Is your lifestyle making you look older than you really are?
Lifestyle factors significantly impact the speed of skin aging. Are you unknowingly causing your skin to age at an accelerated pace?
Sun Exposure:
The Damage: Prolonged sun exposure without sunscreen is the primary cause of accelerated skin aging. This is known as photo-damage.Nothing will age your skin faster than repeated sun exposure, without protection. UV rays break down collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and a rough leathery texture.
The Solution:
Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, even in the winter
Avoid the peak sunshine in the middle of the day.
Sunglasses, hats and long sleeves increase your protection.
Remember your hands, ears, eyelids when applying sunscreen
Be generous in applying sunscreen and re-apply it if you're going to be in the sun for several hours (at the beach, after swimming, out on the golf course)
Smoking:
The Damage: Smoking constricts blood vessels, depriving skin of oxygen and nutrients. It also accelerates collagen breakdown, leading to premature wrinkles and a dull complexion. Not enough is yet known on how vaping impacts skin health.
The Solution: Quitting smoking will improve your skin's health and overall well-being, and free up money to spend on high quality skincare. Be mindful about your exposure to second-hand smoke also.
A nutrient-poor diet:
The Damage: A diet lacking in essential nutrients can impact skin health. A diet high in processed foods, sugar, and trans fats can lead to inflammation. Inflammation is at the root of accelerated and aggravated aging.
The Solution:
Be mindful about getting enough fruits, vegetables, healthy fat, and protein in your diet
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Experiment with intermittent fasting to improve blood sugar balance which will greatly reduce sugar cravings and improve blood sugar control
Lack of Sleep:
The Damage:
Sleep deprivation can lead to dull, sallow skin, dark circles, and increased stress hormones, which can accelerate aging.
Going short on sleep plays havoc with our hunger and satiety hormones and can lead us to make very poor food choices to get a quick energy boost from sugar.
The Solution: Aim for 7.5 hours of quality sleep each night. Consider leaving your phone far away from your bed.
Stress:
The Damage: Chronic stress raises cortisol levels, leading to inflammation and accelerated skin aging.
The Solution: Find ways to de-stress that bring you joy and calm: time outdoors, yoga, walking.
