Ask people what they fear most about aging, and many will tell you it’s the fine lines and deeper wrinkles that begin to form on the face far too soon. While we can’t completely stop the passage of time, we can ward off the telltale signs of aging for a longer period by simply adopting some skin-healthy habits throughout our lives. Cole Aesthetic Center offers these four tips to maintain wrinkle-free skin well into your golden years.
Protect, Protect, Protect
One of the biggest factors that contribute to aging skin is not time at all, but sun exposure. UVA and UVB rays can both strip the skin of much-needed collagen, leading to skin laxity and the appearance of facial creases. To prevent this process, wear sunscreen without fail to provide a barrier between your delicate skin cells and those powerful UV rays.
Choose a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 or opt to go a bit higher if you plan to be outdoors for an extended period of time. Don’s rely on your makeup or moisturizer to give you adequate sun protection; adding sunscreen to your daily routine is important as well. Apply your sunscreen approximately 20 minutes before heading outside and reapply every two hours if you remain outdoors during that time.
Kick the Habit
In addition to its other health risks, smoking can also accelerate the signs of aging on your skin. This habit impacts healthy blood flow, which means less oxygen and nutrients can get to the skin to keep it in a healthy condition. It also dries out the skin, which can lead to faster skin laxity and the formation of facial creases.
The mere act of puffing on a cigarette causes you to consistently pucker up your mouth and brow, which can also lead to the early formation of wrinkles. Many smokers develop fine vertical lines extending from the upper lip that has even been dubbed “smokers’ lines.” Vertical lines between the eyebrows, known as “11’s” or “frown lines,” may also be attributed to the act of smoking.
Get Your Shut-Eye
Our nightly rest is essential for healthy skin and a healthy body because sleep allows our cells time to regenerate. It is also the time when our bodies effectively eliminate toxins that can impact the appearance of our complexion. Sleep helps to combat puffy eyes and dark circles that can make us look older and wearier than we really feel.
Sleep deprivation elevates levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. This can lead to increased inflammation, which can, in turn, impact the appearance of the skin. Too little sleep also affects your body’s ability to produce collagen, which can, in turn, accelerate the aging process.
Hydrate it Up
Skin loses its ability to hydrate itself over time, which leads to skin laxity and wrinkles as well. Combat the loss of hydration by adding moisturizing skin products to your daily routine. Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by the body to lock in skin moisture.
You can also hydrate your skin from the inside out by upping your water intake. At the same time, avoid dehydrating substances like caffeine and alcohol that can suck the moisture right out of your skin.
Despite your best efforts at warding of lines and wrinkles, they are bound to happen at some point. The good news is that there are plenty of effective surgical and non-surgical anti-aging treatments available today to smooth away those telltale aging signs and restore a youthful appearance such as BBL (Broad Band Light), skin peels, ProFactional laser facial treatments, and more. To learn more about your options in anti-aging treatments, contact Cole Aesthetic Center at 360.613.2600.