11 Preventative Measures to Slow Premature Skin Aging

Although our skin naturally ages over time, there are external factors related to our environment and lifestyle that contribute to premature skin aging. It’s never too late to benefit from making changes in your lifestyle to slow premature skin aging. Consider these preventative measures:

Protect Your Skin from the Sun

Even small portions of exposure to the sun affects your skin. Using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade as much as possible are all ways to combat the sun’s harmful rays.

Skip the Tan and Use a Self-Tanner

Harmful UV rays from the sun, tanning beds, and other indoor tanning equipment can age your skin. Apply a self-tanning lotion to get the bronze summer look you’re going for.

Stop Smoking

Smoking causes wrinkles and a dull, sallow appearance to your complexion and greatly speeds up skin aging.

Control Your Facial Expressions

Repetitive facial expressions over many years can cause the underlying muscles to create permanent lines. Be careful about the facial expressions you make consistently. Wear sunglasses to reduce squinting.

Eat a Well-Balanced Diet

Studies support that a healthy, well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables may help slow skin aging, while diets heavy in sugar and refined carbohydrates can accelerate skin aging.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol dehydrates the skin and over time, damages it, causing us to appear older than we are.

Exercise Several Times per Week

Engaging in moderate exercise improves circulation and boosts the immune system, which has a direct effect on giving our skin a more youthful appearance.

Wash Your Skin Gently

Be gentle. Harshly scrubbing your skin to remove makeup, pollution, and other substances can cause irritation, which accelerates aging.

Wash Your Face - Twice Each Day and After Sweating

Irritants to your skin – like sweat – can have a negative effect on your skin, so be sure to wash your skin as soon as possible after sweating.

Apply Moisturizer

Moisturizers trap water in our skin, giving a youthful appearance.

Don’t Use Skin Care Products that Sting or Burn

Burning or stinging sensations signify that the skin is irritated, which can increase signs of aging.

If the rate at which your skin is aging bothers you or you have additional questions, please reach out to us for support. Call our team at Asheville Dermatology at (828) 253-2533 to schedule an appointment.