Aging Quickly: Habits That Make You Look Older
As adults, most of us like to maintain a healthy, youthful appearance. So we obsess over every new grey hair, scrutinize every wrinkle, and tailor our fashion choices to give the impression that we aren’t as old as we are.
However, in many cases, it is not the finer details of our appearance that contribute to aging, but rather the things we do on a daily basis that show up on our faces.
Factors That Contribute to The Aging Process
We all know that genetics plays a significant role in how we age, but it only has a 30% influence. The good news is that this means you still have a lot of control over how your skin looks over time.
How much you sleep, your diet, the amount of physical activity you engage in each day, your physical health, emotional well-being, and your daily sun exposure are all factors within your control that can accelerate or slow the rate at which you age.
Therefore, if you want to look your best as you get older, you must adopt healthier habits (more on this later).
Aging and Skin
The skin is the largest organ of the body, widely distributed, and composed of three layers; the dermis, epidermis, and subcutaneous layer. With aging, there is a loss of elastic tissue (elastin and collagen), which causes the skin to hang loosely.
Aging affects the skin by causing a decrease in skin strength and elasticity, which is often visible as fine lines, wrinkles, frown lines, skin thinning, and so on.
As a result, it is critical that you implement an anti-aging strategy to slow down this process. To treat deep-set signs of aging on your skin, you may also want to consider non-invasive treatments such as Botox.
Staying Youthful: Anti-Aging Habits to Adopt Now
- A Healthy Diet
Reduce your intake of simple carbohydrates, which are quickly converted to blood sugar, and replace them with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Increase your consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, such as pineapple, berries, broccoli, citrus fruits, kiwi, papaya, red and green peppers, and others.
- Manage Stress Properly
Although it is nearly impossible to completely eliminate stress from your life, learning to manage it can help you look younger. This could be by taking some time to decompress or establishing healthy boundaries.
- Get Enough Sleep
Make time for sleep, and try to establish a routine (go to bed and wake up at the same time every day). In addition, make it a habit to sleep on your back or alternate sides.
- Exercise Regularly
As we age, we lose muscle mass and skin elasticity more easily, so including weight-bearing exercise in your routine is essential. Exercise can also help keep our joints lubricated, preventing cartilage damage and arthritis pain.
- Protect Your Skin
Wear sunscreen and stay in the shade between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun’s rays are at their strongest. Invest in a wide-brimmed hat for added protection.
