Ultraviolet (UV) light and exposure to sunlight age the skin more quickly than it would naturally age. The result is called photoaging and is responsible for 90% of the visible changes in the skin. As a result, premature aging can appear much sooner than expected. In other words, your biological clock is more advanced than your chronological clock.
Controllable factors, such as stress, smoking and exposure to the sun, can contribute to accelerating extrinsic aging. Next time you go to the beach, notice the many older adults who are tanned but have wrinkled skin. It is likely that years of exposure to the sun have accelerated this process. Constant exposure to UV light breaks down collagen and elastin, causing skin to wrinkle, sag and stretch.
It can also cause dark spots by increasing melanin production. There's a reason why the phrase “you look stressed” exists. Chronic stress can limit the body's supply of telomerase, altering its ability to replace the lost telomere that participates in cell division. More specifically, cortisol, a hormone that allows the immune system to deal with stress, suppresses telomerase activation in immune system cells.
As a result, premature aging occurs, leading to wrinkles, dry skin and other changes. Smoking is primarily seen as a risk to lung, heart and brain health, but it can also accelerate premature aging. Just as smoking can affect blood flow to the heart or brain, it can also damage the blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygen to the skin. Without enough oxygen, skin is more prone to wrinkles and sagging.
The smoke can even damage hair follicles, causing hair to thin or fall out. Eating fast food and sugary foods can affect more than just your waistline. People who are obese or have a higher body mass index experience more oxidative stress and inflammation than healthy adults. This stress and inflammation can increase the rate at which telomeres shorten.
Excessive alcohol consumption can shorten telomere length and cause premature aging. The key word here is excessive. You can still consume alcohol, just consider your consumption. Alcohol also dehydrates the skin and can affect skin oils, which are needed to keep the skin moist and lubricated.
One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that exposure to the sun only causes skin to become thick and leathery, when in fact, the opposite can be just as true. Excessive exposure to the sun can impair the elasticity of our skin, making it thick like leather or thin like tissue paper. Not only that, UV rays can damage the skin's collagen proteins, cause sagging or sagging of the skin, and accelerate the production of melanin (the cells that give skin color) and cause dark age spots. I know that's not the most interesting answer, especially with a multi-billion dollar skincare industry, but sunscreens and other forms of sun protection are the best way to prevent sun damage and premature aging.
I've found that the easiest way to make sure I protect my skin is to include it in my morning routine. There are many creams and makeup products available with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 35 or more that can facilitate their integration. There are also clothes with SPF indices. Just remember to protect your hands, as they're easy to forget, but they can be one of the first spots to age.
Health reasons alone should be enough to avoid smoking: after all, it is considered the leading cause of preventable diseases, disability and death according to the World Health Organization, but in terms of premature aging, smoking is definitely not one of the causes that preserve our youth. Long-term exposure to loud noises is not usually something my patients consider until they begin to experience its adverse effects on their hearing. When I say loud noises, I don't just mean rock concerts and industrial machinery, which are usually the first things people think of; I'm referring to boats, lawnmowers, movie theaters and even vacuuming. Exposure to loud noises can damage the small hair cells in the ears that carry sound to the brain.
Once those hairs break, they can't grow back, and the fewer hairs we have, the worse our hearing will be. Stress has a fascinating way of affecting our bodies, whether it's the most obvious physical stress or the most subtle emotional stress. In terms of short-term effects, stress can increase our energy and focus. Think about the last time you had to meet a quick deadline, did your adrenaline rush to do so? While it's stressful, a moment of stress here and there isn't a problem.
It's chronic, long-term stress that can wear out our bodies and cause premature aging. Research has found that hormones produced by chronic stress can age our brains and immune systems. People who are constantly stressed have greater cases of dementia and memory loss, as well as more damaged cells in their immune system. Stress also lends itself to high blood pressure, making you more susceptible to heart disease and other conditions that tend to occur in older populations.
Managing stress has to do with mindfulness. Try to calm your mind on a regular basis with activities such as yoga or meditation. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the to-do list, ask for help and delegate tasks that you can give up. Another way to reduce stress is to seek positivity in every situation, make a list of three things you're grateful for, or give a glimmer of hope for every negative thought you have.
Going outdoors, exercising, and socializing with friends are also great ways to reduce stress. .
