Premature skin aging occurs when, in addition to the natural aging caused by age, there is an acceleration in the formation of sagging, wrinkles and blemishes, which can happen as a consequence of lifestyle habits and environmental factors, for example.
Therefore, to avoid premature aging and keep the skin on your face and body firmer and more hydrated for longer, it is recommended to focus on actions such as eating a diet rich in vegetables, drinking plenty of fluids, always removing makeup and carrying out cleansing and facial treatments. skin, for example, as they not only increase levels of antioxidants, which are nutrients that combat aging by neutralizing free radicals, but also leave the skin looking younger and healthier.
Main causes
Premature skin aging can occur due to several situations and occurs when there is an increase in the amount of free radicals produced and circulating in the body, causing damage to tissue health.
Thus, some of the situations in which there is an increase in the amount of free radicals and which are directly related to premature aging are excessive sun exposure without protection, pollution, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, stress and poor diet.
Symptoms of skin aging
Aging is a natural process, however there are some signs and symptoms that indicate that the skin is aging sooner than it should, the main ones being:
- Wrinkles and expression lines on the foreheadaround the lips (Chinese mustache) and eyes (crow’s feet): appear due to the loss of collagen and elastin, causing the skin to no longer have its usual firmness and flaws to appear;
- Dark spots: they are caused by excessive sun exposure and without photoprotection, as UV rays are aggressive to the skin, or also by hormonal changes in pregnant women or the elderly, which stimulate pigmentation;
- Excessive sagging: premature aging makes the skin thinner and less firm, due to the lack of hydration and loss of its fat layer, which makes it lack luster and vitality.
- Presence of dark circles: the region around the eyes suffers greatly from the effects of aging, so intense or worsening dark circles can be a sign that the skin is not healthy.
Furthermore, graying hair strands can also become worse due to the action of free radicals, stress and lack of vitamins and minerals, as well as genetic and hormonal causes.
Take the following test and find out if your skin is prone to developing wrinkles:
How to combat premature aging
To combat the action of free radicals on the skin, preventing premature aging, it is important to focus on attitudes such as:
1. Use sunscreen daily
The use of sunscreen, preferably with SPF 30 or more, is essential to protect the skin from the action of UV rays, preventing not only aging but the formation of skin cancer. The ideal is to choose an ideal filter for each skin type, whether oily or dry, to avoid other unwanted effects, such as the formation of acne.
Learn how to choose the best sunscreen for your skin and how to use it.
2. Cleanse your skin
Daily cleansing of the face with specific products, such as soaps and lotions, helps keep the skin soft and refreshed. It is also very important to always remove makeup after use, especially before bed, with removers and washing with soap and water. This is very important to prevent dryness and damage caused by product accumulation on the skin.
In addition, exfoliate weekly or every peels Periodic treatments help remove layers of dead skin and renew the skin. Check out the steps to clean your skin at home.
3. Consume antioxidant foods
Taking care of your diet is essential to allow your skin to stay young, working from the inside out. Thus, antioxidant nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, isoflavones and resveratrol, for example, found in vegetables and fruits, such as carrots, beets, grapes, tomatoes, apricots, papayas and eggplant, for example, help not only reducing skin aging, but also maintaining a healthier body.
Check out which foods are rich in antioxidants.
4. Get skin treatments
Skin treatment techniques, guided by a dermatologist, are great ways to not only combat the signs of aging, but help to give a more youthful appearance, as they are capable of reducing expression lines and eliminating blemishes. Some of the main recommended treatments are Radiofrequency, Carboxytherapy, Chemical Peeling, Pulsed Light, Microneedling or acid treatments, for example. Find out more about the techniques used to combat sagging facial skin.
If these treatments are not enough, an alternative is facial filler treatment with hyaluronic acid or botox, for example, or, as a last resort, resorting to plastic surgery, and it is important to talk to the dermatologist about the available alternatives.
5. Have healthy habits
It is proven that harmful habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, stress and lack of rest harm the appearance of the skin, and it is very important to reverse these attitudes so that the skin tissues are well nourished, hydrated and healthy. Therefore, it is recommended:
- Practice physical activities 3 to 5 times a week;
- Drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water per day;
- Do not smoke;
- Sleep well, avoiding wasting nights;
- Avoid excessive stress.
Furthermore, it is recommended to keep routine medical assessments up to date, in order to control diseases that can worsen the appearance of the skin, such as hormonal disorders, vitamin deficiencies or circulatory diseases, for example.
