Everyone has wrinkles, and everyone has something to say about them:
Your wrinkles either show that you're nasty, cranky and senile, or that you're always smiling. - Carlos Santana
Wrinkles are hereditary. Parents get them from their children. - Doris Day
I'm proud of my wrinkles. They give my face character. As an actress, you mess with that at your peril. - Jane Seymour
While wrinkles rightly express character and life experience, there's no virtue in premature aging of the skin, of which wrinkles are one sure sign, or in having internal health challenges that are reflected by your skin's premature aging.
Unhealthy lifestyle choices can cause skin-deep, and even deeper, damage. A recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology found that a Western diet, high in unhealthy fats and added sugar, is highly inflammatory and damages your skin's immunity (skin is your first line of defense against disease). The result? A greater risk of everything from psoriasis to infection and wrinkles, according to researchers from Binghamton University, State University of New York.
Having healthy skin is a sign of a healthy body, so we're going to explore interesting ways to prevent and reverse wrinkles and protect your health.
Wrinkle Prevention
It's estimated that 90% of damage to skin happens because the sun's UV radiation erodes the integrity of the skin's outer layer and disrupts its interface with skin layers below. That increases not only the risk of skin cancer - especially basal and squamous cell - but unsightly wrinkles as well. Tanning beds are just as and sometimes more damaging to your health and appearance as sunshine. So you know the drill; use a micronized zinc oxide sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on all exposed skin whenever you're outside.
Other proven ways to prevent excessive wrinkles and stay healthy:
- Stay hydrated by drinking water, not juices or drinks with added sugars. Your skin is 64% water, so make sure to drink extra water when sweating. Also, try tea made with lemon balm leaf extract. A 2017 study found it boosts skin elasticity and helps correct tissue damage.
- If you have dry skin, at night apply moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
- Opt for a diet rich in antioxidants (fruits and veggies, nuts) and peptides, the building blocks of protein, (fish, beans, soy, oats). Look for serums that deliver those, too!
- Consider using retinoids and their higher-powered cousin tretinoin. Retinoids are topical products that stimulate skin rejuvenation and growth of small blood vessels. They're available over the counter or by prescription. Do NOT use them during the day (even the milder OTC versions) or if you are planning to become or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Wrinkle Reversal for Better Health Inside and Out
If you were a smoker (a terrible wrinkle-causer), a sun worshiper, are sedentary and/or eat a highly processed diet, you can undo the damage that causes to your body and skin.
You know this drill too. Quit smoking (check out www.smokefree.gov for information and support groups). Many of the more than 4,000 chemicals in smoke damage collagen and elastin, as well as reducing blood flow to your skin, so it lacks oxygen and nutrients such as vitamin A.
Eat a diet loaded with anti-inflammatory and vitamin C-rich foods like citrus, leafy greens, berries, avocados, salmon and nuts. A recent pilot study found eating two 1 ounce servings of almonds a day for 16 weeks reduced wrinkle width by 10% and severity by 9%.
Ditch all sugar-added foods - they stimulate excessive release of insulin, and that can trigger inflammation inside and on the skin.
Get a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least five days a week to increase blood flow to skin and help clear toxins. Aim for seven to eight hours nightly of quality sleep. And tamp down your stress response with meditation.
Give these new wrinkles on wrinkle reduction a try. You'll feel and look better, inside and out.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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