Looking Younger: How To Prevent Wrinkles

I’ve never met an adult who wanted to look older. Isn’t it ironic that as kids, that’s all we want to do? But as we age, we all share a common thread… and that’s a desire to look younger for as long as humanly possible. When those first signs of aging start to appear, we usually go searching for ways to reverse them. A few of us start early and learn how to prevent wrinkles from happening in the future.

Causes of aging skin can be separated into 2 distinct factors. First, intrinsic aging includes internal factors such as your genes and there’s not much you can do to control this aspect of aging. On average, most signs of aging skin start in the mid-twenties. However, your genetics may be such that this process happens sooner or later than average. If it’s later, you can enjoy the fact that you have “good genes”.

Common and completely normal signs of aging include a decrease in the skin’s elasticity, thinner skin, sagging or loss of firmness and dryness or roughness. Much of this is caused by a slow-down in skin cell regeneration meaning that new skin cells are not produced – or turned over – as quickly as they used to be. Many anti-aging skin products claim to promote regeneration to combat this issue somewhat. Of course, some do it better than others.

Extrinsic aging, on the other hand, involves external factors. Fortunately, the majority of these can be controlled. By making positive lifestyle choices, you can influence the rate at which your skin ages – although the same is true of negative lifestyle choices too.

Common External Causes Of Aging Skin

Overexposure to the sun: Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature wrinkles. Although controlled doses of sunshine are healthy, most of us overdo it when we’re younger. Tanning beds and unprotected time in the sun should be avoided at all costs. Not only will you look old before your time, there’s also an increased risk for skin cancer. When you plan to be outdoors for more than just a few minutes, be sure to wear a good sunscreen.

Smoking: If the risk of getting lung cancer isn’t enough to stop smokers, maybe looking older is. If you smoke, your skin will age faster, you’ll likely develop excess wrinkles around the mouth and lips and your skin may even take on a yellowish tone. However, even if you’re a current smoker, by quitting now, you will see some improvements to your current skin condition and stop further damage as well.

What About Facial Exercises For Preventing Wrinkles?

There has been some debate over the effect of facial exercises on the skin. Proponents claim the movements make you look younger while others say the repetition of muscles will encourage wrinkles to form. While too much of anything is generally not a good thing, moderation when it comes to facial exercises may provide some benefit. In particular, it can help firm muscles which can minimize sagging. However, done in excess, repetitive moves are known for causing wrinkles.

How To Prevent Wrinkles And Other Signs Of Aging

Although it’s impossible to look 25 forever, there are many things you can do to look younger. Practice good lifestyle habits and include a good skin care regimen into your daily activities. With so many quality anti-aging products available, there’s no excuse for looking old before your time (and that time is a long, long way down the road!)

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