Our skin is the largest organ in the human body and protects our internal organs, therefore it is our main shield against injury & lifestyle diseases. Toxin build-up and accumulation is a legitimate danger due to the skin’s sheer size. Here are some lifestyle activities with real and grave dangers posed to the skin as well as tips on how to mitigate their effect and maintain healthy young-looking skin.
1. Smoking cigarettes With in the region four thousand unknown chemicals that form cigarette smoke, there is a very real likelihood that the toxins congregate together in the skin eventually causing a medically recognized state called “smoker’s face” which is characterized by wrinkled, gray-yellow, dry skin. There’s not much one can do to protect yourself against cigarette smoke except to avoid it, although it may be difficult. One would benefit to increase the intake of Vitamin C as this is one essential vitamin that gets broken down and depleted when one continually smokes, impairing critical body processes and natural healing activities.
2. Alcohol Consumption Fewer substances can equal the dehydrating properties of alcohol and its presence in the body can only mean cell dehydration, especially for skin cells. Dry, dehydrated skin can cause wrinkles. Alcohol also dilates small blood vessels under the surface of the skin which over time causes a permanent rosy appearance much like sunburn. Once again, the best way is to refrain from drinking alcohol whenever you can; your skin will thank you for it.
3. Sleep deprivation General fatigue is one obvious symptom for people who do not get adequate sleep as the body does not have time to rejuvenate damaged tissues and regulate other processes. This accumulated damage manifests as dark circles, bags under the eyes and lines on your face, including a pallid look caused by reduced blood circulation. The best solution is to always try to get around 8 hours of sleep each night. If not possible to get 8 hours sleep at night try having a nap during the day, make sure to turn-off all lights and close all your window blinds to simulate the feel of night. Doing this will correct the body’s off-key cycle eventually adjusting its common healing mechanisms to what is fit for you.
4. Stress! It is pretty easy to determine which people are stressed and which are not: the number of line on their faces is a good meter. Going for a swim, or simply getting some fresh air will do a lot to curb down your stress every now & then. Try to make some time for some exercise that will allow you to forget all your worries, such as boxing, running or just going to the gym, yoga, biking, hiking to name just a few. An alternative is to recreate the spa feeling at home with creative use of scented candles, soft lighting, and calming music to assist you wind down. The spa doesn’t have to be expensive. There are more activities out there that can aid you to achieve healthy, young-looking skin but it is always sensible to trim down the baggage by letting go of needless social vices.
5. Sunbathing Sun exposure without using sunscreen of minimum SPF 15 can dramatically age the skin. Brown tanned skin is actually our skin protecting itself from the sun by producing melanin. These signs of aging are caused by the sun:
Wrinkles The most common sign of aging is wrinkles. We are all guaranteed to develop some wrinkles naturally as we get older due to our expressions and creases in our faces, and every one of us is united in wanting to keep them to a minimum.
Sun Spots Call them what you like… liver spots, sun spots or age spots are all the same thing – small patches of pigmentation caused by over exposure to the sun. Skin tone is an important factor when it comes to looking youthful, so protecting your skin is the ideal way to prevent these types of pigmentation. Sun damage accumulates over the years so even if you have no pigmentation yet, you probably will as you age.
Keratoses A more dangerous condition related to sun exposure is actinic keratosis. The dry lesions if left untreated can become precancerous. This may not be a noticable sign of aging, but all have the same cause and if you suffer from wrinkles or pigmentation you need to look out for this condition. Caught early keratoses are treatable.
Go out of your way to avoid these activities and situations then you will find your skin on its way to wellbeing and you will not be far away. With a little hardwork and a ton of sacrifice, you’ll get that young-looking, coveted skin you have always desired.
