If you're concerned about looking young, or preserving the looks you have, you can stay youthful by taking precautions to avoid activities that damage your skin, causing skin aging.
Sun Exposure
Exposure to the sun is one of the leading causes of skin aging. The sun's rays, as well as tanning lights in tanning salons, contain ultraviolet radiation, which breaks down the skin's connective tissue. When the skin's connective tissue--made of collagen and elastin fibers--is damaged, skin gets wrinkles, age spots, lines and uneven pigmentation. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, indoor tanning is damaging to the skin. Although tanning salons claim they only use UVA rays and not UBV rays, UVA rays are still harmful. To prevent skin aging from the sun, cover up, wear sunglasses, use SPF of at least 30 and be sure to wear sunscreen even when it's cloudy outside (UV rays still penetrate on overcast days).
Smoking
Smoking also causes aging of the skin. Smoking damages skin by restricting blood vessels, preventing oxygen and nutrients from getting to the skin. It also dehydrates the skin, which leads to loss of elasticity, sagging and wrinkles. Smoking also releases extensive amounts of toxic chemicals, greatly increasing harmful free radicals in the body. According to dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, when smokers inhale one puff of cigarette smoke, more than a trillion free radicals are produced in the lungs. These free radicals wear down the body, contributing to aging and an unhealthy, yellowish skin color. Smoking can also lead to varicose ulcers--which are wounds containing pus (often around the ankles) caused by poor blood flow.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol also ages skin. Alcohol is a toxin that's absorbed into the blood and causes dehydration, which leads to dry skin and loss of skin elasticity. This causes wrinkles over time. Drinking alcohol also causes small blood vessels to widen, resulting in red, blotchy, flushed skin, broken veins, deep lines and wrinkles. Consuming lots of alcohol also reduces the amount of vitamin A in the body, which is necessary to fight damaging free radicals and promote growth of new skin cells. The lower amount of vitamin A in the body caused by excess alcohol leads to more free radicals and less growth of new skin, contributing to aging.
Member Comments