Getting older can be great in many ways. We’re hopefully wiser than we were in our younger days. On the other hand, aging doesn’t play fair when it comes to our skin.
But you can fight back and help your skin stay young. Here are eleven secrets for youthful skin:
1) Wear Enough Sunscreen — Every Day
Sunscreen is your skin’s best friend. Just remember the importance of your best friend’s Sun Protection Factor (SPF).
Newsweek reported that “SPF 15 blocks about 96 percent of the sun's rays, while a SPF 45 blocks about 99 percent.”
And the amount used is important too. Allure.com recommended a tablespoon as the right amount for your face, and a shot glass–size portion for your body.
2) Regularly Use Moisturizer
To keep skin youthful, the article on Newsweek recommended looking for moisturizers with such ingredients as cyclomethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum. Their job? Protecting the skin from water loss.
3) Get Enough Sleep
While you're sleeping, hormones are released to regenerate cells. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep so your body can do its work.
4) Don't Eat Too Much Sugar
“When sugar breaks down and enters the bloodstream, it bonds with protein molecules, including those found in collagen and elastin,” Leslie Baumann, a Miami Beach dermatologist, told RealSimple.com. “This degrades the collagen and elastin, which in turn leads to sagging and wrinkles.”
5) Avoid Fluctuating Weight
Sure extra weight makes your skin’s surface look good but it’s not good for your body. It ups your body’s levels of cortisol and insulin, which in turn can damage collagen and cause saggy skin.
Furthermore, you can expect stretch mark with continuous weight fluctuation as it messes with skin’s elasticity.
6) Antioxidants Are Your Friends
Pollution brings on free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules) that cause havoc. They damage skin cells and worsen wrinkles. Try antioxidants like topical vitamin C or E, or a cream with Coenzyme Q10.
They counteract these bad boys and can improve your skin's appearance. Apply every morning.
7) Retinoids Are Also Your Friends
Retinoids remove dead cells, stimulate collagen production, and correct skin tone, according to Newsweek. Some retinoids are available by prescription. Retinol is a milder form which is available in over-the-counter products. Use at night.
8) Just Say No to Alcohol and Smoking
Smoking destroys collagen and elastin. And guess what? Drinking more than one glass of alcohol causes inflammation, which can make for saggy skin over time, cautioned Allure.com.
9) And Say No to Age Spots
To wipe out dark spots, talk to your dermatologist about using products with hydroquinone which is a skin-bleaching topical.
10) Exfoliate. Exfoliate. Exfoliate.
Body scrubs are used to physically remove dead skin cells. Alpha or beta hydroxy acids do the same thing but with a little more science. The end result of both is soft, glowing skin.
11) It’s Not All About the Face
Dark spots on the chest, hands and elsewhere also signal aging. Show the rest of your body the same attention as your face. Make a point of using sunscreen and antioxidants every morning and using retinol at night.
Reviewed September 9, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith