Read on to find answers to these questions.
Aging is a fact life; it is unavoidable, and we all will go through this in cognitive and physical aspects. The skin also ages, but how old you are is not the only factor for the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Here we listed 5 facts about aging skin that you may have never heard before.
- Sugar contributes to aging skin
We have heard countless reasons why excess sugar is bad for the body: produces cavities on your teeth, worsens joint pain, makes the liver resistant to insulin and makes you gain weight among others. If these do not curb your sweet tooth, maybe this will: sugar speeds up your skin aging.
When we consume sugar, it undergoes glycation
by which it attaches to proteins in the bloodstream to form harmful molecules called
advanced glycation end products or AGEs (aptly named if you ask us). The most
susceptible to AGEs is the skin’s collagen and elastin – the proteins that are
responsible for keeping the skin supple and plump. The AGEs attack these and
even worse, interfere with the production of new ones.
While an individual can simply say that they will not intake sugar anymore, one cannot completely remove it as it naturally comes in fruits and vegetables and is hidden in the form of barley malt, corn syrup, maltose, molasses – the list is endless! The only way is to cut back on sugar. Daily sugar consumption should be capped at 6 teaspoons (25 grams) for women and 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men according to the American Heart Association.
- Love the sun? Sadly, it’s the top cause of skin aging
Adequate sun exposure is good for the body as it allows the creation of vitamin D and helps in the regulation of melatonin and serotonin which are respectively responsible for sleep and mood. However, just like everything else, anything in excess is bad for you.
Being overexposed and unprotected to the sun is the number one cause of premature skin aging. Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 daily and do not forget to reapply. That extra effort will keep you looking 20 at the age of 30! Additionally, keep vitamin C, preferably L-ascorbic acid, in your daily regimen as it is a potent antioxidant that can fight free radicals – either take it orally or apply topically.
- There’s such a thing as sleeping wrong
Sleep is excellent for the body as it is the time to heal and eliminate toxins from the body. When the body reaches the deepest stage of sleep, stimulation of growth hormones and cell and tissue repair are at their peak. Therefore, how we sleep and lack thereof has a big impact on the skin. When we deprive ourselves of some Zzzs, our body barely reaches deep sleep and is not able to perform its repair processes. This impedes the creation of new collagen, improvement of circulation, and reduction of puffiness; that is why people look and feel exhausted the next day.
Additionally, the position you sleep in affects your appearance. If you sleep on your side or stomach, you can develop “sleep lines” around the temples, eyes, cheek, and mouth areas as the face are pressured down to the pillow. Be mindful and sleep on your back as this prevents friction and keeps everything away from your face including your hair and dirt from the pillow.
- Repetitive expressions can lead to lines and wrinkles
We experience countless emotions in a day and more than thirty facial muscles work to accompany these with facial expressions. Over time, repetitive smiling, frowning or squinting can lead to the appearance of expression lines.
As we age, the skin produces less collagen and elastin which makes it harder for the skin to bounce back to its original shape after facial expressions. The most common lines are frown lines or the 11s that appear between the eyebrows, forehead lines that crease across the forehead, smoker’s line that runs vertically from the lip up the nose, and smile lines that form from the outer edges of the nostrils down to the sides of the mouth.
Reduce expression lines with the following: facial gymnastics, using wrinkle reducing creams and serums (Look for the ingredient retinoid and you’ll thank us), and rejuvenating injections such as BOTOX and Dermal Fillers.
- Wrinkles show up as young as 20
As a kid, it would not have made sense how your mom told you to wear sunscreen before heading out or to be gentle on your skin, but now it would. It is normal to look more mature as we age, losing “baby fats” to make one look womanly or manly. However, subtle signs of aging skin also begin to appear as early as the age of 20.
While the skin is relatively resilient and healthy at this age, crow’s feet can start to appear around the eyes, droopy eyelids, and fine lines around the nose and upper lips. People’s desire to look young is a constant battle against time so while there are little to none signs of aging at 20, limit the damage with a healthy lifestyle, using sun screen, being gentle on the skin, and take advantage of the benefits of available products and services. Perform these little ways to keep your youthfulness because aging is, after all, irreversible.
