No one wants to look older than they are, at least know one older than a teenager. The fact is that aging is a natural process that we all must go through. But, there is no reason to speed this process up or contribute to the appearance of faster aging. You can, to some degree, prevent the signs of aging in your skin.
The appearance of aging is largely controlled by genetics. This is called intrinsic aging. The set point at which you appear to age, and how quickly it occurs is related to genetics. Extrinsic aging, on the other hand, is related to environmental factors. How you take care of yourself, and the things that you consume or avoid can greatly influence the appearance of aging.
Extrinsic aging is something that you can control. These external factors can contribute to prematurely aging. If you want to protect your skin, pay attention to the following:
Don’t smoke. Smoking causes so much damage to the skin. Studies have been made on twins and the effects of smoking on premature aging of the skin. Smoking damages the fibers in your skin that keep it flexible and support it. It also cuts of vital nutrients to your skin.
Use that sunscreen. Your skin will acquire continuous damage over time with sun exposure. Most of the damage will be done in small spurts with daily exposure. The more exposure, the quicker your skin will wrinkle and get dark spots. Sun exposure, of course, can also lead to dangerous skin cancer.
Keep a healthy diet. Your skin relies on getting enough nutrition to keep it healthy. Include lots of food rich in antioxidants for the best, youngest-looking skin.
Get enough sleep. Skin cannot repair itself when you aren’t giving it the opportunity to do so during sleep. Sleep loss can affect your skin not only with signs of aging but also with dark circles under the eyes, which can make you look older.