Most people have a good idea about what things they should avoid to keep their body healthy, and their skin looking youthful.
However, there could be a few habits you practice daily without a second thought that are causing you to age rapidly. Fortunately, the dreaded problem of premature aging is easily avoided if you know what to watch out for.
So read ahead to learn what lifestyle habits can cause your skin to age more rapidly.
Tobacco Use
Inhaling cigarette smoke either directly or indirectly can cause health problems and age your skin. Smokers and those who associate with smokers will slowly see their amount of wrinkles increase, and their skin will become dry. Also, when you put a cigarette up to your mouth to inhale smoke, you are piercing your lips, and repeating this motion hundreds of times a day, which will create lines and wrinkles on your face. The smoke will also drain your Vitamin C, which is a crucial vitamin for healthy, supple skin.
The opinion of many scientists is that sun exposure and smoking hold the same amount of risk when you’re exposed to either one in large amounts. So even if you aren’t the one smoking, but you’re in a group that does smoke, you’re still putting yourself in harm’s way. It is important to mention that there are many more harmful effects of smoking on skin.
Exposure to the Sun
There is a reason cosmetic companies are adding SPF in nearly every beauty product these days. And the reason is that the sun is damaging, and can cause wrinkles, sun spots, dry skin, sagging skin, leathery appearance and cancer. Even if you haven’t been very careful in the past, you may be able to reverse the appearance of sun damage to the skin by consulting a physician, and determining how damaged your skin so you can correct the problem.
It’s worth mentioning that only using products containing SPF isn’t protecting you fully from the sun’s rays. So you should always use a sunscreen that fights against UVA and UVB rays – this is something that holds true even on cloudy days.
Not Exercising
If your job requires you to sit at a desk or stand in one area for long periods of time, then you’re not getting the exercise needed to remove toxins from your body. Sweating induced by exercise will increase blood flow, tone muscles and also burn calories, thus giving you a slimmer waist. It will also allow toxins to leave your body instead of remaining sedentary inside of you.
You may also find it interesting to know that a sedentary lifestyle in older adults will increase odds of suffering from dementia. Lastly, keep in mind that exercise is an instant mood-booster, so by feeling better and more confident, you will also appear younger.
Exposing yourself to Harsh Weather
There is nothing you can do to change the elements, but you can be better prepared to keep your skin from damaging winds and low temperatures. The cold temperatures that accompany winter tend to dry your skin, so it’s important to use a moisturizing lotion on your face and body daily to replenish the moisture in your skin.
In some cases, you may find that a home humidifier will help keep your skin moisturized while you are using your home’s heating system.
Binge Drinking
When you drink alcohol, you are causing small blood vessels in your skin to dilate, thus causing blood flow close to the skin’s surface. Excessive drinking over time can damage these blood vessels permanently, which causes patchy red skin and sometimes broken vessels.
Worrying Too Much
Stressing over little things can cause you to age much faster, but there are things you can do to relieve stress such as exercise and meditation. The thing is, you may not even know when you’re frowning or over-worrying about an upcoming project. Even so, if you are stressing it could be leaving you with a lot of sleepless nights, which is also bad for your skin.
You can try breathing exercises for stress to become more relaxed and sleep better during the night.
Sleep Deprived
If you’re staying out too late partying, the odds of retaining beauty are against you. Not getting enough sleep will create dark under-eye areas, wrinkles and a less energetic you, which leads to skipping workouts and eating fast food because you simply don’t have the energy to make food at home.
Sagging skin is also associated with not getting enough sleep. It’s also been said that those who don’t get between 7-9 hours of sleep every night will have a negative point of view and little interest in socializing.
Some tips on helping you get plenty of sleep are to drink less caffeine while you’re awake during the day. If you stop eating 2 hours before you go to bed, you will sleep better and set up a nightly bedtime routine.
Not Wearing Glasses
If you’ve been prescribed eye glasses or contacts and refuse to wear them when needed, then you could be causing wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes and forehead. Squinting isn’t attractive on anyone, so it is better to wear the glasses or contacts you have so that you don’t develop worry lines.
Not Wearing Sunglasses
If you’ve been prescribed eye glasses or contacts, then you should also consider purchasing a pair of sunglasses with your prescription. Even if you’re only walking out to your vehicle, walking into a store or driving in a car, your eyes will need protection. Don’t make it a habit to close one eye when the sun is bright; it is better to have a pair of sunglasses available for you to wear rather than struggling to see through the bright sunlight.
Not Eating Tomatoes
The magic of the tomato seems to be never-ending. It is good with nearly every dish, and also has the ability to protect you from the sun from the inside. Case in point, eat more tomatoes so that you have a lower risk of getting heart disease, build strong bones, have healthy skin and hair, and also promote a healthy immune system. Some might even say that tomatoes are a super food for your body.
It’s much easier to get wrinkles and fine lines than it is to get rid of them, but avoiding them is possible if you know how, that’s when you should check good anti aging tips. You can’t stop aging altogether, but you can try to look good while it happens!
