Environmental Factors
Because we’re in the midst of our colder weather months, we will mention environmental agers first. Primarily, what happens in the wintertime is that the air gets dryer, so it pulls moisture out of the skin more quickly. When it’s cold outside, we often rely on central heating to warm our indoor spaces. We drive in heated cars and work in offices warmed by central heat, as well. These sources are necessary to keep us comfortable, but they exacerbate dry conditions and our skin pays the price. To offset the dryness in the environment, it is necessary to apply an emollient cream or body butter liberally after bathing. And even this may not be sufficient. Paying attention to your skin, you’ll quickly see if you need to reapply lotion a few times a day. Additionally, consider placing a humidifier where you spend the most time. This device adds moisture back into the air, which can protect the moisture in your skin.
Sun Exposure
Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean we’re under a blanket of clouds every day during the winter. All through the year, we can sustain damage from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. These rays can permeate a mild cloud layer, so sunscreen is a must. If you’re not wearing SPF30 sunscreen daily on all areas of skin that are exposed, you are inadvertently damaging your skin. Ultraviolet light penetrates into the deeper layers of skin, where it breaks down collagen and damages the DNA that is involved in producing new skin cells. Clothing and sunscreen are our best defenses against it.
Smoking
Many people avoid or have quit smoking due to the health concerns associated with this habit. The occasional cigarette is enough to cause a change in the circulation that feeds the skin. A smoking habit severely blunts the circulatory process that delivers nutrients and oxygen to the skin. As a result, smokers tend to have fine lines, rough texture, broken capillaries, and loss of tissue firmness. For more radiant, resilient skin, the solution is to avoid this habit altogether.
Alcohol Consumption
Say it isn’t so! Those mimosas at Sunday Brunch can be immensely damaging to the skin! Studies are clear in the stance that all alcohol consumption leads to dehydration. That is, of course, unless you drink three times the amount of water as you do alcohol. For example, if you drink a 12-ounce beer, that should be followed by 36 ounces of water. In addition to dehydrating the body as a whole, drinking has been associated with the degradation of collagen and elastin, the chemicals that firm and smooth the skin.
Do you have to give up all of your habits in order to support your aging skin? This is a personal preference. Regardless, we are here to help you manage the concerns that worsen with age. Our Sonterra and La Casita offices are equipped with the latest technologies, including IPL photofacial, RF microneedling, laser skin resurfacing, and more. Contact us today to schedule your visit at a location near you.