Tips for Achieving a Youthful Complexion

a senior lady with a good complexion Our skin is a complex, multi-function organ. With a surface area of up to two square metres, and an average thickness of three millimetres, it accounts for about 15 percent of our weight. It regulates our temperature, synthesizes vital vitamins, and provides insulation. Our skin works hard to look after us, but we need to look after it in return. Nothing gives away our age as much as the condition of our skin does.

Elastin and collagen fibres are tough structural proteins which give skin strength and elasticity. The loss of collagen and elastin from our skin, which tends to occur as we get older, causes sagging and wrinkles. As the blood flow to the skin decreases with age, our skin becomes thinner, damages more easily, and loses its youthful bloom. The speed and extent of skin ageing is partly genetic, but our lifestyle and environmental factors also play a major role. There are practical steps we can take to improve our chances of looking younger than our years, no matter what genetic cards we have been dealt.

One of the most important things we can do to improve our skin’s appearance is ensure that we get enough sleep. A lack of sleep shows rapidly in our face. Not only do we get dark circles and bags under our eyes, our skin also looks dull and generally tired. Getting enough sleep is essential for our health in general, and the beneficial effects on our complexion are almost immediately noticeable. Most people don’t get enough, but ideally we should aim for about 8 hours sleep every night.

Almost all skin specialists agree the most common cause for the appearance of premature lines and wrinkles is sun damage. The sun may feel good on our skin, but it can have a very detrimental effect on skin health and appearance in the long term. Sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 should always be worn, even when it’s overcast or during the winter months, and covering up in the sun whenever possible is also advisable. Not only are these sensible precautions against the risk of skin cancer they will also help prevent your skin looking like an old piece of leather in years to come. Sunbeds should be avoided at all costs. One fifteen minute session on a sunbed can do as much damage as an entire day spent on the beach. If you must have a tan, get it from a bottle.

Ensure your skin is adequately hydrated and nourished by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will provide your skin with the essential nutrients it needs to stay healthy and looking good, as well as providing many other health benefits. Foods that are high in Omega Fatty Acids, such as oily fish, are also beneficial for the complexion. Fried or greasy foods should be kept to a minimum, and ideally avoided completely.

If you drink alcohol then drink it only in moderation. Alcohol dilates the blood vessels in the skin. Excessive alcohol consumption will lead to chronic dilation of the capillaries, which results in permanent flushing. If you smoke, you are not only risking a whole range of life shortening afflictions, you are also damaging your skin. Smoking dehydrates the skin and deprives it of oxygen, leading to the classic dull, smokers’ complexion. Cigarette smoking also destroys collagen, and has a generally detrimental effect on your circulation, both of which will damage your skin.

Finally a good skincare regimen will protect your skin and enhance your appearance. This does not necessarily mean spending huge amounts of money on costly face creams and potions. The two most important functions of a skincare regimen should be cleansing and moisturising. Skin should be thoroughly cleansed and moisturised in the morning and in the evening. Many people use a moisturiser specifically for night time use. These are usually heavier and more nourishing than day moisturisers. Find the products that suit your skin and use them daily. However, remember to regularly reassess your skincare needs. Our skin changes naturally with age so the products that suit you at twenty will not necessarily produce good results for you at fifty or sixty years old.