Your 20s and 30s are the best time to start worrying about your skin and working to preserve its health and youth. Although changes in the skin are normal as we age, there are certain times when these changes can be “premature.”
Luckily, there are several ways to reduce premature skin aging that you can try out even at home.
Read on to learn more!
Signs of Premature Aging
When it comes to aging, every person may have a different experience. Therefore, it’s really hard to come up with a single list of symptoms that indicate premature aging. However, the following signs might help determine premature aging if a person experiences them before 35.
Dry or Itchy Skin
If you weren’t always someone with a dry skin type, this might be an indication that you are experiencing premature aging. Older skin tends to become thinner, therefore making it more susceptible to dehydration. When the skin is dry, it’s more prone to flaking and cracking, which in turn can lead to infections if not treated effectively.
Sun Spots
Sometimes called “liver spots,” sun spots are flat blemishes that develop on the skin after years of sun exposure. They can develop on the back of your hands, face, and forearms, as well as other body parts that experience frequent sun exposure.
Wrinkles and Sagging
Aging can slow the collagen production process in a person’s body, which can materialize wrinkles and sagging skin. These may occur in areas such as the forehead, the sides of your eyes (crow’s feet), and around frequently used muscles.
Ways to Reduce Premature Skin Aging
Once again, it can be difficult to identify exactly what premature aging looks like for different people. Regardless, the following seven (7) ways to reduce premature skin aging should be able to help you slow the process.
Take Sun Protection Seriously
It doesn’t matter if you’re only running to the store down the street or if you’re running a 100-mile marathon. If the sun is out and your skin is exposed, practicing proper sun protection will help you protect your skin from both sun damage and premature aging.
Use sunscreen with at least SPF30 (or higher). Furthermore, as much as possible, try to wear sun-protective clothing when you’re out and about. A few examples are long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses with UV protection, and a wide-brimmed hat.
1. Practice Gentle Skin Cleansing
You don’t have to scrub a rock against your skin to cleanse it of impurities and toxins. All you’ll need is a good-quality, gentle cleanser that cleanses and protects your skin without causing irritation or skin damage such as microtears. This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re someone who wears makeup regularly.
Makeup isn’t the easiest thing to remove, which may encourage people to scrub and rub their skin harder, to speed up the process.
The skin is a very delicate organ, so it’s best to be gentle with it as much as possible to avoid pitfalls, such as premature aging.
2. Don’t Forget to Moisturize
Making sure your skin is well-hydrated should be part of your action plan to keep it healthy and vibrant. That said, there’s more to hydration than just drinking water and liquids. You also need the help of high-quality moisturizers to keep your skin from flaking and cracking.
Don’t forget to moisturize your skin every day, especially if it’s looking particularly drier than usual.
3. Stop Smoking
Smoking can do a lot of bad to your body, not just to your lungs, but to your skin as well. Cigarette smoke can speed up the aging process of cells and the breakdown of collagen. It can also restrict blood vessels and deter the proper flow of oxygen and blood in the body. All this can lead to a person developing premature signs of aging, such as wrinkles, yellowing nails, and dry skin.
Stopping your smoking habit can help your skin fight off premature aging much more effectively.
4. Eat a Healthy and Well-Balanced Diet
A healthy diet is one of the major pillars of a healthy and satisfying life. Not only does it help prevent premature aging, but for women, this habit may also help improve the menstrual cycle.
Beautiful and glowing skin starts with what you put in your body. So, make sure to only eat foods that are nutrient-rich, loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, healthy fats, and water.
Here are a couple of fruits and vegetables you might want to consider adding to your menus:
- Watercress
- Red bell peppers
- Papayas
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Nuts
5. Control Your Alcohol Intake
While it shouldn’t be a problem if you had a drink or two every now and then. When the habit becomes more regular than what’s considered appropriate, it can cause side effects such as heart disease, high blood pressure, as well as premature aging.
Drinking too much alcohol can also dry the skin, making it appear older than it actually is.
6. Consider Treatment for Skin Damage
People with a lot of skin damage can benefit from skin treatments such as light peels, microdermabrasion, and laser treatments. When it comes to removing skin blemishes and preserving skin health and vitality, these treatments are more effective than simple facials.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, your habits and routines will determine how healthy or unhealthy your skin will be. To ensure that you don’t encounter troubles concerned with premature aging, the tips we’ve mentioned above can help you out.
