No matter what you do to take care of your skin, there are three deadly sins that cannot be forgiven, especially not if you engage in all three. With judicious skin care from an aesthetician, one sin can be forgiven, but not two. Commit all three sins against your complexion and you’ll find yourself looking like an apple-head doll by the time you reach middle age.
Deadly Skin Sin Number 1: Tanning
Exposure to the sun’s ultra violet rays is the number one cause of wrinkles, so-called “age” spots and loose, sagging skin. UVB rays cause your skin to actually burn, like being cooked in an oven, while UVA rays penetrate deep into your epidermis and cause all kinds of free radical damage. Until recently, many sunscreens only protected against the burning UVB rays, leaving your skin vulnerable to all kinds of sun damage.
In fact, scientists say that many of the signs of aging evident on our skin in our 40′s and 50′s is actually due to damage done before our 18th birthday! Excess exposure to sun damages collagen, which gives our skin it’s overall firmness and structure.
To protect your beautiful skin you should always use a broad spectrum moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30 every morning, and apply more if you plan to spend a significant amount of time in the sun. Avoid the strongest periods of sunlight between 10 am and 2 pm, and cover up with long sleeves, hats and sunglasses whenever possible.
Deadly Skin Sin Number 2: Excessive Consumption of Alcohol
Alcohol causes dehydration, which leads to dry, parched skin, but that’s only the beginning. Alcohol also causes inflammation, leading to cell damage throughout our bodies, including in our largest organ, our skin. This damages our skin’s collagen and elastin, leading to thin, sagging skin and wrinkles.
Additionally, alcohol widens out small blood vessels in our skin, increasing blood flow closer to the surface. This can lead to broken capillaries and causes that rosy flush often seen on ruddy cheeks and noses of heavy drinkers. Other effects are discoloration, enlarged pores, dullness, sagging skin and loss of resilience.
Regular consumption of small amounts of alcohol has been found to produce a number of health benefits; just remember that moderation is the key to healthy, younger looking skin.
Deadly Skin Sin Number 3: Cigarette Smoking
Cigarette smoke and second hand smoke produce free radicals that cause inflammation in our lungs and throughout our bodies. As the smoke contacts our skin, it unleashes free radicals that cause all kinds of damage on a cellular level. Cigarette smokers generally have much deeper, more pronounced wrinkles, especially around the lips than non-smokers. If you don’t smoke; good for you. Avoid spending time around people who do, for the sake of your skin. If you do smoke, quit while you can still reverse some of the damage. If you can’t quit, consider switching to an electronic cigarette that won’t destroy your skin – and the skin of everyone around you!
Victory Lean is a writer at Di Cigs.com – an e cigarette showcase. Her hobby is writing informative posts about healthy life, green living and beauty tips.
