Top Causes of Premature Aging of Skin

Author: Olimpia Carmen – Laser and Cosmetology Specialist

We cannot escape time and the effects of aging, but we surely can delay them. This can be done by using anti-aging treatments as well as cosmetic procedures that tighten the skin through collagen regeneration.

The graceful aging of the skin is totally different from premature aging of the skin. This kind of aging can be avoided because it is caused by external factors and not time. By avoiding the causes of premature aging, you can easily have a younger-looking and wrinkle free skin for many years to come.

To help you maintain a tighter skin, we have come up with a list of factors to avoid that cause your skin to age prematurely, making you look double your current age.

Sun: When doctors, scientists, skin experts and even your mother tell you to use sunscreen or sunblock, please listen. This is because the sun seems to be the number one cause of wrinkles and premature skin aging. And FYI, you do not have to see the shinning sun to decide if you are going to use sunblock or not, just use it all the time.

Smoking: Here is the thing about smoking, it makes you age prematurely. This is in addition to all the other reasons why you should not smoke. The nicotine in cigarettes impairs the flow of blood to your skin by narrowing blood vessels. Also, the thousands of chemicals found in tobacco damage the elastin and collagen, which helps in maintaining the elasticity of your skin, and in the end, the skin starts to wrinkle and sag prematurely.

Lack of sleep: Lack of sleep leads to fatigue and that tired look that makes you seem like you have not slept for a year and half. Lack of sleep also leads to you having dark circles under the eyes as well as saggy skin, which is the tell-tale sign of premature aging. To avoid this, make sure you get enough ZZZZZs. Actually; sufficient research has shown that humans need at least 8-9 hours of sleep, if they want to function properly.

Sleeping position: Not only do you need enough shut-eye, you also need to watch how you are getting it. Apparently the position of your face on the pillow also contributes to premature aging. If you rest your face in the same position for a while, and by this I mean many years, it will end up with wrinkles, or in other words premature aging. Piece of advice is to alternate how you sleep, for instance sleeping on your back most of the times.

Facial expressions: Apparently, also new to me, facial expressions lead to premature aging. This contradicts with the notion of doing facial exercises to maintain a youthful appearance. But too much repeating of facial movements leads to fine lines and wrinkles on the face, which in turn can become permanent after the skin losses its elasticity to spring back to its original state.

Lack of proper hydration: Taking enough water, just the health practitioners advise, will keep your tissues moist, hydrated and plump hence a smooth and younger-looking skin.

Olimpia Carmen is the head of Laser and Skin Treatments at Dubai Cosmetic Surgery.
.