Is it possible that the way you care for your skin can cause wrinkles?
Genetics influences the appearance and behavior of our skin to some extent, but how quickly your skin ages is largely influenced by your daily habits.
That’s good news, because it means you can delay the appearance of wrinkles if you avoid these ten mistakes!
10 mistakes that cause wrinkles
1. Not protecting your skin from the sun.
Dermatologists say that UV rays from the sun are enemy number one when it comes to skin aging. Although we need the vitamin D that our skin produces when exposed to the sun, too much exposure damages the skin’s strength and elasticity, accelerating the formation of wrinkles.
To do: Avoid exposing sensitive areas of the skin to the sun during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Use a safe sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide on your face every day.
Mistakes that cause wrinkles 2. Smoking/vaping.
Smoking and/or vaping is bad for your skin. The nicotine constricts the tiny capillaries that bring blood to the skin’s surface, slowing the cells’ ability to remove themselves while making it harder for the skin to rid itself of toxins. Nicotine also contributes to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, leading to premature sagging and sagging.
To do: If you smoke, ask your doctor about options to help you quit. Don’t be afraid to try again. Most people try several times before they succeed. If you don’t smoke or vape, don’t start!
3. Not providing your skin with pollution-resistant nutrients.
Pollution can easily accelerate the damage to your skin. It contains free radicals that change a cell’s genetics and activate proteins that break down collagen. In a Study from 2019researchers reported that indoor and outdoor air pollutants affect skin metabolism, cause inflammation, induce oxidative stress (due to free radicals), and accelerate aging.
To do: Eat more healthy fruits and vegetables, as they contain antioxidants that fight free radicals and help your skin resist free radical damage. Then apply skin care solutions that contain powerful antioxidants. Good options include solutions with vitamin C, vitamin E, Reiki mushroom, turmeric, niacinamide, CoQ10, and beta-carotene.
(Check out our CV Skinlabs products: they all contain powerful antioxidants to help resist pollution-induced skin damage.)
4. Failing to follow a healthy diet.
Speaking of fruits and vegetables, eat healthy if you want to slow the formation of wrinkles. Eating a lot of high-fat, high-sodium, and high-sugar products floods your skin with ingredients that break down collagen and elastin and accelerate skin aging. Fruits, vegetables, fish, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and lean proteins all contain ingredients that help nourish the skin from within, keeping it looking youthful.
To do: Eat healthy foods most of the time. Make a habit of adding more fruits and vegetables to each meal, and avoid refined flours and highly processed foods that irritate the skin, cause breakouts and make wrinkles more visible.
5. Eating too much sugar.
You may eat healthy most of the time, but then consume too much sugar. It’s easy to do. Check the ingredient labels on your food and you’ll see that even products you think are healthy, like wheat bread, soup and yogurt, can be packed with sugar. If you have a sweet tooth or a daily soda habit, you’re probably consuming way more sugar than you should – not just for your skin, but for your health in general.
Sugar damages the skin through a process called glycation. Sugar molecules bind to proteins, lipids (fats), or nucleic acids, creating advanced glycation end products that damage the collagen and elastin fibers in the skin.
The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day (25 grams or 100 calories) and men no more than 9 teaspoons per day (36 grams or 150 calories). Most Americans eat much more than that.
To do: Reduce sugar wherever you can. Read food labels to see how much added sugar is in the product you are considering purchasing. Look for low- or no-sugar options. Then replace your sugary soda with bottled water, tea or coffee and reduce your portions of sweet treats.
6. Neglecting stress relief.
We all have stress in our lives. If we don’t follow a daily routine to shed it, our skin can suffer the consequences. As we noted in an earlier post, scientists have discovered a clear link between psychological stress and the onset or worsening of skin diseases such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis, as well as skin problems such as acne and dryness.
When you are stressed, the body releases hormones to help you cope. As long as the stress doesn’t last long, everything will be fine. But if the stress becomes chronic or long-term, these hormones continue to circulate in the body, where they can cause skin inflammation, pimples, redness and premature aging.
To do: Choose a daily stress-relieving activity that you enjoy, something that helps you relax and forget about the challenges of the day. Some good options include walking in nature, meditation, journaling, deep breathing, spending time with positive loved ones, art therapy, listening to music you like, and engaging in your favorite hobbies.
7. Drinking too much alcohol.
Excessive alcohol consumption can dry out the skin, damage the skin’s outer barrier and cause inflammation. Women have to be even more careful than men. As we noted in this article, research has shown that women’s bodies metabolize alcohol differently, meaning that when women drink, it affects them more than men, and for a longer period of time.
The negative effects of alcohol on the skin include:
- Drought
- Inflammation
- Breakdown of collagen and elastin (sagging and swelling)
- Decreased blood flow (where the skin is deprived of nutrients it needs)
- Disturbed sleep
To do: If you enjoy drinking, limit the amount you drink to a moderate level. For best results, only drink it on special occasions.
8. Failing to get enough sleep.
While you sleep, your skin carries out important repair processes that help your skin recover from the day’s activities and prepare for the next day. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body will produce more stress hormones that can hinder the skin cells’ ability to renew themselves. If you are chronically sleep deprived, you will notice this in the aged appearance of your skin. In fact, just one night of poor sleep can make your skin look older the next day.
To do: Get up and go to bed at the same time every day, and try to get the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Provide a supportive mattress and a quiet and cool bedroom. Do not take technological gadgets (phone, tablet, computer) to bed.
9. Not using high-quality moisturizer.
There is a strong link between dry skin and premature aging. Dry skin indicates a problem with the skin’s outer barrier. When the skin is healthy, the skin can retain moisture and the skin looks soft and supple. When the outer barrier is compromised, the skin loses moisture more easily and appears dry.
Dry skin also shows wrinkles more easily, while hydrated skin can hide them better.
To do: Use a high-quality moisturizer every day and every night. Read the label on your product to make sure it really helps your skin and isn’t just a film. Some department store brands are full of fragrances and Vaseline products that do little other than coat the skin and smell nice. If your skin feels tight an hour or two after application, you are using the wrong moisturizer.
Try our Calming Moisture and Body Repair Lotion for moisture and hydration all day long. Both products contain high-quality ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin and not only hydrate, but also help heal the outer barrier so that the skin can better retain moisture.
10. Not maintaining a daily skin care routine.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the saying goes, and that applies to skin care too. There is no substitute for daily, careful skin care when it comes to preventing premature wrinkles.
To do: Get into a regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine and stick to it every morning and evening, no matter what! Make sure the products you use are gentle, safe and suitable for your skin. Our Rescue + Relief Spray is the perfect toner because it hydrates, cools and hydrates at the same time. Then use our Calming Moisture for long-lasting skin comfort.
Have you made mistakes that cause wrinkles?
Featured image courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels.
