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Are you worried that your skin looks older than you physically feel? Here are twelve great tips on ways you can reduce facial wrinkles.
1. Avoid the sun. The sun is the No. 1 cause of wrinkles, with dozens of studies documenting the impact. In one study that looked at identical twins, it was found sun exposure was even more important than heredity. The siblings who limited sun time had fewer wrinkles and looked overall younger than their sun-worshiping twins.
2. Use moisturizer. "Women, especially, are so concerned with antiaging products they often overlook the power of a simple moisturizer. Skin that is moist simply looks better, so lines and creases are far less noticeable.
3. Don't over-wash your face. According to dermatologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center, tap water strips skin of its natural barrier oils and moisture that protect against wrinkles. Wash them off too often, and you wash away protection. Moreover, unless your soap contains moisturizers, you should use a cleans
4. Get adequate sleep. When you don't get enough sleep, the body produces excess cortisol, a hormone that breaks down skin cells. Get enough rest and you'll produce more HGH (human growth hormone), which helps skin remain thick, more "elastic," and less likely to wrinkle.
5. Wear sunscreen. If you must go out in the sun, wear sunscreen! It will help prevent wrinkles as well as protect you from skin cancer.
6. Sleep on your back. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) cautions that sleeping in certain positions night after night leads to "sleep lines" that are wrinkles that become etched into the surface of the skin and don't disappear once you're up. Sleeping on your side increases wrinkles on cheeks and chin, while sleeping face-down gives you a ffurrowed brow. To reduce wrinkle formation, the AAD says, sleep on your back.
7. Don't smoke. Some of this research is still controversial. However, more and more studies are confirming that cigarette smoke ages the skin - mostly by releasing an enzyme that breaks down important components of the skin: collagen and elastin. Extensive sibling studies have been done and found the brother or sister who smoked tended to have skin that was more wrinkled and up to 40% thinner than the non-smoker.
8. Eat more fruits and vegetables. The key here are their antioxidant compounds. These compounds fight damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage cells), which, in turn, helps skin look younger and more radiant, and protects against some effects of photoaging.
9. Don't squint. Get reading glasses. It is a known fact that any repetitive facial movement, such as squinting, overworks facial muscles, forming a groove beneath the skin's surface. This groove eventually becomes a wrinkle. Also important: Wear sunglasses. It will protect skin around the eyes from sun damage. It will also keep you from squinting.
10. Eat more fish, especially salmon and other cold-water fish. These kinds of fish are a great source of protein which is one of the building blocks of great skin. These fish are also an awesome source of an essential fatty acid known as omega-3. Essential fatty acids help nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping to reduce wrinkles.
11. Eat more soy. So far, most of the proof has come from animal studies. However, research does show certain properties of soy may help protect or heal some of the sun's photoaging damage. In one recent human study, researchers reported that a soy-based supplement (other ingredients included fish protein along with extracts from white tea, grapeseed, and tomato, as well as several vitamins) improved skin's structure and firmness after just six months of use
12. Exchange your coffee for cocoa. In a 2006 study researchers found cocoa containing high levels of two dietary flavanols: epicatchin and catechin which protected skin from sun damage, improved circulation, affected hydratirculation to skin cells and made the skin look and feel smoother.
Here's to your good health! ~ Ms.CiCi ~ http://www.cici-online.com
About the Author
Ms. CiCi has a gift of teaching, is an accomplished author and world traveler who enjoys sharing her life's experiences with others, making their life, their world a bit easier. Her writings expose her wealth of "secret information" so derived from her travels as well as drawing from her own personal wealth of wisdom. A great lover of nature, a visit to her website is a true delight. http://www.CiCi-Online.Com