Nobody wants to admit that they are getting older, let alone prematurely aging. Discovering fine lines and wrinkles on your face isn’t one of the nicest things in the world, especially when you feel like you’re still in your prime. There are many reasons your skin may be prematurely aging and also why your hair may be. There are many factors to hair loss but you can do something about it, you could look at hair transplants. So what exactly causes us to age before our time? 

Smoking And Drinking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. If you smoke, then you bet you’ll be aging your skin way faster than it should be aging, as well as all of the other health issues that smoking can cause. Drinking occasionally is fine, but drinking too much in excess is going to age your skin terribly too. To keep your skin from looking old before it’s time, quit smoking as soon as you can. This can be hard, but there are a ton of quit smoking aids out there that can help you. Make sure you moderate your drinking too.

Not Drinking Enough Water

 If you’re not keeping your skin hydrated, it’s going to look dry, thin, and dull. You should be drinking at least 2 litres of water a day in order to keep your skin looking plump and bright. Not to mention all of the other health benefits you can enjoy from drinking water. If you’re only drinking things like coffee, fizzy pop, and other drinks that dehydrate your skin, then you shouldn’t be surprised when you look old before your years.

Poor Nutrition

You need to have balance in your life, so of course you need the occasional treat. That being said, if you tip the scale and your nutrition is poor, it will show on your skin. Your skin is an indication of how healthy you are overall. If you don’t eat the right foods, then you can’t expect to have bright, young looking skin. Those with the best skin eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as healthy fats such as avocado and nuts. If you eat too many sugary foods, and processed junk, you’re going to look old before your years. Improve your nutrition. Make changes to your diet slowly but surely and you’ll notice improvements in your skin. Don’t binge eat! 

Failure To Keep Up A Good Skincare Routine

A good skincare routine is crucial if you want your skin to look younger for longer. What products you need to use and how you should do it is up for debate, and there are many tutorials out there that could clue you in. Start off by assessing your skin type. Once you know your skin type, you can purchase products that suit your skin type. You need a good cleanser, toner, and moisturiser at least. To combat premature aging, you can also find the best anti-aging serum. You apply this before your moisturiser and it sinks into your skin on a deeper level. After your moisturiser, you can apply a facial oil to lock in the moisture and keep your skin looking bright and plump. You may also want to use special eye creams that combat fine lines and wrinkles. The more consistent you are, the better your skin will look. You don’t need super expensive products, as long as the products you use.

Stress

If you’re usually a stressed out person, you could be aging your skin. People who are stressed look older than those who aren’t, studies have confirmed. Whether you’re under stress from work or your home life, you should try to find ways to de-stress. Take long hot baths, maybe even meditate. If you worry a lot, you must remember that worrying about a problem does nothing to remedy it. Training your brain not to stress so much can be difficult, but you can do it if you are consistent over time. 

Too Much Sun Exposure

If your skin is subjected to too much sun exposure, then you’re going to look dehydrated. Your skin may even begin to sag. You can combat this by making sure you protect your skin with an SPF every day. Also, make sure you’re not spending time in the sun at the hottest times of day. Along with this, stay hydrated in the sun. As long as you’re careful, you can still spend time in the sun without aging too much.

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Photo: Pixabay

Author: Mandy Kloppers

Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.