Wrinkles are the most common sign of aging. Skin is not merely the window dressing that binds us together, it is the largest and hardest working organ system in the body. Among other things, skin enables the body to retain fluids, helps to regulate body temperature, and provides a protective barrier between potentially harmful substances in the environment and our internal organs.
As we age, skin undergoes certain changes, some obvious, some not. First, skin begins to thin and, as a result, becomes less elastic and resilient. In addition, the force of gravity over the years pulls the skin down, making it looser and more flabby, wrinkles.
Underneath the top layers of skin, changes are also occurring that can slowly cause damage. For example, the fine lines and wrinkles which begins to develop during middle age are caused by the breakdown in collages, the protein that provides support and elasticity of the skin.
At the same time, the ability of skin cells to regenerate slows down, resulting in old, tired, an oily substance that forms a protective coating on the skin, preventing it from becoming dry and flaky.
It is no coincidence that the parts of the skin that are more prone form telltale lines and wrinkles are those that are most exposed to the sun and outside elements. We used to believe that this was due to the fact that the sun and wind sapped the skin of precious moisture and oil, thus drying it. And at one time, we believed that the solution to wrinkles was simply to apply various face creams that restore moisture.
We now know that this approach is far too simplistic. Although the skin does lose moisture through the years, many researchers now feel that the true culprit that causes skin to age are actually free radicals, those overactive oxygen atoms that can wreak havoc among normal, healthy cells.
Free radicals are a normal by product of oxygen metabolism. When we are young, our bodies can mount a strong defense against free radicals before they can do much harm, and we produce an abundance of free radical scavengers and antioxidants which bind to free radicals and neutralize them.
As we age, however, our body’s defenses weaken, and free radicals, are allowed to run muck. Think of an apple that is cut open and left exposed to the air. Within a short period of time, the apple becomes oxidized and turns brown. Obviously, it takes free radicals much longer to inflict their damage on our skin, but decades of exposure to open air will exact a steep toll in the form of older, tires looking skin.
Even if we lived in the healthiest of environments, our bodies would manufacture free radicals on their own. However, few of us live in such pristine surroundings, most of us are exposed to a barrage of chemicals and pollutants that may actually promo to the formation of additional free radicals.
Here are sme simple tips how to deal with wrinkles.
Vitamin C – Vitamin c is not only potent antioxidant, but is essential for the formation of collagen, the substance that binds together cells of connective tissue. For these reasons, it is a critical vitamin for healthy skin. Vitamin C also boosts levels of glutathione, another antioxidant that protects against free radicals damage.
VitaminE – Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant that can help make a skin look better. In one recent study, twenty middle aged women are give a 5 percent vitamin E cream to put on their skin daily. At the end of four weeks, the women reported a significant reduction in the length and depth of crow’s feet and generally better looking skin.
Superoxide dismutase and wild yam – SOD is an antioxidant enzyme that is often teamed with wild yam, which is an excellent source of beta carotene and other members of the carotenoid family. Betacarotene is converted into vitamin A in the body, Vitamin A aids in the growth and repair of body tissues and helps to maintain soft, pliant skin.
Water – Water, water, water, drink at least eight glasses of filtered water daily to replenish lost moisture.
Steer clear of the sun – Limit exposure to the sun to no more than fifteen minutes daily. When going out, be sure to wear a hat and use a sunscreen of SPF 15 length.
Fight the fat – Maintain normal weight, excess weigh will cause skin to sag and wrinkle.
Get enough sleep – There is a reason why it is called beauty sleep. As we sleep, our bodies pump out human growth hormone, which can help to regenerate old, tired cells.
Try these simple tips and let us know.