Natural Ways to Fight Wrinkles
Learning to fight wrinkles is a crucial part of keeping your skin smooth and youthful looking later in life. The natural prevention of wrinkles can have a huge impact on the quality of your skin, however it is best that you understand that not all wrinkles can be prevented. As we grow older, our skin begins to reflect years of sun exposure, drinking (alcohol), smoking, and a lifetime of eating sugary or processed foods. It is natural for our skin to lose a certain amount of elasticity in our later years as a result of decreased collagen production. That being said, some of us begin to develop wrinkles long before “our time”. In fact, some people even struggle against hiding the developing signs of wrinkles as early on as their mid-twenties. Because the skin is still able to repair itself at this time, it is definitely worthwhile to learn how a few tips on good skin care.
The Epidermis and Dermis
First, it’s a good idea to understand a little about how the skin works. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and it is made up of two layers. The epidermis’s major role is to protect the dermis and the underlying muscle. The dermis is the layer of skin that resides below the epidermis. The dermis is responsible for providing strength and support, which is largely derived from the production of collagen. Collagen is an elastic-like compound which makes the skin supple and firm. It is because of collagen that our skin rebounds when it is touched.
Moisturize
Wrinkles are much more likely to form in skin that is not well hydrated. Vitamin E is a natural moisturizer for the skin and actually helps it to repair itself. Look around to see if you can find a good quality moisturizer that contains Vitamin E. Avoid putting any products (including astringent and toner) on your face that contain alcohol or mineral oil. These products are not good for your skin and could cause further dryness and actually lead to the worsening of wrinkle development.
But it doesn’t stop with moisturizer. When you apply moisturizer, you are essentially only treating the topmost layer of the skin. In order to strengthen the dermis, you need to hydrate your skin from the inside out. This can be done by ensuring that you drink plenty of water every day—even more so when you have been sweating or when it is particularly warm outside.
Exercise
Ensuring that your body receives a healthy dose of exercise every day is also essential to having good skin. In order to repair itself from the daily stresses that the skin endures, a decent and steady blood flow is necessary. Whether you have a blood circulation issue or not, exercise is the optimum way to encourage steady blood flow to all areas of the body. Exercise will also increase the oxygen content within your blood that will stimulate the release of toxins which build up in your skin.
Healthy Foods
Fruits and vegetables contain vital substances called antioxidants. Antioxidants are perhaps one of the single most powerful tools to have if you want to fight wrinkles. Antioxidants are compounds which help to eliminate the free radical cells which lead to bad skin, wrinkles, and in some instances, even cancer. Vitamins A, B, C, and E are the most beneficial antioxidants to the skin. Try loading up on citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, as well as kiwis, apples, blueberries, and tomatoes. You may also want to add salmon, green tea, and prunes to your list of foods to fight wrinkles.
Sunscreen
The application of sunscreen is perhaps one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal against wrinkle development. Every time you go outside, your skin gets hit with UVA and UVB rays courtesy of the sun. UV rays, or ultraviolet radiation rays, are responsible for premature aging of the skin as well as causing skin cancer. Simple precautions such as applying makeup that offers UV protection or slapping on a precautionary layer of sunscreen before heading outdoors can extend the youthfulness of your skin by years!