There are certain habits and lifestyle choices that could be ageing your skin without you even knowing, such as smoking and sleeping in your makeup. Here, we take look at what these are and how much damage they could actually cause.

Everyone’s body changes as they grow and age, but certain developments may be considered premature. If you are searching for answers about whether you need to change your lifestyle to save your skin, you have come to the right place. In this section, we’ll be looking at the key signs of premature ageing skin.

Sun Spots

These are like freckles, also known as liver spots or age spots. They typically develop in areas that receive a lot of exposure to the sun, because they’re caused by UV light. Depending on your skin type and lifestyle, it is unusual for these spots to appear before the age of 40, although those with extremely pale and sensitive skin might find them appearing a little earlier.

If you’re getting sun spots much earlier than this, you should consider what you can do to protect your skin more. Higher SPF sunscreen can help, as can limiting your trips to the tanning parlour. We also offer sun damaged skin treatments to help overcome this issue.

Gaunt Hands, Wrinkles and Sagging

As you age, your body starts to produce less collagen. Your skin uses collagen to stay plump and youthful-looking, and as you lose collagen, your skin will get thinner and more prone to wrinkles. One of the first places you are likely to spot this happening is in your hands.

Normally, this starts to occur in the late thirties or early forties. You can delay wrinkly and gaunt skin on your hands by using lotions and sunscreen daily. Remember – the reason your hands are likely to suffer wrinkles earlier than other areas of your body is due to the amount of sun they receive in comparison.

One way to help your skin to stay healthy is to keep hydrated, and to remember to keep your skin free of sweat, dirt and old makeup.

Inflammation and Hyperpigmentation Zones

Hyperpigmentation is the scientific word for an area of skin that is darker than the rest – like a sunspot, but more like a patch. It occurs as a result of excess melanin in the skin, and this can be triggered by an increased amount of time in the sun without adequate sunscreen.

It’s normal to develop a few patches of hyperpigmentation if you live your life to the fullest – spending lots of time outside or going on long camping trips will keep you outdoors. If you want to reduce your chances of developing these patches, however, we recommend using sunscreen and trying to stay in the shade when possible.

Dry and Itchy Skin

If you wear a lot of makeup regularly, you may be prematurely ageing your skin – especially if the substances are irritating your face. Consider irritation to your skin to be similar to a wound; whenever your skin is wounded, it needs to heal, and each time it heals it ages a little faster.

Irritation, whether caused by sunburn, makeup, or sweat, can therefore be a sign that there are problems with your skin. We suggest making a few tweaks to your lifestyle to increase your comfort and to help your skin.

It is also true that, as we age and our skin starts to thin, our skin can become more susceptible to irritations. Listen to what your body is telling you when it hurts and try to give it the answer it needs. This may mean talking to a doctor about developing eczema or having to change your makeup range to something geared toward sensitive skin.

Other Factors Contributing Towards Ageing Skin

There are some lifestyle habits that can cause your skin to age faster, too. If you’re worried for your skin, you should look to address some of the following:

• Tobacco and Nicotine

The nicotine in most tobacco products leads to the narrowing of the blood cells in the outermost layers of your skin. This can cause your skin to get thinner more quickly, and, consequently, wrinkles may start to appear earlier.

• Caffeine

Caffeine is a diuretic – meaning that it encourages your body to excrete fluids, and staying hydrated is important when you protect the usefulness of your skin. To combat dry, dull and ageing skin, you could reduce your coffee intake or plan to drink extra water after each diuretic drink.

• Insomnia

Insomnia is often caused by stress, or can cause stress in the individual suffering from it. This vicious cycle might also be affecting your skin health, too, as stress has been shown to encourage wrinkles to develop earlier.

• Diet

Some studies have found that diets with too much sugar and carbohydrates can lead to accelerated ageing of the skin. Be wary of what you eat and try to replace sugary desserts with fruit where possible if you are worried about your skin health.

Bad Skin Care Routines

You need to be scientific when it comes to what you put on your skin. If you introduce too many products at once, you will find it hard to tell if one is hurting or helping. Trial different products to find one that your skin loves if you want to avoid accidentally using products that hinder your skin health.

At The Aesthetic Skin Clinic, we offer many skincare products designed to improve the appearance, texture and health of your skin, so have a look and see if any catches your eye.

Alternatively, you could book in a session in any of our clinics to discover a personalised skincare treatment. Each individual’s habits, personal history and work environments mean that they need direct, compassionate advice regarding their skin health. If you are interested in this, why not visit our cosmetic clinic in Guernsey, our cosmetic clinic in Jersey, or our cosmetic clinic in Belfast?