6 Harmless Habits That Age You
Putting a stop to these daily don'ts could help you look and feel younger.
By Ashley Neglia
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Learn What Not to Do
Sure, we know that smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, eating a poor diet and not exercising age us by more than a decade. But what about those seemingly benign habits we don’t even think about, like rubbing our eyes or sleeping on our side? It seems that they, too, can take a toll on how we look and feel.We talked to Sandy Johnson, M.D., of the American Academy of Dermatology, and found that breaking the following everyday mannerisms can take 3 to 5 years off your appearance >> -
#1: Rubbing your eyes.
Tired all the time? Pulling and tugging at the eyes can break tiny capillaries and cause the delicate skin around the eyes to darken. “As we mature the skin thins, and this is very noticeable around the eyes,” says Dr. Johnson. “When you rub your eyes you further break those blood vessels, which makes dark circles worse and increases wrinkling.”Stop this habit and look younger in: 2 to 4 weeks -
#2: Sleeping on your side or stomach.
It may be more comfortable than sleeping on your back, but having your face pressed against the pillow for seven to nine hours a night can speed up the formation of fine lines and wrinkles and can contribute to facial asymmetry, says Dr. Johnson. If you can’t sleep on your back, she suggests using a softer pillow, which lessens the pressure applied to your face.Stop this habit and look younger in: 2 to 4 weeks -
#3: Not drinking enough water.
Drinking eight glasses a day does more than just keep the body hydrated – it keeps us looking young by fending off dehydration, which can make the skin appear papery and fine lines more apparent. Using moisturizer and drinking enough water, especially if you’re taking water pills or cholesterol medicine, is an instant, easy way to look younger, says Dr. Johnson.Stop this habit and look younger in: a few days -
#4: Yo-yo dieting.
Add a few pounds during the holidays. Shed a few before the summer. Gain it all back in the fall and vow to have it back off by New Year’s Eve.If this cycle seems familiar to you, then you may need to rethink those weight-loss methods. Gaining and losing weight repeatedly stretches the skin, causing elastic fibers in the skin to break down, which leads to excess sagging, says dermatologist Dr. Johnson. This sagging is similar to the stretch marks we see from rapid weight change.Stop this habit and look younger in: 2 to 4 weeks -
#5: Having a sweet tooth.
You might think sneaking your hand into the cookie jar or indulging in dessert every night doesn’t do much (if any) harm, but sugar is a top culprit when it comes to putting the aging process into high gear. Sugar by-products called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can not only result in the breakdown of collagen in the skin resulting in fine lines and wrinkles, but have also been linked to degenerative disorders, such as type 2 Diabetes and arthritis.Stop this habit and look younger in: 2 to 4 weeks -
#6: Overdoing your anti-aging beauty routine.
Every night you diligently apply your moisturizers and retinols to plump up the skin and combat fine lines and wrinkles. However, your well-intentioned anti-aging regimen could be doing more harm than good. Applying more of a product than directed can cause clogged pores or a blotchy complexion. What’s more, using too many products can lead to irritation and redness, which makes signs of aging more noticeable, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.Stop this habit and look younger in: almost immediately -
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Comments
True, most of us already know these things, but it is always good to be reminded! I still rub my eyes and sleep on my side, but when I am reminded, I try, once again, to stop doing those things! I don't think it's only us senior citizens who slack in the "must dos," forget and fall back into the old habits of doing whatever feels the most comfortable at the moment. Even children need to be reminded to brush their teeth, teens need to be reminded to pick up their clothes, and those in early adult and mid life need reminders of all sorts of things! I appreciate this article. Thank you so much, Ashley, for these important reminders!
Hello! Quite frankley, I think that the disrespect that some of these comments have given this article, only shows that a few of these people have not learned the heavenly art of 'self-love' that the dear Lord has graciously given us. To tend to one's body and being is a testament to showing the appreciation for what you have been given! But, what about the poor people who have been ill, which many times makes the funds a little to scarse to purchase moisturizers, etc. I think that this article could be just kind of a 'reminder' to people who might be caring for others or helping others and not having the time to think about what is happening to themselves! Sometimes one doesn't have the time to think of themselves and personally, I feel that this article kind of 'refreshes' what we might already know, just haven't taken the time to practice due to circumstances. It's just kind of nice to read about such things! I feel that it is an excellent article! It's never too late to start, if you haven't had the chance to. Thank You Grandparents.com!! O:-)
Hilarious!!!!! If you just now have this figured out you may be 50 years old and look 90!!
I think this is a good article, Keeping yourself healthy keeps you feeling good about yourself. Being a mother and grandmother is an important role model... I want to be the best I can be so that my grandchildren can grow up seeing me care. Maybe there will be a time when they say "Hey, if my grandma can continue to take care of herself, then I can do". Showing self-love teaches self-love.