Letting Your Skin Age Gracefully

​Some people start getting wrinkles as early as age 25. If you smoke, use tanning beds, drink excessively or don't protect yourself from the sun, those wrinkles will be deep and leathery by middle age. Most middle-aged people today didn't realize when they were young that they would have to pay the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle down the road. There are, however, ways to help your damaged skin look better as you age.

Stay away from the sun

Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature aging in skin. Every tan you got as a teenager contributed to the leathery, sun sensitive skin you have in middle age. To prevent any further damage, apply sunscreen to your face and neck every day, no matter the season. You should also plan to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible between the hours of 10am and 4pm, and wear light, long sleeved shirts if you do find yourself basking in the sun.

Dry skin is your enemy

As you age, your skin loses elasticity and becomes a lot more sensitive. Skin dryness is the root cause of those problems. While drinking water is the easiest solution, in order to repair already damaged skin you'll need to incorporate a moisturizing regimen into your daily routine on top of those 8 glasses a day.

One moisturizer should include antioxidants in order to restore the collagen in your skin and prevent further damage from free radicals. Your second product should be retinol, which comes in cream form and stimulates cellular turnover to rejuvenate skin. Moisturized skin means fewer wrinkles.

A common contributor to dry skin is alcohol consumption. If you've ever had a hangover, you know that alcohol can dehydrate you pretty quickly. That means that for every drink you have, you'll need two glasses of water and extra moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying out. As you get older you'll need all the more moisturizer, because all those parties you went to in college will start to show.

Eat skin loving foods

One of the most overlooked aspects of skin care is diet. Your skin is the most visible organ of the body, and it reflects how healthy you are inside, which is especially important as you age. Eating a well balanced, nutritious diet can boost your overall health and prevent premature aging, but there are certain foods that are especially beneficial to your skin.

Proteins like lean, grass-fed beef and wild salmon contain collagen. Without collagen, your skin loses elasticity and forms wrinkles. Foods with vitamin C, like oranges and brussels sprouts, work with protein to help your body build more of its own collagen.

Take one step at a time

Watching your face get older can be daunting, but helping your skin stay healthy for longer is not an impossible task. How much are you drinking, smoking, or eating junk food? How much time do you spend outdoors without sunscreen? Be honest with yourself and start taking care of your skin.