Here are six tips to protect your skin against premature
ageing:
1. Use sunscreen liberally.
For daily wear, choose a sunscreen with at least an SPF of
15, if you do not expect to be outdoors or it is not a sunny time of year. If it
is a sunnier season, step up to at least a 30 SPF.
2. Avoid tanning, whether from the sun or tanning booths.
It is one of the biggest mistakes that younger women make, whether
it is tanning indoors or outdoors, on purpose or accidentally during sports.
Damaging your skin with ultraviolet radiation will make it
look worse, and too much sun can also cause skin discoloration and damage to
elastin and collagen.
3. Wear sunglasses.
Not only will you protect your eyes from the sun, but also
the delicate skin surrounding your eyes. Furthermore, you will not be creating
more wrinkles by squinting all the time.
4. Wear hats, visors, and sun-protective clothing.
The importance of physical protection from the sun, instead
of relying only on sunscreen cannot be overemphasized. Hats with a broad brim
are a good choice, while visors look good with sportier or more casual outfits.
5. Don’t smoke.
Smoking harms the skin in many ways. For instance, it speeds
up collagen breakdown and constricts blood vessels that carry oxygen and
nutrients to your skin.
Smokers are more likely to develop premature wrinkles, such
as tell-tale lines around the mouth and crow’s feet from “smoker’s squint. In
time, nails and fingertips will turn yellow, too.
6. Avoid too much alcohol.
Drinking too much alcohol dehydrates your skin. Furthermore,
alcohol dilates your blood vessels. If you drink to excess, you could develop
unsightly broken blood vessels and rosacea, a skin disorder marked by redness and
tiny pimples.
