As we age, our face evolves and changes shape: prominent cheekbones replace chubby cheeks, fine lines appear around our eyes and mouth, and our skin may start to lose its natural plumpness. But at what age does your face change the most?
In most cases, signs of aging are normal. But if you feel like your skin is aging faster than normal, there may be other issues at play. A variety of factors can contribute to premature aging, including your diet and sunning habits. Fortunately, there are likely steps you can take to rejuvenate your skin—no doctor’s needles required.
Custom Luxury Skincare At An Affordable Price
Say goodbye to dark spots and hello to radiant skin with your personalized skincare regimen.
What Are the Causes of Premature Aging?
As you grow older, your skin responds. The first places you’ll likely notice signs of sagging skin are around your face and chest, which may experience [1]:
- Wrinkles
- Sunspots
- Dryness
- Loss of skin tone
- Hyperpigmentation
- Sagging
Although many of these signs are natural parts of putting years under your belt, if your skin is showing more signs than other people your age, there may be one of several factors at play
Light Exposure
Sun exposure is one of the leading causes of premature aging skin, and it comes in two varieties [2]:
- HEV and infrared light – You may know HEV (high-energy visible) light as “blue light.” This comes from devices like your phone and computer screen. But, along with infrared light, they’re also emitted by the sun. While more research is needed, HEV light can contribute to signs of skin aging and hyperpigmentation. You may notice that your skin loses some of its youthful collagen and elasticity with constant exposure [3].
- Sun exposure – Probably one of the most serious types of light exposure, too much unprotected time in the sun puts you at risk of skin cancer [4]. UV rays cause photoaging (which you may know by the common phrase “sun damage”) and are responsible for about 90% of visible changes to your skin [5]. It will likely manifest in deep lines and age spots.
You could begin to see signs of photodamage as early as your teenage years [6]. Symptoms include [7]:
- Wrinkling
- Uneven texture
- Visible (spider) veins around the nose and chest
- Redness
- Blotchiness
- Decreased elasticity in skin
If you love to soak up the sun or visit tanning salons, you should have second thoughts on how fast tanning ages your skin. Invest in a daily moisturizer with SPF that offers total sun protection to minimize the effects of sun damage. Achieve your natural glow by nourishing your skin instead of putting it through severe exposure.
Alcohol
While the occasional glass of wine may not severely impact your skin, chronic alcohol consumption can cause dehydration, which will damage your skin over time [8]. You may notice signs of aging like:
- Blotchiness
- Yellowed skin tone
- Spider veins
Smoking
- Crow’s feet
- Marionette lines
- Uneven or dull skin tone
- Lines between eyebrows
- Thin lips
- Creases below the eyes
- Dry skin
Your skin’s ability to bounce back after a cut or infection also decreases if you’re smoking. Heavy smokers will likely develop wrinkles and other age-related signs more quickly than their non-smoking counterparts.
Unfortunately, quitting smoking won’t reverse the signs of aging, but putting down the cigarettes can prevent further signs of aging [11].
Diet
- High in refined carbohydrates
- High in sugar
- Barbecued fried foods
- High salt
- Spicy
- Extremely vegetarian [14]
Luckily, switching up your diet can help fight signs of premature skin aging. More specifically, you’ll want to eat foods that are high in vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and omega-3 [15]. It’s also recommended that you drink plenty of water to hydrate your skin [16].
Stress
Chronic stress may also cause [19]:
- Inflammation
- Shortened telomeres in cells
- Tissue damage
Another lifestyle factor that may be linked to high levels of stress is poor sleep. If you’re not getting a full night’s sleep every night (between seven and nine hours), your body doesn’t have enough time to rest and repair. As a result, low-quality sleep (or not enough) can cause premature aging in your cells, including skin cells [20].
Genetics
Intrinsic factors, like DNA and gene expression, are only responsible for about 10% of our skin’s aging [21]. The rest of how you age is up to lifestyle choices, including the level of UV protection you use.
How Can I Prevent Skin Aging?
Sun exposure, stress, and diet changes are all a part of life. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep your skin young and support your overall skin health.
Take Care of Your Skin
- Cleanse — Particularly if you wear anything that may irritate your skin (like makeup), it’s important to clean your skin before bed. Use a gentle facial cleanser to remove sweat, dirt, or anything that could build up on your skin.
- Moisturize — Fight dry patches and dehydration with a moisturizing product. Products with the superhero ingredient retinol can help turn over skin cells and increase collagen production. That leads to a clearer skin tone and texture. A personalized eye cream can also help protect and fight aging in the most delicate parts of your skin.
- Protect — Light damage is one of the leading causes of premature skin aging [23]. Wear an SPF with UV protection (preferably SPF 30 or higher) whenever you spend time in direct sunlight. You can also protect your skin with hats, sunglasses, and clothing.
Exercise
Getting yourself moving can improve your circulation and support your immune health, which, in turn, can support your skin and boost its natural glow [25].
It doesn’t matter what exercise you engage in, as long as you’re doing it. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week [26].
Lower Your Stress
You can also consider additional stress-relieving activities, such as:
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Guided breathing
- Painting
- Playing music
- Walking
Proper Nutrition
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Protein
Hitting all of your dietary marks will ensure that your skin is able to perform at its peak.
In addition, don’t forget to drink enough water between your meals. Not having enough of it can severely impact your skin’s appearance [29].
According to a study published in Nutrients, the “appearance of the skin on lips and limb is a direct reflection of the body’s moisture status [30].” As such, it’s recommended that you drink more than two liters of water per day to maintain healthy moisture in your body [31].
Maintain Your Youthful Glow at Any Age With PROVEN
Premature aging can arise for a variety of reasons, whether it's your genetics or your lifestyle choices. Fortunately, you can support your skin health by regularly exercising, managing your stress, and taking care of your skin with proper nutrition and retinol and SPF-packed skincare products.
At PROVEN, our team of top-rate skin specialists, including Stanford scientists and dermatologists, are passionate about helping your skin look its best at every age. PROVEN combines scientific expertise with cutting-edge technology to deliver a skincare routine that works with your unique skin for dramatic and dewy results.
Take your Personalized Skin Quiz today and we’ll help you create a skincare routine completely customized for your skin’s current needs. Packed with powerful ingredients to address your skin’s unique needs, the PROVEN formula will help your skin maintain its natural glow, no matter your age.
