A Wrinkle In Time
0Few centuries back people went to great extremes to have pale skin, as it was fashionable;and today its appears that having tanned skin all year round is all the rage, which has made the indoor tanning industry a highly profitable business. But Indoor tanning bed usage comes with far great and at times grave consequences such as skin cancer risk as well as wrinkles. Both centuries ago and in todays present world the prefered look is plump and youthful skin. One of the mostly evident signs of aging is the unwanted skin changes; we may notice wrinkles around the eyes and lips, brown spots on face and hands and the skin will start to sag around neck area appear as we age.
The skin is the largest organ in the body with a surface area about 20 square feet and making about 16 percent of total body weight (BBC). The skin is constantly changing at a rate of about 30,000 to 40,000 cells per minute which means we lose and gain about 9 pounds of skin each year (kidshealth, 2013).
The skin is made up of three layers: epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous. The epidermis is the outermost layer, or the layer you can see and touch. The dermis is the layer below the epidermis. It’s right below the epidermis, and it contains nerve endings, blood vessels, and oil and sweat glands. The dermis also holds collagen and elastin proteins that keep skin firm and strong. Finally, the subcutaneous layer, which is made up mostly of fat This is the layer that can be damaged by UV radiation. Each layer of your skin performs specific functions that help to cover and protect your body, regulate body temperature and provide you with a sense of touch (webmd, skingenetix).
Now that we briefly reviewed skins physiology, lets examine the ways to prevent skin damage and in particular those unwanted aging side effects, wrinkles.
Tips on delaying and preventing skin damage:
1. Avoid exposure to the sun: Apply sunscreen accordingly and wear sun protective clothing. exposure to the sun leads to loss of skin elasticity, thinner and more translucent-looking skin wrinkles, dry, rough, leathery skin, broken capillaries on the face, dark spots and blemishes on the face, back of hands, arms, chest and legs.
2. No Indoor tanning bed use. Indoor tanning beds commonly use ultraviolet bulbs that emit predominantly UV-A rays which penetrate more deeply into the skin and can even adversely affect the cells involved in the body’s immune system.
3. Do NOT smoke. Smoking leads to premature skin wrinkles. Smoking causes constriction of the blood vessels that go to the epidermis. This narrowing of blood vessels leads to less oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A from reaching the skin. Smokers also have increased risk of forming wrinkles around the lips due to smokers constantly pursing of lips on cigarettes. The chemicals in cigarettes also damage elastin and collagen.
4. Use moisturizer daily. This helps to plump up wrinkles by helping the skin to repair itself more constantly and effectively.
5. Sleep 6-9 hours each day. Adequate sleep is vital to avoid eye area puffiness. Sleep reduces levels of cortisol while releasing growth hormone (GH) which is the youth hormone (the anti-aging hormone :)).
6. Eat salmon. Salmon does wonders for the skin. It contains omega 3 fatty acids which help to keep the skin stay firm plus also decrease inflammation.
7. Eat vegetables and fruits. These foods are high in nutrients that nourish the skin.
8. Wear sunglasses. This will protect the delicate skin around the eyes.
9. Do not squint, Get reading glasses if needed. Squinting may lead to overwork of facial muscles and eventually lead to wrinkles
10. Sleep on your back. Side sleeping forms creases on the the delicate skin which are usually temporary but overtime may cause permanent damage.
11. Use Silk pillowcases. Silk contains natural proteins and 18 essential amino acids which also help to counter the effects of aging (SleepnBeauty, 2013).
12. Vitamin C creams may help reduce dark spots, uneven skin tone and redness.
13. Use Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA). This has shown efficacy in lifting the top layer of dead skin cells and reduce the appearance of pores, fine lines, and surface wrinkles especially around the eyes.
14. Avoid or limit alcohol consumption as it causes a state of inflammation in the whole body leading to skin dullness, enlarged pores, discoloration and skin sagging.
15. DRINK WATER! This helps hydrate the whole body and keep all organs functioning optimally.
By incorporating these tips you may help to minimize wrinkles and maximize your skins outward appearance.
Remember the healthier you are the younger you ll look.
Gorretti Francisco
Follow me on twitter: @Gorretti_F
and on instagram: @gorrettifrancisco
Reference:
BBC.com Mayoclinic.com Medicinenet.com SleepnBeauty.com KidsHealthOrg.com Webmd.com SkinGenetix.coom
