Best skin care for anti aging

There are two ways by which our skin ages.

The intrinsic aging of the skin

The extrinsic aging of the skin

In the intrinsic aging of the skin, aging is controlled by the biological clock and is endogenous. Our body will vitiate over a period of time. This is difficult to control. The elastic fibers in the middle layer of skin tire and are no longer renewed as quickly. As a result our skin starts to wrinkle.

In extrinsic form of skin aging external factors are involved. The skin loses firmness, moisture and elasticity. This all applies mostly to the face and hands, as they are mostly exposed to the UV rays of the sun throughout our lifetime. Hence they get affected by photo aging.

The intrinsic aging of the skin is difficult to control, but more damage is done by the extrinsic aging of the skin. This is easier to control if you follow our steps given below for best skin care for anti-aging.

Prevent the effects of photo aging

As mentioned above being exposed to UV rays makes our skin lose moisture. This leads to wrinkling of the skin on our face and hands as they are exposed to the sun. Also prolonged exposure to the sun damages collagen.

As a result, the skin loses its elasticity and the weakened skin structure forms wrinkles more quickly. Hence use a good sunscreen on your skin whenever you move out of your house. Also protect your hands by wearing good gloves.

Sleeping on your stomach at night

When we sleep on our stomach at night, wrinkles dig into our faces that clearly show whether we turn our heads to the right or left when we sleep. This happens over a period of years, hence the changes are very subtle.

This can also be observed with side sleepers. Sleep on your back in a flat position as much as possible. Also invest in a satin pillowcase in case so that the effect of sleeping on your stomach will be nullified. Read about sleep and skin aging here.

Quit smoking

Smoking releases a lot of free radicals in our bodies. These radicals damage the skin structure and increase the general signs of skin aging, including wrinkles.

Also cigarettes have nicotine and other chemicals in them, which damage collage and elastin in the skin. This effects the firmness and elasticity of the skin and can also cause wrinkles.

Smoking also causes dehydration in our bodies, which is known to form wrinkles around our eyes. The act of smoking causes a strain on our face which can lead to formation of wrinkles as we age. So quitting smoking is important to prevent extrinsic aging of skin. Read about smoking and aging skin here.

Drinking drinks through a straw

Many Americans have the habit of drinking through straws. Over the years, the constant sucking on a straw leaves fine wrinkles along the contours of the lips. 

This phenomenon can be observed in smokers also as we have mentioned above. Quit the usage of straw as it is hardly addictive.

Stay hydrated

It is important to stay hydrated not only during summer, but throughout the whole year. Dehydration leads to dryness of skin. This intern leads to the formation of wrinkles especially around our eyes.

Hence it is so important to stay hydrated. Drink as much as two litres of water. Though the amount of water you need will depend upon your weight. Hence carry a bottle of water wherever you go.

Also use a good moisturiser on your skin. The type of moisturiser to use depends on your skin type. You can consult your pharmacist for a good moisturiser or check online for your skin type.

Eat a healthy diet

Eating healthy is a very important step that you can take to stop the extrinsic aging of your skin. The effects of a Mediterranean diet has described in length on our blog.

Eat a lot of fish which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, mackerel, and herring, are excellent foods for healthy skin. Omega-3 fatty acids keep the skin moisturised.

The importance of moisturisers is covered in the above step.  In fact a deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids can cause dry skin. Also eat broccoli. It is full of zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C. These vitamins and minerals are important for skin health.

Sleep well

You need to sleep for at least 7 hours a day. Quality sleep at night helps your skin to regenerate from the day’s damage. Also a good night’s sleep helps in preventing puffy eyes and under eye wrinkles.

Sleep also helps you to relax from the stress that you face on day to day basis. One very important thing to do before sleeping is washing your face. It will open the pores of the skin and help it to rejuvenate overnight. Read about sleep and skin aging here.

Drink alcohol in moderation

Alcohol leads to dehydration. As mentioned above dehydration contributes to the formation of wrinkles on our skin. Theses wrinkles are a first tell-tale sign of aging. Alcohol also damages the skin. If you want to drink try red wine. It’s known for its anti-aging effects. Read about drinking alcohol and aging here.

So follow the eight steps mentioned above to have the best skin care for anti-aging.