Today’s society is obsessed with preventing the natural aging process. However, this puts much undue pressure on people, particularly women. That’s why reframing the concept of anti-aging should be a top priority. After all, there’s nothing wrong with aging naturally and gracefully. Still, research shows that certain factors cause people to age at different rates. Certain environmental factors and lifestyle choices can cause your skin to age more rapidly. So, instead of spending a fortune on anti-aging products and plastic surgery, you can ensure that your skin ages normally. Here are 6 factors that negatively affect your skin that you can take action against.

No. 1 Certain environmental conditions

One main factor that negatively affects your skin is exposure to specific environmental conditions. Here are some examples:

• Prolonged sun exposureis extremely harmful to your skin. Specifically, UVA light damages all skin layers and causes collagen and elastin loss. Thus, your skin loses its elasticity and becomes thinner and drier. As a result, you’ll soon notice pigmentation, followed by sagginess and wrinkles. That’s why it’s essential to apply sunscreen all year round.
• Exposure to cold winter weather can also speed up your skin’s aging process. More precisely, the low temperatures and the biting wind dehydrate your skin. That’s why it becomes so dry. To prevent this from happening, you should use moisturizer, drink plenty of fluids, and try to cover up your skin as much as possible.
• Exposure to pollutants, dust, and chemicals clogs your pores and often leads to acne flare-ups. Unfortunately, it’s pretty much impossible to reduce exposure in this case. Thus, the only way to prevent the harmful effects is to properly cleanse your skin every night before bed.

No. 2 A poor diet is one of the main factors that negatively affect your skin

Regarding rapid aging, it’s essential to acknowledge that the environment is not the only culprit. Your lifestyle choices have a significant impact on your skin. For example, a poor diet can do a lot of damage. Specifically, the lack of vitamins, oils, and proteins reduces the production of elastin and collagen. That, in turn, causes dryness and sagging of the skin. Furthermore, a diet rich in fats and sugars often results in blemishes and acne flare-ups.

Therefore, maintaining a healthy diet will improve your skin’s appearance. To promote skin health, eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, fatty fish, whole grains, and nuts. That will not only slow down the aging process but will also improve your overall health. So, it’s a win-win scenario.

No. 3 Smoking and drinking alcohol

Everyone knows that smoking and drinking alcohol can cause many health issues. However, few people understand that these bad habits also harm the skin. On the one hand, smoking causes oxidative stress, which is responsible for sagging, fine wrinkles, and texture changes. On the other hand, drinking alcohol leads to skin inflammation and dries up your skin. Therefore, you should stop using these substances as soon as possible.

No. 4 Lack of exercise

Our lives are becoming increasingly sedentary, which is extremely bad for our health and skin. So, you should do everything in your power to exercise regularly. A good workout will increase your heart rate and improve blood circulation. As a result, your skin will receive the essential nutrients and oxygen it needs to stay healthy. That also increases collagen production and skin cell regeneration, slowing aging and making your skin glow.

No. 5 Stress

Stress has become a significant concern in this day and age. Studies show that it can cause or exacerbate many health issues, including skin-related ones. For instance, stress affects your immune system, which makes your skin more sensitive and prone to rashes and hives. It also exacerbates various inflammatory skin conditions and causes flare-ups. Furthermore, the stress hormone cortisol can cause excess sebum production, leading to acne breakouts.

Therefore, reducing your stress levels is crucial. But how can you do that? Firstly, find some activities that relax you, like exercising, a new hobby, or reading. Secondly, try to delegate as much as possible. You can do this both at your workplace and in other situations. For example, you can delegate multiple tasks to professional movers to avoid stress when moving. That is one of the best ways to stay relaxed because you know your belongings are appropriately taken care of.

No. 6 Exhaustion

Getting enough rest is paramount for your health. But you probably didn’t know exhaustion can also cause skin fatigue. As a result, your skin will become dull and dry. The problem is that no matter how much you moisturize it, you’ll see almost no improvement. In addition to this, lack of sleep also dilates blood vessels, which causes the formation of dark circles under your eyes.

The solution seems simple: get enough rest. However, this might be easier said than done. After all, lots of people struggle with sleep deprivation. That is usually caused by stress and unhealthy lifestyle choices. In conclusion, most factors that negatively affect your skin also affect your sleep. Thus, if you take action against them, you’ll improve both.

Final thoughts

These 6 factors that negatively affect your skin show you how vital self-care is. On the one hand, it’s essential to have a good skincare routine is necessary. That entails properly cleansing and moisturizing your skin daily. On the other hand, it’s vital to make healthy life choices. Because everything you eat and drink, how stressed and sleep-deprived you are can affect your skin and speed up the aging process. So, stop obsessing over expensive anti-aging products and make lifestyle changes instead. That will not only slow down the aging rate of your skin but will also do wonders for your overall health.

Meta Description: Do you want to age gracefully and naturally? Then, it’s time to take action against these 6 factors that negatively affect your skin.

Author by: Jassica Mendez