Every day as we start to get a bit older, we may pause for an extra second in the mirror to check to see if today is finally the day we notice wrinkles beginning to form on our faces. Some people describe getting wrinkles as a right of passage with age, as looking more “distinguished”
others have had that one stubborn forehead wrinkle for years now and wonder if it will ever go away, and for others, we just sit and wait until the day those little lines in our face start showing up. But what causes wrinkles? Yes, we know it is age, but there are many other factors as well. And maybe if we begin to understand what causes wrinkles, we can better understand how to prevent, treat them, and maintain a young and fresh face for years to come.
Wrinkles: Why Do We Get Them?
In order to understand how to prevent and repair wrinkles, we need to understand the biology behind them. Our skin has two layers, the outer layer also known as the epidermis and the sub-layer known as the dermis. The dermis is what keeps the structure of our epidermis, it is made up of collagen and contains elastin fibers that give our top layer, that smooth and even look. As we age we produce less collagen and our dermis can no longer be the sturdy structure for our epidermis. Besides age there are a number of factors that can cause a loss of collagen and ultimately be the cause of wrinkles:
- Damaging Sun Rays
- Habitual Smoking
- Dehydration
- Poor Nutrition
- Repetitive Facial Expressions
- Environmental Factors, ie. Pollution
- Lack Of Sleep
How To Treat And Prevent Wrinkles
1. Stay Hydrated
This is the most important factor in overall skin health. Our bodies are composed of 60% water, our cells use water to stay healthy, vibrant and doing their job. When our bodies are dehydrated our cells, as in our skin cells, constrict with lack of water and oxygen, the constriction can cause the skin to look dull, dry and unhealthy. Repetitive dehydration can also cause wrinkles. Be sure to drink plenty of water on the daily, and to slather on moisturizing cream whenever necessary.
2. Don’t Smoke
The toxins in smoking can cause severe health problems that are potentially fatal, and on top of that they kill off and damage healthy cells in your body, such as your skin. Smokers do not allow their cells to get the flow of oxygen needed to cell regeneration and instead pollute their skin cells with the harmful toxins in cigarettes. Quitting smoking, or not starting at all will help prevent wrinkles in a very noticeable way.
3. Eat Nutrient Dense Foods
Eating foods that are full of dense nutrients, like antioxidants are a great way to maintain your skins health and prevent wrinkles from forming. Eating well doesn’t only make us feel great, and help maintain a balanced weight, but it also fuels systems in our body, like our gut and our skin to work properly and be at its best. With all of the antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries, spinach, walnuts, artichokes, and beans, in your diet, you are creating a powerhouse of health for your body to use when repairing and restoring itself, leading to fewer wrinkles and beautiful skin.
4. Use A Quality Moisturizer
If you do not want to invest in a super expensive moisturizer that has all of the bells and whistles, think as simple and natural as possible and use a pure organic coconut oil or argon oil. If you are able to make the investment in your skin, choose a moisturizer that uses quality and certified ingredients, is specified to your certain skin type and is non-toxic. Collage boosting properties are a great addition to a moisturizer and can help keep your dermis healthy for longer.
5. Use Protective Sunscreen
The sun is the most damaging external factor when it comes to skin, premature signs of aging and the cause of wrinkles. The harmful UV rays break down cell structure causing hyperpigmentation or age spots and damages collagen and elastin fibers which create fine lines and wrinkles. Apply a hydrating sunscreen of 30 SPF or above on your face, neck and chest daily or whenever needed, to prevent your skin from damage.
6. Eat Saturated Fats
This does not mean eat more cheeseburgers. Eating healthy and natural saturated fats give the collagen in your dermis a boost. The saturated fats also act to assist your skin’s elasticity and resistance to any sort of sun damage by creating a healthy form of elasticity in the skin. To consume more healthy saturated fats in your diet add avocados, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and salmon to your daily intake.
7. Get Plenty Of Sleep
While we sleep our bodies produce something called HGH or human growth hormone. This hormone is essential in our bodies ability to replenish and repair any damage done over the day. It rebuilds our cells, our muscles, and our brains. If we don’t allow ourselves to have the proper amount of 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep at night, HGH cannot properly do its job at repairing our bodies. This can affect how our collagen is replenished in our skin and can show signs of wrinkles. So be sure you are setting your schedule to have a full night of sleep if you want to keep that youthful glow.
