We all tend to overindulge over the festive season. Unfortunately, the effects of too many treats and lack of sleep linger on our skin for a long time after the celebrations are over. Combined with the dehydrating effects of winter weather, many people find their skin loses its youthful appearance and glow at this time of year.
As an aesthetic nurse, plenty of people come to see me looking to restore healthy looking, youthful skin. Although there are many aesthetic treatments available to bring a youthful glow back to your skin, you can also achieve healthy looking skin and delay the onset of ageing by making a few simple changes to your lifestyle. Here are my top tips for
maintaining your youthful glow and keeping ageing at bay.
Cut Down on Sugar and Salt
Sugary and salty snacks might be tempting, but these foods can wreak havoc on our skin. Excess sugars form molecules which break down collagen and elastin when they enter our bloodstream. Collagen and elastin are responsible for maintaining the skin’s firmness and elasticity, so when production of these proteins is limited, lines and wrinkles form. Collagen production slows down naturally as we age, but excessive sugar consumption can accelerate this process. Limiting the amount of sugary treats you eat can give your skin a healthy, youthful glow.
Salty foods cause the body to hold on to excess water, leading to puffiness and swelling of the skin. This can particularly affect the area around the eyes, resulting in under eye bags. It is true that prevention is better than cure, so try to avoid foods with a high salt content for a beautiful, even complexion.
Reduce your Alcohol Consumption
Most of us enjoy a drink now and then, but alcohol can have a damaging effect on your skin. Many rosacea sufferers find that alcohol worsens their symptoms, and it can also have an ageing effect. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect, which can make signs of ageing more noticeable. Lines and wrinkles appear minimised when your skin is well hydrated, so drinking plenty of water and reducing your alcohol intake can have an anti-ageing effect on your skin.
Alcohol also decreases the body’s levels of vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant which can fight the effects of ageing. Vitamin A is important for the cell renewal process in the skin and is responsible for the skin’s healthy glow. Lack of vitamin A can also make it more difficult for your body to fight free radical damage to the skin, which is one of the leading causes of signs of ageing.
Get Plenty of Sleep
We’re all guilty of skipping our beauty sleep from time to time. During sleep, the cell renewal process is working eight times faster than when we’re awake, allowing damaged skin cells to repair themselves. Lack of sleep can result in cell damage building up rather than being repaired, leading lines and wrinkles to become more visible. Our skin also rehydrates itself while we sleep, so missing out on shut-eye can lead to dehydration and the development of dark circles and bags under the eyes. Make a good night’s sleep a priority to delay the onset of ageing!
The best way to hold off the signs of ageing and maintain healthy, youthful skin is to lead a healthy lifestyle and stick to a good skincare regime. Following these tips can also help maintain the results of aesthetic treatments by reducing the risk of further damage to your skin.
I can help you restore healthy looking, youthful skin through aesthetic treatments and the ZO skincare range. Whether you’re looking to reduce lines and wrinkles, restore lost volume or treat acne and rosacea, pop into my aesthetic clinic in Hale for a consultation to discuss the best treatment options for you. Book your consultation today by calling Khatra on 0161 980 3372.
