Wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process, but there are steps you can take to prevent them from forming too early or becoming too pronounced. One of the main ones is to protect your skin from the sun.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage the skin and accelerate the formation of wrinkles. Use sunscreen with at least SPF 50, and reapply it every two hours when you're spending time outdoors. This couldn't be more important here in Australia where our UV rays are the 2nd highest in the world behind New Zealand.
Why Do We Get Wrinkles?
Frequently, the explanations surrounding the formation of wrinkles often leave much to be desired. For instance, the commonly cited reason of "UV damage" fails to provide a satisfactory understanding.
Even areas of our body shielded from UV light experience the effects of wrinkles, sagging, and thinning. Another often-mentioned cause is "genetics," which, in essence, explains all bodily occurrences since genes form the foundation of our existence.
Similarly, we receive imprecise descriptions stating that the skin loses collagen or experiences disarray in the elastin network. But these explanations fail to address the underlying reasons. What leads to the reduction in collagen and elastin?
Why does the skin become thinner and saggy?
To unravel these mysteries, we must delve into the deeper-rooted causes of skin aging. Skin damage can be categorised into two types: extrinsic and intrinsic damage.
- Extrinsic damage results from external factors or our own behaviours, such as sun exposure, smoking, unhealthy diet, certain medications, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, repetitive facial expressions, sleep deprivation, and the like.
- Intrinsic damage is the fundamental and most significant contributor to wrinkles. It encompasses the natural aging process that occurs within the body. Ultimately, this intrinsic aging process leads to the development of wrinkles for everyone.
Regardless of the extent to which we safeguard ourselves against extrinsic factors, such as shielding from the sun or maintaining a healthy diet, wrinkles will inevitably emerge as a consequence of the natural, intrinsic aging process.
How To Reduce Wrinkles
Step 1: Don't smoke
Smoking can cause wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, and can also contribute to the formation of age spots. If you smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your skin. In fact, smoking actually breaks down collagen in your skin, as found by this study.
Step 2: Moisturise your skin
Keeping your skin moisturised can help prevent wrinkles from forming. Use a moisturiser that is appropriate for your skin type (oily, dry, or combination) and apply it every day.
Step 3: Eat a healthy diet
Eating a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help keep your skin looking healthy and youthful.
A plant-based diet is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C and lysine which can boost your collagen levels at a cellular level and can help with things like stretch marks and other skin-related ageing.
Step 4: Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep is important for overall health, and it can also help keep your skin looking young. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
If you have a device like an Apple watch or a Whoop watch then we would highly recommend tracking your sleep. Each person is different but the factors to watch are deep sleep and rem sleep. If you aren't getting enough this is scientifically proven to speed up your aging process chronic poor sleep quality is associated with increased signs of intrinsic ageing
Step 5: Exercise regularly
Regular exercise can help improve circulation and keep your skin looking youthful. A mix of cardio & resistance training is important for both overall health and skin elasticity
Step 6: Avoid stress
Stress can cause wrinkles to form, so try to find ways to relax and reduce stress in your life. Meditation, walks or simply breath work can all be incredible natural remedies to reduce your stress levels.
Step 7: Use anti-aging skincare products
There are many anti-aging skincare products available that can help prevent wrinkles. Look for products that contain retinoids, antioxidants, or peptides. A popular ingredient is hyaluronic acid + SPF cover as seen in this post of popular anti aging face creams
Step 8: Boost your NAD+ Levels
By simply following a healthy diet and exercising regularly you'll be increasing your NAD+ levels over the average consumer but taking an NAD+ booster like NMN, NR or simply nicotinamide can help with skin cell repair which will leave your face looking fresher and younger.
By following these super simple tips, you can help prevent wrinkles from forming and keep your skin looking youthful. Remember that it's never too early or too late to start taking care of your skin, so start today and you'll be on your way to a lifetime of beautiful, wrinkle-free skin
