Wrinkle Prevention 101 - Easy Tips for Younger Looking Skin
We scrub, soak, cleanse, exfoliate and moisture our skin to the bone, but no matter how well we take care of our skin, those telltale signs of aging will eventually catch up with you. Luckily, there are some precautions you can take to prevent the appearance of facial wrinkles.
Who gets wrinkles?
Big or small, large or tall, everyone gets wrinkles. They're just a part of nature. Generally people don't start to see the visible signs of aging until their senior years, but poor lifestyle choices can cause wrinkles to appear early.
Some individuals may also be more prone to developing wrinkles. For example, individuals with fair skin and sun-damaged skin will likely develop wrinkles prematurely. Furthermore, diet, smoking, hair coverage and heredity all play a role in the development of wrinkles.
What causes wrinkles?
As the body ages, the skin will naturally begin to thin as the fat underneath it gradually diminishes. This process is what causes the appearance of wrinkles. Luckily, this usually doesn't start to occur until a person reaches his or her 70s.
The sun and the Earth's natural gravitational force also play a role in the formation of wrinkles. Ultraviolet rays destroy the proteins of the skin, known as elastin and collagen. When this damage occurs, the skin loses its natural tightness and elasticity, which leads to wrinkles.
Our facial features will also subtly begin to decline as we age, due to gravity. The corners of the eyes and lips will begin to drop and the shape of the ears and nose will change over the years. In this case, avoiding wrinkles is pretty much unavoidable, but there are some preventative steps that can be taken.
The natural process of aging can't be prevented but it can be slowed with simple, daily procedures:
- Sun protection. The sun is probably the most harmful thing for your skin, because the UV rays will cause damage and aging prematurely. Protect yourself by applying a mild sunscreen or lotion with a built-in SPF every morning before leaving the house.
- Moisturize. The effectiveness of anti-aging creams is debatable. However, a good daily moisturizing facial lotion will help to lock the moisture in your skin for a healthy look and feel.
- Quit smoking. Aside from causing cancer and other health problems, smoking can increase the appearance of wrinkles. So think of your skin and how you would like to look 10 years from now before you light up that next cigarette.
- Drink water. Drinking lots of water (8 glasses a day) is the best thing you can do for your body. It will help ensure your skin stays healthy and supple.