8 Unhealthy Practices that Lead to Premature Skin Aging

There’s no doubt that a lot of people, particularly, women are constantly on the lookout for solutions that can defy aging. Fortunately, there’s an abundance of cosmetic products and treatments that can effectively maintain a youthful appearance. With these provisions, women in their 50s can actually look like they’re still in their 20s.

However, despite the efficacy of age-defying products and treatments, dermatologists and other skin professionals will tell you that the most powerful anti-aging solutions are not the expensive skin care lines or the high-tech procedures.

If you want a youthful glow, it always starts with good health.

Eating right, exercising and avoiding certain practices are absolute musts. And speaking of avoiding certain practices, the eight mentioned below are deemed the most important for anybody who wishes to avoid premature skin aging.

1. Smoking

You may look like some elegant socialite puffing away on an expensive stick of tobacco but keep this up and you’ll easily look older than your actual years. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which is known to displace the oxygen in your skin.

Along with carbon monoxide, the nicotine in cigarettes negative impacts blood circulation, making skin look dry and dull. Therefore, no matter how committed you are to your skin care routine but if you continue to smoke, your skin is prevented from enjoying the full benefits supposedly provided by the products you use.

2. Suntanning

While the sun is a fantastic source of vitamin D and can give you that lovely golden glow, staying under it for a long time can lead to skin damage. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays can cause everything from wrinkles to pigmentation to loss of skin elasticity.

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3.  Sleeping just a few hours each night.

An incredibly busy lifestyle leaves very few hours for sleep at night. This doesn’t only impact the body’s ability to be productive the following day it also prevents skin cells from regenerating properly.

Cell regeneration happens optimally at night when one’s asleep. As such, if you’re not catching zzzs when you need to, the aging process is expedited. In no time, you’ll start seeing fine lines around your face and sagging baggy looking eyes.

4. Not drinking enough water.

Water, though devoid of certain nutrients, plays an important role in maintaining skin health. It helps get rid of toxins, maintains the body’s ideal pH level, and it keeps the body hydrated.

Drinking the recommended amount of water has been known to improve skin glow. Likewise, many have reported fewer breakouts after committing to drinking eight glasses of water a day.

5. Not exfoliating.

Gentle exfoliation gets rid of dull and dry skin that makes you look old. You want to make sure that you get rid of it in a gentle manner at least every week to prevent all types of skin woes that can affect your natural ability to produce collagen.

If you want better exfoliation, a dermatologist facial treatment twice a month will do the trick.

Exfoliating will slough off dead skin that can clog pores and lead to pigmentation. Likewise, it improves blood circulation for healthy natural oil production that makes skin look young.

6. Drinking alcoholic beverages often.

Consuming wine and other types of liquor can dehydrate your skin. And when your skin is dehydrated, it’s prone to irritation. Over time, the “dry spell” created by booze will create wrinkles and discoloration – two of the most common signs of skin aging.

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7. Forgetting to wash off makeup.

A lot of women are guilty of sleeping with makeup on and this is a big no-no if you want your skin to look young for a long time. Makeup will clog your pores and its chemical elements can dry out your skin and cause other irritations.

8. Doing without SPF.

Applying sunscreen during the day is important for skin maintenance – even during the winter. Sunscreen over moisturizer is an effective barrier against the sun’s harmful UV rays. It can prevent the appearance of spots and wrinkles around sensitive areas of the face and neck.

Skin experts can have all the solutions for your skin aging concerns but you need to do your part as well. Take better care of your health and make sure that you have a routine that is rooted in smart practices.