Certain lifestyle habits can dramatically age your skin, causing wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, and sagging skin. By eliminating the following bad habits, you can prevent premature aging, reduce wrinkles, and protect the overall health of your skin.
What Causes Premature Aging?
UV Exposure
Chronic exposure to UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds not only puts you at risk for skin cancer, but it can also lead to damaged elastin. Elastin is a naturally occurring fiber in skin that helps it retain its tightness and form. Those who tan regularly or don’t wear sunscreen may encounter sagging skin sooner than those who avoid UV exposure.
Smoking
Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, which means that the blood that carries vital nutrients to the skin is constricted or reduced. Smokers also have lower levels of collagen and elastin, which often leads to premature wrinkles. Regular tobacco use can also cause yellowing of the skin, fingernails, and teeth.
Not Getting Enough Sleep
Your entire body needs sleep. Considering that your skin is the largest organ in your body, your skin requires an adequate amount of shut-eye each night. During your sleep, your skin renews and repairs itself. Not getting enough beauty sleep has been associated with more fine lines, increased pigmentation, and less skin elasticity.
Sleeping In Makeup
After a long day, it can be difficult to muster up the energy to wash your face. However, neglecting to wash your makeup off could cause premature facial aging and other complexion issues. Clogged pores can lead to irritation, redness around the eyes, acne breakouts, and even infection. Beyond not allowing your skin to “breathe” at night, you are also exposing your complexion to longer periods of free radicals, which can break down collagen!
How To Prevent Aging
While you can’t always reverse the signs of aging, lifestyle habits and aesthetic treatments can foster a healthy and youthful complexion. At Olansky Dermatology & Aesthetics, we offer a variety of non-surgical treatments for beautiful skin, including injectables, chemical peels, laser treatments, and more. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
