Prevent Premature Wrinkles

Wrinkles are going to come to us eventually, right? Why not live as long as possible without them? There are countless anti-aging creams and other products that can help, as I’m sure you’re aware of with every stroll down the makeup aisle. If you are concerned about future wrinkles, it’s important to know that there are some things you can do to prevent premature wrinkles, and there are some things that you might be doing that could cause premature wrinkles!

Causes of Premature Wrinkles

To first understand how to prevent premature wrinkles, you need to know what causes them. Here are some of the most common reasons why men and women are starting to see wrinkles at an earlier age:

Smoking – Whether you smoke yourself or just exposed to it, you are exposing your skin to free radicals that accelerate the aging process. The cigarette smoke damages the microcapillaries in the skin, which limits the skin’s ability to absorb nutrients. When the skin doesn’t get the nutrients it needs, the aging process is accelerated, thus causing premature wrinkles. As you age you will get wrinkles regardless, but if you smoke, your wrinkles will come earlier and be worse, or more pronounced.

Alcohol – Alcohol contains toxins that not only damage your liver, but it also has some negative effects on your skin. Drinking alcohol will decrease your levels of vitamin A, which causes your skin to replace old dead skin cells with new ones. Without this vitamin A, your skin is left in a world of mess, leaving dry sagging looking skin.

Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of leaks in the capillaries, which allows for more water in the skin, causing puffiness and sagging. A caution to those who drink  alcohol right before you go to bed, capillary leakage is increased even more when you drink alcohol before you lie down.

Lack of sleep – After a couple of days of missing your much needed shut eye, it’s getting hard to try and hide those dark circles, isn’t it? If you continue to miss out on the sleep that you need, it’s been shown to cause premature wrinkles. They call is “Beauty Sleep” for a reason!

Excessive sun exposure – We know that the sun is great for your skin and helping you get the necessary amounts of vitamin D. We also know that too much of a good thing can be bad, and this definitely runs true when it comes to sun exposure. Excessive sun exposure, though, causes wrinkles. Avoid getting a sun burn and your wrinkle-less face will thank you ; )

Lifestyle factors – Studies have shown that stress ages you. A lot. If you are under a lot of stress for long periods of time, it can have a negative effect on a number of things, including your skin.

Over/Under weight – It’s important to maintain a healthy weight. There was a study that showed that with  identical twins, the twin who was underweight or overweight looked significantly older than their sibling. If you want to look good at any age, make sure that you maintain a healthy body weight.

How to Prevent Premature Wrinkles

In addition to avoiding all of the things that cause wrinkles, here are some additional steps you can take to prevent premature wrinkles and enjoy young skin for as long as nature will allow.

Healthy eating – Eating a diet full of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats (like Omega-3’s) will boost the skin’s natural defenses against sun damage, which may help prevent premature wrinkles.

Find healthy food that is full of antioxidants since they inhibit the breakdown of collagen fibers in the skin, keeping your skin young for a longer time. Bee pollen has been shown to prevent premature aging of the cells by stimulating the growth of new skin tissue, which smooths out wrinkles.

Sleep – When you get your rest, you will not only feel better, but you will actually look better than if you were sleep deprived. Get your rest every day, because sleeping well just once a week doesn’t cut it.

Take care of your skin – In the prevention of premature wrinkles, nourishing your skin is an important way to take care of your skin.

I could list all of the ultra expensive and popular lotions that you can try, but why not go raw and natural? You can put Organic Coconut Oil on your skin. Yes, you read that right. You can put Coconut Oil on your face without having to worry that it will cause a break out.

Coconut Oil aids in healing and repairing skin, and it removes the layer of dead skin cells, which helps to keep the skin smooth. Coconut oil also goes down into the deep layers of the skin which strengthens the underlying tissues.

Here’s what you do: Wash your face at night and put some raw coconut oil on your skin and sleep through the night with it on. In the morning, rinse your face and apply your daily moisturizer.

For all of you guys reading this…skin care doesn’t apply just to women!

Exercise – Exercise definitely makes you feel younger and stronger, so how can it help your face? When you have a great workout, you sweat and detoxify. This is great for your skin, and helps keep your skin looking young! You can also do “workouts” for your face, called Facial Yoga. These simple movements are a new trendy way to keep your face youthful.

Release negative energy/stress – Remember what I said about how stress effects how you age? You need to find an outlet! I can understand that you can’t always just quit a stressful job since it pays the bills. One thing you can’t lose is your health, so I urge you to find something (healthy!) that will help you relieve some of that stress! Take a vacation, get a massage, or get a good workout in every day – something that will release any negative energy or stress that you might be feeling. This will help all aspects of your life – not just your skin!

Wear Sun Protection – I know that some fun in the sun is good for you, but all in moderation. If you are going to be outside for long periods at a time, then you should wear sun protection – literally! Wear a hat with a big rim to cover your face, big sunglasses to cover your eyes  (and prevents you from squinting!), and even a light long sleeved top to cover your arms.

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