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and Health
As we age, it’s normal to start seeing wrinkles and other signs of aging but that doesn’t mean you have to accept them. Making some conscious lifestyle changes can prevent premature skin aging and keep your skin looking radiant and youthful. Fortunately, these lifestyle changes aren’t complicated and don’t take much time. Here are some of the lifestyle changes you can make today that will help prevent premature aging.
Protect Yourself From the Sun
One of the biggest contributors to premature skin aging is the sun. In fact, the sun is responsible for 90% of premature aging. The sun’s ultraviolet rays penetrate the skin, breaking down collagen and elastin, two proteins responsible for the skin’s elasticity and firmness. This causes the skin to wrinkle, sag and discolor. To prevent this from happening, you should always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 when you’re outside. You should also wear sun-protective clothing and a hat if you know you’ll be in the sun for an extended period of time.
Avoid Smoking and Excessive Drinking
Smoking and excessive drinking can also cause premature skin aging. Smoking constricts blood vessels in the skin, preventing oxygen and essential nutrients from getting to the skin cells. This makes the skin dry, discolored and more likely to wrinkle. Excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to premature skin aging, as it reduces the body’s production of collagen and elastin, resulting in a loss of elasticity and firmness in the skin. To keep your skin looking young and healthy, it’s best to avoid smoking and excessive drinking.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet can help reduce the effects of aging on the skin. Foods rich in antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables, can help protect the skin from oxidative damage caused by environmental factors such as pollution and the sun. Foods rich in healthy fats, such as nuts, seeds and avocado can help keep the skin hydrated and reduce wrinkles. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish, can also help reduce inflammation and prevent premature aging. So, make sure you get plenty of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids in your diet every day.
Get Enough Sleep
Getting enough sleep is essential for your overall health, but did you know it can also help prevent premature skin aging? When you don’t get enough sleep, the body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol, which breaks down collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and other signs of aging. So, make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night.
Conclusion
Taking care of your skin is essential to prevent premature aging. By making simple lifestyle changes such as protecting your skin from the sun, avoiding smoking and excessive drinking, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep you can keep your skin looking radiant and youthful for years to come.
