There are numerous things that cause our skin to age. Some are unavoidable, while others are up to us.
5 Simple Ways to Prevent Premature Skin Aging that Will Improve Your Overall Health!
There are numerous things that cause our skin to age. Some are unavoidable, while others are up to us. The factors we do have control over are the keys to prevent premature skin aging.
There are various things we can do to slow the damage that occurs to our skin and encourage it to stay youthful for as long as possible. Some of the things we can do to slow the damage that occurs to our skin involve certain lifestyle choices, while others involve our topical skincare routine. If you missed our discussion about the latter, be sure to check that out!
In this article, we will focus on a few lifestyle factors that influence preventable skin aging. Here are 5 simple ways to prevent premature skin aging with a lifestyle approach to skincare!
- Exercise regularly
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat a nutrient-rich diet, consider supplements
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol consumption
1. Exercise regularly
Besides external methods, there are also some ways to prevent premature skin aging from the inside with a few healthy habits. Everyone knows that there are major health benefits to exercising. But did you know that exercising can have positive effects on your skin as well? Exercising increases the circulation of blood flowing throughout your body. This helps distribute oxygen and nutrients throughout your body and contributes to a more vibrant and youthful appearance to the skin.
2. Drink plenty of water
As we’ve already discussed, hydration is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and a youthful appearance. But this doesn’t just apply to topical hydration, but hydration from within as well. Since our bodies are composed of a large percentage of water and a majority of our chemical reactions are dependent on it, it’s no mystery that proper hydration is critical for our bodies to function. Proper hydration contributes to health benefits such as:
- Aids in weight loss
- Enhances physical performance and muscle health
- Regulates digestion and aids in kidney function and detoxification
- Improves brain function, energy levels, and nutrient absorption
- Helps properly regulate body temperature
- Lubricates and cushions joints
- May help prevent and decrease headaches
But how does staying hydrated prevent premature skin aging?
Skin is the largest organ in the human body. Therefore, one of the most important benefits of drinking water is that it boosts skin health and complexion.
Skin is made up of about 60% water, so proper hydration is paramount in skin function, feel, and appearance. Dehydration causes the skin to become dry, flaky, and prone to premature wrinkling. Alternatively, fully hydrated skin tends to retain elasticity longer and to be more radiant, clear, and glowing.
3. Eat a nutrient-rich diet, consider supplements
It is common knowledge that you should be eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. But why? As it turns out, fruits and vegetables are the most important sources of micronutrients (including vitamins and minerals) that your body needs. Getting a proper micronutrient profile from your diet promotes health benefits such as:
- Digestive enzymes for gut health
- Weight management
- Increased energy and focus
- Reduce bloating
- Helps regulate bowel movements
- And so many more!
Not only does it provide all of these benefits, but it also (you guessed it!) helps to prevent premature skin aging. Eating foods with a high nutrient-rich profile and that are high in anti-inflammatory or antioxidant properties may also improve the skin’s elasticity and protect against skin damage that leads to premature aging. Alternatively, studies also suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate skin aging.
However, even the most health-conscious person could struggle fitting so many vegetables in every day. Most people these days have busy lives. Even if you put in the effort to cook and meal prep at home, it can still be a struggle to come up with ways to get a complete profile of all the veggies and micronutrients you need. Therefore, to help get the health advantage of a full micronutrient profile, talk with your healthcare provider about adding high-quality skin-supporting supplements to your diet, such as a daily greens powder and collagen powder.
4. Stop smoking
According to the CDC, smoking can lead to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body, with more than 16 million Americans living with a disease caused by smoking. Some of these diseases include:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- lung diseases
- Diabetes
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Tuberculosis
- Certain eye diseases
- Problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis
However, did you know that smoking can cause premature skin aging also? Even if you apply all of the tips to prevent premature skin aging in this article, it will be counterproductive to your efforts if you smoke.
How smoking affects the skin
For example, we’ve discussed the importance of collagen production for the skin and discussed various ways to help stimulate it. However, tobacco smoke actively damages collagen and elastin, not only counteracting your body’s own natural production of collagen but your efforts to stimulate more of it as well.
Likewise, we’ve seen how crucial proper circulation and blood flow are for your skin. But if you smoke, nicotine in cigarettes causes your blood vessels to constrict, effectively restricting the circulation, blood flow, and oxygen distribution that is crucial for maintaining youthful skin. It also limits the essential nutrients available for the skin, such as vitamin A. This elicits a dry, sallow appearance and a readiness to wrinkle.
Also, smoking involves repeatedly pursing your lips around cigarettes. The repeated motion, just like others we’ve already discussed (such as frowning and squinting) causes unnecessary wrinkles over time. The repeated exposure to heat from the cigarette also damages skin cells around the mouth, which also contributes to wrinkling.
What’s unfortunate is that suffering from a disease or premature skin aging caused by smoking is not only unnecessary but 100% preventable simply by not smoking. But that’s also the good news! If you currently smoke, you can avoid countless health issues and prevent premature skin aging by stopping this harmful habit.
If you’ve tried to quit before without success, talk to your healthcare professional about a cessation program that can help you! Your future self will be thankful you did.
5. Limit alcohol consumption
Grabbing a drink here and there with your buddies or enjoying a glass of wine with dinner shouldn’t cause any major health problems. In fact, some studies show that a glass of red wine might be a source of antioxidants, which are helpful for your skin’s appearance.
However, alcohol in excess, including wine, causes dehydration. This is the opposite effect you want if your goal is to prevent premature skin aging. Excess alcohol also causes your blood vessels to dilate. Over time this can lead to blood vessel breakage and rosacea. A habit of drinking too much also puts extra strain on your liver, making it more difficult to do its job of filtering out impurities and toxins that can ravage the appearance of your skin.
PRO TIP: Consider treatments for skin damage
If your skin is already marked by the signs of damage and premature skin aging caused by previous lifestyle choices, there are still things you can do! First of all, it’s important to be aware that it’s never too late to take advantage of these tips to prevent premature skin aging from this point on.
However, if you’d like to help correct previous damage, there are various aesthetic services and treatments that all enhance and encourage the beauty of your own skin, including:
- Microblading & Shading
- Botox/Dermal Fillers
- Acne Treatment
- Acne Scar Revision
- Wrinkle Reduction
- Laser Hair Removal
- PRP Procedures
- Sun Spot Treatments
- Alastin Skin Care Products
- Photo Facials
- NAD Infusion Treatment
At Southern Secrets Medical Spa, we offer all these aesthetic services and treatments and so much more! Give us a call or come visit to schedule a consultation to see how we can help! Our skincare professionals are experienced, skilled, and passionate about getting the appearance of your skin back to its most youthful potential and allowing you to regain your confidence.
Like this content and want more? Find out more information about many of the other wellness, renewal, and aesthetic services we offer on our blog!