5 Surprising Everyday Things That Are Aging You Faster

Skin CareJanuary 9, 2018

Getting older can have its perks: you become more experienced with time and gain more wisdom. Unfortunately, time can be rough on your physical appearance and slowly age you, replacing the smoothness on your skin with wrinkles and sagginess. As much as we all wish to keep our youth forever, aging is a natural and inevitable process that we must eventually embrace.

There are several environmental and dietary factors that can cause premature signs of aging

Even though we can’t stop the process of aging, we can take certain measures to delay its signs by adopting a skincare regimen and avoiding certain habits that can age us prematurely such as going out in the sun without protection or not drinking enough water to hydrate your skin. Here are some astonishing everyday habits that can cause premature aging.

Eating Foods that Cause Inflammation

Your diet is the most important factor in achieving healthy, youthful skin but if the majority of the foods you eat consist of unhealthy fats, refined starch, sugar and sodium, you’re doing your skin more harm than good. These processed foods cause chronic inflammation and speed up your aging process.

If you want to delay signs of premature aging, fuel your body with healthy omega-3 fats found in eggs, nuts, seeds and fish. Fresh fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants and other nutrients also boost the production of collagen in your skin, keeping it smooth and elastic.

Drinking Alcohol

Studies have shown that a daily glass of red wine isn’t bad for your health, in fact, the antioxidants in the wine keep out heart and skin healthy. Unfortunately, too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Since alcohol is considered diuretic, excessive consumption can lead to dehydration which enhances the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on our skin.

Excessive alcohol consumption isn’t only bad for our internal health but it also promotes premature signs of aging

The toxins and impurities in alcohol also put our liver under more stress and can cause damage to our internal health which will eventually start showing on your skin. Enjoy an occasional glass or two of your favorite wine or beer, but don’t overdo it if you want to stay younger and healthier for longer.

Stressing Out Too Much

Excessive stress or worry can age you, according to a study conducted in 2012. The researchers discovered that stress can change the structure of DNA in our cells which causes the cells to die prematurely.

Moreover, stress can also take a toll on your mental health, increase your blood pressure and disrupt your body’s circadian rhythm. With the busy work schedules that we have, stress becomes an inevitable part of our lives but it can be tweaked by a few simple lifestyle changes such as drinking less caffeine, looking after your gut health and dedicating a few minutes each day to meditation or yoga to relax your mind.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

There is a reason why we call it ‘beauty sleep’

Have you been paying attention to how much sleep you have been getting lately? The number of hours you keep your eyes shut could have an impact on your skin’s health. A recent survey discovered that more than one-third of Americans don’t get enough sleep during the night which compromises their physical and mental well-being.

Sleeping too much on one side on your face can, over time, cause sleep lines and wrinkles. Try to sleep on your back as often as you can and use a soft pillowcase with high thread-count to avoid friction which can cause wear and tear on your skin.

Excessive Sunbathing

Sunbathing can be quite addictive, especially after you’ve just come out of a long, cold winter, but beware of the dangerous UV rays in sunlight which can become your skin’s worst enemy if exposed to them for an extended period of time. UV rays don’t just increase your chances of getting skin cancer but it also weakens the collagen of your skin, making wrinkles and fine lines more visible.

The best way to shield yourself from these harmful rays is by generously applying water resistant sunscreen before going outside. Be extra cautious when spending the day at the beach and reapply sunscreen every two hours.