Nonot only the passing of time: the skin also ages due to some bad habits which somehow accelerate the appearance of wrinkles, small marks, dyschromias, tired appearance. Smoking and a messy diet will be the most obvious, but there are others, from improper facial cleansing to using dirty brushes who do theirs. How to fix it.
Five bad habits that age the skin
1. Smoking and those extra years on your face
«As the number of years and cigarettes smoked increases, the ease of developing wrinkles, dry skin and a dull complexion increases. The most common features of a smoker’s face are in fact small marks around the lips and eyes, uneven color and pale, inelastic skin” explains the Dr. Sonia Mele, dermatologist at Primus Forlì Medical Center.
“Smoking is also a source of free radicals that damage the epidermis and interfere with the regulation of collagen and elastin synthesis, making it less toned and more wrinkled,” he adds.
Glowing skin? To get it, beware of bad habits! (Instagram/@januaryjones)
But that’s not all. Why the smoke causes vasorestriction by hindering oxygenation and therefore the glow epidermal. How to intervene? «Quitting smoking is definitely a primary key to improve the overall health of the body, both in the short and long term. The skin of the face also benefits, becoming more toned, luminous and soft, reducing the accumulation and the difficulty of disposing of free radicals and improving the ability to heal and repair» explains the expert.
2. Bad habits under the sun
Another very common bad habit iswild sun exposure which causes photoaging and solar elastosis.
«This degenerative condition affects the connective tissue of the dermis and its components, such as collagen and elastin, causing thinning skin, loss of elasticity and firmness, dryness and wrinkles. It can also increase the risk of skin cancer. UVB rays are more responsible for non-melanoma tumors, while UVA cause oxidative damage and oncogenic mutations, which can contribute to the development of melanoma» continues Dr. Sonia Mele, dermatologist at Primus Forlì Medical Center.
“To prevent all of this, one should always expose protected by SPF50 sunscreenuse hair and sunglasses and avoid sunlamps for cosmetic purposes.
3. A bad diet, a lack or an excess of certain foods
Dull skin is often a sign of a poor diet. “Eating overly processed foods can affect the skin: refined sugars break down into carbohydrates much more quickly than natural ones, leaving the skin gray and uneven,” explains the dr. Andrea Giuseppe Di Stefano, dermatologist at GB Mangioni Hospital in Lecco.
Maintaining a balanced diet made up of unrefined and unprocessed natural foods is essential: «Among the most critical foods in terms of epidermal glow we find the so-called “white” food, such as pasta, rice, bread and sugar, and the “hazelnut” food ” or pastries, donuts, cakes, tarts, biscuits, brioches. Not forgetting that alcohol dehydrates the skin, also facilitating swelling and retention» explains Dr. Mele.
Essential, hydration. «Drinking little water is a bad habit that has consequences also on skin aging. Dehydration manifests itself in the form of dryness, peeling and uneven tone. While being hydrated doesn’t affect your skin’s firmness levels, it still gives you a healthy glow and glow,” adds Dr. Of Stefano.
4. The few hours of sleep show on the face
Lack of sleep contributes to skin aging. Not only because dark circles, bags and a dull complexion become visible, but above all because without the right rest, the skin shows a reduced ability to recover from the damage caused during the day.
“During the deepest stages of sleep it increases the production of collagen and the metabolic activities of deep skin regeneration are triggered» explains Dr. Mele.
So how to intervene? With a pre-rest routine adequate and a bit of a healthy routine: always go to bed at the same time, allow yourself moments of relaxation such as a hot bath, avoid the use of technology, do not take caffeine or heavy foods and ensure excellent quality pillows.
5. Skincare: bad habits to change
It is not enough to choose specific products for your skin needs but also also adopt correct behaviors. make up carefully every night is a golden rule: «sleeping with makeup on can cause irritation, occlusion of pores and imperfections upon waking» adds Dr. Mele. But removing make-up well is not so trivial.
“For example, overly aggressive face cleansing causes dryness and dullness. Another incorrect attitude is the use of water that is too hot. Also the showers too long they dry the outer layers of the skin» explains Dr. Di Stefano. Alternating between hot and cold water is a good trick, alternate the cleansers according to the phases of the year and the skin’s appearance and don’t overdo the exfoliation, maximum uonce a week.
One last detail? The makeup brushes: between their bristles bacteria and dirt can sneak up and unknowingly pass on the epidermis every day. Remember to wash them with baby shampoo once a week and air dry them. And the skin will thank you.
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