While nothing can prevent aging, some natural anti-aging techniques can help keep skin looking younger for a longer period. The best tips include avoiding excessive exposure to the sun, eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise, and keeping the skin moisturized. Following these tips can help keep the skin in good shape and prevent the breakdown of the fibers responsible for maintaining overall skin structure.
Avoiding excessive exposure to the sun is one of the best and most important tips for natural anti-aging. The sun’s rays can cause progressive damage to the skin throughout the years, leading to wrinkles, dark spots, and a rough texture. Wearing sunscreen year-round when outdoors or sitting close to windows can help prevent damage. Those with fair skin are more likely to suffer damage than those with darker skin, but sunscreen should be worn regardless of skin tone.
While there is no specific natural anti-aging diet, eating an overall balanced diet can help keep skin looking younger. The skin, like the rest of the body, requires an adequate supply of vitamins, protein, and other nutrients to maintain optimum health. Certain fruits and other foods also contain antioxidants, which may reduce the damage caused by external toxins and other damaging substances. A nutritionist can help determine the optimum diet for each person’s individual needs.
Muscle tone plays a role in maintaining a youthful appearance, and regular exercise acts as a natural anti-aging practice because it helps build and maintain muscle. Regular exercise also helps prevent obesity, which can cause the skin to stretch out. Losing weight too quickly can also damage the skin, causing it to sag because it can’t keep up with the body’s structural changes. Exercising may help maintain skin’s elasticity, allowing it to bounce back faster.
Keeping the skin moisturized is a good natural anti-aging practice, and it doesn’t have to require using expensive creams and lotions. Simply drinking an adequate amount of water and using an inexpensive moisturizer each day can help keep the skin supple and elastic. While there are benefits to creams that contain ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy or vitamin A, simply locking in water already present on the surface of the skin after a shower or nightly face-washing routine is often sufficient.
Avoiding environmental toxins is another natural anti-aging practice that can significantly reduce damage to the skin. Smoking or excessive exposure to second-hand smoke can cause damage to the cells that make up your skin, as can exposure to other pollutants. Those who cannot avoid the toxins and pollutants entirely should talk to their dermatologist about ways to lessen the damage.