Aging is inevitable, and its signs will show up sooner or later. However, aging is not something that should happen at an accelerated rate—regardless of your sex, ethnicity, or race.
Our lifestyle plays a significant role in how fast we age. You may notice that people with poor lifestyle habits tend to age faster than others, while those who are good at taking care of themselves are more likely to look young for their age and stay that way for years.
That said, it may be time to ask yourself this question: is my lifestyle speeding up aging? If you think the answer may be ‘yes,’ then here are some things that can help you prevent accelerated aging.
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Wear sunscreen whenever you go out
If you don’t have a habit of putting on sunscreen every time you go out in the sun, then you may be inadvertently causing your skin cells to age faster. The sun causes premature aging of the skin, a phenomenon called photoaging, leading to skin cancer. Thus, if you are constantly out in the sun without proper skin protection, you don’t only cause your skin to age faster but also put yourself at risk for cancer.
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Talk to a dermatologist
A dermatologist can help you find the most suitable ways to delay aging, especially if you already see signs on your skin. For example, they can recommend Botox specials to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. If you want something less invasive, then a dermatologist can point you in the direction of anti-aging skincare products that will work best for you.
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Stop smoking
Besides being the cause of so many diseases (heart disease, diabetes, lung cancer, etc.), smoking can also make your skin age faster. This is because the nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to narrow, which reduces the flow of nutrients and oxygen to your skin cells.
If you smoke, stop immediately. Talk to a doctor if you need help with smoking cessation, especially if you have already been smoking for years.
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Eat a balanced diet
Nutrition is a major determinant of your overall health, including the rate at which your skin ages. That said, a balanced diet can not only make you healthier—but it can also help you prevent premature aging, which tends to happen with a diet rich in refined carbohydrates and sugar.
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Reduce your alcohol intake
Aside from increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease, drinking alcohol can also speed up aging due to its dehydrating effect on your skin. Try to limit your drinks to one drink a day (if you are a woman) or two a day (if you are a man), and avoid binge drinking altogether.
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Avoid tanning
As mentioned above, excessive exposure to the sun can speed up the aging of your skin. Not only that, but tanning also increases your risk of skin cancer, whether you use a tanning bed or get your tan directly from the sun.
Avoid tanning methods that use UV rays as much as possible. If you want to brighten up your skin, use a tanning lotion instead or avoid tanning your skin altogether.
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Moisturize your skin regularly
Locking in moisture in your skin can help make you look younger and prevent it from getting dehydrated (which is a leading cause of premature aging), especially if you live in an area where the air is arid. That said, make it a habit to moisturize your face and body regularly using a moisturizer or lotion, ideally made with organic ingredients instead of harmful chemicals.
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Treat your face gently
Avoid rubbing, squeezing, or scrunching your face to prevent aggravating your skin and encouraging the appearance of fine lines. Treat your face gently at all times, and avoid touching it altogether when you don’t need to (because this can also transfer bacteria onto your skin).
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Learn how to manage stress
Stress is also a common factor in accelerated aging and is, unfortunately, one of the most difficult ones to avoid. But while there will always be stress in our lives, there are many ways to manage it. For instance, you can apply stress reduction techniques at work or learn how to meditate to ease your stress effectively.
Although aging is inevitable, there are many ways to delay it for as long as possible. With these tips, you can not only prevent accelerated aging—but you can also improve your overall health for a longer and healthier life.
