits and not getting enough sleep are all major culprits of premature aging of the skin. The skin needs hydration, collagen, elastin and vital antioxidants to remain youthful and healthy looking. Alcohol pulls moisture from your body and is overall quite dehydrating. Heavy drinkers may experience a lack of muscle tone in their face and redness.
Eating foods that are not nutritious, high in sugar, saturated fats and processed ingredients can rob your skin of nutrients, vitamins and healthy fatty acids it needs.
Sleep deprivation can also take a toll on your skin. Sleep is when the body recovers and cells are regenerated. Robbing yourself of precious sleep will result in dark under eye circles and duller, dry skin. Give yourself an earlier bedtime or do what you have to do to make sleep a priority – your skin will thank you!
Stress:
Stressful times and situations are a part of modern life, but when stress becomes constant and overwhelming, it can take a toll on your skin. When you are under stress your body creates higher levels of inflammatory chemicals such as the hormone Cortisol. This can cause an overproduction of oil leading to breakouts and can also make your skin more sensitive and reactionary to skincare products.
Excessive weight gain or loss:
An excessive amount of weight gained or lost can cause your skin to lose elasticity and muscle tone. The appearance of sagging, stretched out skin is also a result of excessive weight change. Individuals who have gained or lost a lot of weight may also notice stretch marks. Losing weight and then maintaining a healthy weight for your body is the best way to curb the effects of dramatic weight loss on your skin.
Harsh Skin Conditions:
Cold weather is another under the radar contributing factor to prematurely aging skin. Harsh winter weather can cause skin to lose moisture, become cracked or peely and result in new wrinkles. In cold, dry weather consider sleeping with a humidifier on low and protecting your face from the elements with protective gear and ultra moisturizing, soothing products in order to restore the protective layer of the skin. Luckily we don’t need to deal with this in Florida too often, but if you travel to colder or drier climates, you will want to protect your skin from the elements and up the moisturizer.
Do you worry about premature skin aging? Contact the skin care experts at Tampa med spa Skin NV today to meet with one of our aestheticians and learn more about the anti-aging skin care regimen that can help you and your skin look years younger.