It’s no secret that the more bad habits you have, the faster you age. But what specific behaviors can speed up the aging process?
Smoking, drinking, and exposure to the sun all contribute to premature skin aging. Poor eating habits, lack of exercise, and stress also play a role. To keep your skin young and healthy, avoiding these nine habits is an excellent place to start.
Sleep deprivation
Lack of sleep can have many adverse effects, the most important of which is a lack of concentration and memory. In a University Hospital Case Medical Center study, scientists found that sleep quality affects skin function and aging.
Poor sleep quality has been linked to accelerated signs of aging and delayed recovery from environmental stressors such as skin barrier breakdown or ultraviolet light.
This analysis suggests that chronic sleep deprivation causes you to produce more cortisol, which accelerates aging. Cortisol, the most common stress hormone, destroys collagen, leading to sagging, wrinkling, and inflammation.
Alcohol abuse
A study published in 2019 examined the effects of alcohol on facial aging in 3,267 women of various ethnic backgrounds. Studies have found that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with increased facial lines, puffiness under the eyes, mouth cracks, reduced midface volume, and atrophy of blood vessels.
The study provides valuable insight into the potential effects of alcohol on skin aging. Therefore, moderate drinking is vital to maintain a youthful appearance.
smoking
Smoking causes oxidative damage to the skin’s repair mechanisms. It inhibits the renewal of the extracellular matrix, leading to early signs of skin aging.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons studied 79 pairs of twins. The researchers found that twin siblings who smoked had more eyelid skin redundancy, lower eyelid pockets, cheekbone pockets, nasolabial furrows, upper lip wrinkles, lower lip vermillion wrinkles, and chins than non-smoking twin siblings.
The lips are the first place to inhale nicotine and harmful tar and the first place to show worsening symptoms. As a result, blood flow is restricted, and oxygen and nutrients cannot be adequately delivered to the lips.
No sunscreen was used
Unprotected sun exposure can damage your skin in several ways. UVB rays cause burns, while UVA rays penetrate deeper, damaging elastic fibers and collagen. This damage can lead to premature aging, wrinkles, and even skin cancer.
Although wearing sunscreen helps protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, not all sunscreens are created equal. To be effective, a sunscreen must have an SPF of at least 15. According to the American Cancer Society, 93% of UVB rays are filtered out by sunscreen with SPF 15, 97% by sunscreen with SPF 30, 98% by sunscreen with SPF 50, and 99% by sunscreen with SPF 100.
To protect your skin from damage, use sunscreen or cream daily, even on cloudy days. This simple step can help keep your skin young and healthy for years.
Without sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses is one of the best ways to protect your eyes from sun damage. The lenses block UV radiation, which can damage the delicate skin around the eyes and cause wrinkles.
In addition, glasses reduce eye strain by limiting the bright light that hits the skin. Wearing sunglasses helps prevent early wrinkles and relaxes the eyes.
The best sunglasses should be comfortable in size and shape and include a UV filter. Therefore, wearing sunglasses regularly is an effective way to keep your eyes and skin healthy.
Sleep with makeup on
It’s not a good idea to sleep with makeup on. When we sleep, our skin regenerates and becomes active. However, the makeup on our skin can clog pores and stop the regeneration process. The most dangerous are foundation and oil-based primers.
Eye makeup does not affect the formation of wrinkles, but it may irritate the mucous membranes. If you don’t want to or can’t wash your face, use a cotton pad dipped in micellar water.
Poor oral care
Poor oral hygiene can cause some severe problems for your skin. An infection in the mouth can spread to the bloodstream and other parts of the body.
Acne sufferers may notice that their condition worsens with gum disease. This is because the bacteria that cause gum disease can also infect the skin, leading to breakouts.
Maintaining good oral hygiene can help prevent these problems from developing.
Cocktail straw
Plastic cocktail straws aren’t as harmless as they seem. It’s no surprise that many large coffee shops refuse to use them. Plastic “straws” are sour for the environment and cause wrinkles around the mouth.
When our lips come into contact with a straw drink, they experience constant tension and abnormal tightness. This muscle activity causes collagen fibers to break down, resulting in the development of fine lines and wrinkles. For the same reason, chewing gum is not recommended: it requires a lot of muscle activity in the cheeks.
Overeating sugar
Refined sugar is bad for your health, especially your skin. According to the study, sugar can hinder the repair of collagen fibers, essential for keeping skin firm.
The most consumed sugars (glucose and fructose) interact with proteins in the skin, forming advanced glycation end products (AGES). AGES can cause wrinkles and hardening of cell structures. Ultraviolet light speeds up the process. The result is dry, dull, saggy skin vulnerable to sun damage.
A healthy diet is essential for healthy skin. This means eating more fruits, vegetables, and high-quality protein products and reducing sugar intake. Collagen is found in beef, chicken, fish, and eggs.
