The skin is the largest organ in our body and requires special care. To improve the quality of your personal care, you can eliminate several habits that worsen your skin.
Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep can lead to more than memory impairment and dark circles under the eyes. American scientists from the Hospitals Case Medical Center have found that people who sleep poorly age faster. The study involved 60 women aged 30 to 49 years. After conducting numerous tests, experts have found that the amount of sleep directly affects the protective functions of the skin and its appearance. “Those participants who did not get adequate sleep showed signs of premature skin aging (wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, decreased elasticity). In addition, their skin's ability to heal itself after sun exposure was reduced,”explains Dr. Elma Baron.
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Sleep on your side or stomach
It is important not only how much we sleep, but also how. According to a study by the American plastic surgeon Gosel Anson, we change our position about 20 times per night. Moreover, in 65% of cases, people prefer to sleep on their sides. Anson is confident that this is how we accelerate the aging process of the delicate skin of the face and neck. Due to prolonged contact with the pillow, it is compressed and does not rest. In youth, the "creases" formed the next morning are quickly smoothed out, but over the years they become deeper. To preserve the beauty and youth of the skin, cosmetologists recommend sleeping not on your stomach or side, but on your back. In this position, the pillow will not deform the face. Another option is to buy satin pillowcases. Their fabric glides well and does not stretch the skin.
Cocktail tubes
Multicolored cocktail tubes are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance. It is no coincidence that many large coffee houses are actively refusing to use them. Plastic straws are not only harmful to the environment, but also contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles around the mouth. While we drink drinks through a straw, our lips are in constant tension and unnaturally compressed. This repetitive muscle movement inevitably leads to the breakdown of collagen fibers. As a result, a fine mesh of mimic wrinkles forms on the lips. For the same reason, chewing gum is not recommended: it requires a lot of muscle activity in the cheeks.
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Smoking
Firstly, due to the constant habit of folding lips with a tube, the same fine vertical wrinkles are formed on the skin as when using “straws”. Second, the lips are the first to receive a dose of nicotine and toxic tar. This causes the blood vessels to constrict and restricts blood flow. As a result, the skin does not receive the required amount of oxygen and nutrients. For example, vitamin A. Researchers from Ohio studied the differences between the faces of nonsmokers and their smokers. After analyzing the skin condition of 79 pairs of siblings, dermatologists found that 57% of smokers look older. Scientists have noted they have bags under the eyes, more pronounced nasolabial folds and wrinkles on the lips.
Refusal of sunglasses
Sunglasses are one of the most effective eye and eye protection products. Without them, in sunny weather, we have to constantly squint. As a result, the skin is constantly in a "crumpled" state, and "crow's feet" appear in the corners of the eyes. Sunglasses make it easier to perceive bright light and relax your eyes to help prevent the early appearance of fine lines. In addition, their glasses block harmful UV light, which negatively affects the delicate and vulnerable skin around the eyes. The more points, the better. The “correct” model should fit snugly to the brow area and have a powerful UV filter with a protection level of at least 400 nm.
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Insufficient vision correction
The habit of squinting, regardless of the presence of bright sun, may indicate that you need glasses or contact lenses. People who often squint face expression lines earlier than others. They appear due to frequent contraction and overstrain of the facial muscles. Since the skin around the eyes is very thin, the first visible folds form on the eyelids. If you squint while driving, while reading, or in front of the TV, make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. He will select the right optics or update the prescription previously written. Our vision changes frequently, so the glasses that helped a couple of years ago may not be enough. In addition, incomplete correction often causes visual impairment.
Sleep with makeup
Sleeping with makeup is not a good idea. When we sleep, regenerative and anti-aging processes take place in the skin. And cosmetics and dirt accumulated during the day clog pores, contribute to the destruction of collagen in the skin and slow down its regeneration. At the same time, the most dangerous of all are foundation and dense oil-based primers. But eye makeup does not affect the formation of wrinkles, but it can irritate the mucous membranes. If you do not want to wash, wipe your face with cotton pads, moistened with micellar water. In such a case, it is best to always keep them next to the bed. Daily Mail journalist Anna Persglow conducted an unusual experiment: for a month she did not wash off her makeup before going to bed. During this time, her skin has aged by 10 years.
Lots of coffee and sweets
Excessive consumption of refined sugar is harmful to health in general and to the skin in particular. During its digestion in the body, a glycation process occurs, due to which collagen and elastane fibers break down. These substances help the skin to resist the laws of gravity. However, sweets reduce its ability to self-renew. As a result, the skin becomes drier, dull, flabby and vulnerable to sunlight. Try to reduce the amount of sweets in your diet and eat protein foods more often. Collagen is found in beef, chicken, fish, and eggs. A large amount of caffeine also negatively affects the condition of the skin - it dehydrates the body and activates the production of stress hormones.
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Solarium
If you think that a tanning salon is safer than the sun, you are mistaken. While in it, the skin is exposed to several types of ultraviolet radiation. This not only destroys collagen and elastane, but also causes photoaging. In other words, lovers of artificial tanning develop wrinkles and age spots much earlier, the skin loses its elasticity, becomes dry and dull. Just 10 minutes spent in a solarium is equivalent in its effect to about two hours in the sun. This is not the only danger. American scientists have shown that frequent visits to tanning beds before the age of 35 increases the risk of developing melanoma by 75%. Because of this, a number of countries have introduced a national ban on solariums.
Sedentary lifestyle
Exercise stimulates collagen production, which significantly reduces the risk of premature wrinkles. According to a study by Canadian scientists from McMaster University, exercise can not only keep skin youthful, but also reverse the aging process in people who started exercising at a later age. Experts invited 29 men and women aged 20–84. Half of the participants went in for sports three times a week, the rest less than once. Researchers studied the skin on the buttocks, which is less likely to be exposed to the sun. The results showed that in more active people it was noticeably thinner, the epidermis was healthier, and the dermis was denser.>