REPOST: Unhealthy lifestyles 'age a woman's skin by 10 years'

An international study says that having an unhealthy lifestyle can age a woman's skin by more than 10 years.  Read this article from The Telegraph for details:

 

The true damage caused by sun beds, smoking and a lack of fruit and moisturisation in accelerating the ageing process emerged following research by a team of top skincare experts.

The study, which involved 585 women in the UK, China and Spain, showed the factors influencing their skin were the same even taking into account the backgrounds and skin type of the women involved.

It also emerged 'lifestyle choices' often account for as much as 33 per cent of how old a woman looks.

Dr Andrew Mayes, a scientist for Simple skincare which pioneered the research, said: "We already knew genetics accounted for about 50 per cent of how old people look, but we didn't know how much would be accounted for by their lifestyles.

 

Image Source: Telegraph.co.uk

"Even we were surprised by just how much it was; both in terms of the number of years and the percentage."

The study which was carried out over the last eight years involved women aged 45 to 75 in the UK, 30 to 70 in Spain and 25 to 70 in China.

Study sites with controlled laboratory conditions were established in Bedford in the UK, Madrid in Spain and Shanghai in China.

Those who took part were asked a string of questions about their lifestyles including whether or not they like to sun tan and if they were smokers or non-smokers.

Other questions included how often they moisturise, whether they eat fruit and veg, whether they brush their teeth, and have all their own teeth.

The research team also took digital images of the women which were then assessed for how old they looked to identify their perceived age and whether they looked younger or older than their actual age.

The research team, led by Dr Mayes, then compared the perceived ages of those with good versus bad lifestyles.

They concluded the difference was 10.4 years.

Dr Mayes added: "The number of years difference was most staggering – we had just seen some data out of a group of plastic surgeons in the US and Canada suggesting that a face and neck lift (together with eyelid and forehead modifications) could take an average of about 8.5 years off your facial age.

"Then we got our data through demonstrating a saving of over 10 years. It's fair to say at first we couldn't quite believe it.

"But the evidence was there in front of us – women with a healthy lifestyle looked much younger than those with an unhealthy lifestyle.

"Simply put; good skin health is about more than fancy creams and lotions – it's about how we live our lives and how we treat our bodies and the steps we need to take do not need to be extreme.

"They can be small and steady and the effects will be seen over time without the need for plastic surgery."

In direct response, Dr Mayes has helped create Simple Sense, a skincare tool which takes lifestyle as well as skincare products into consideration to provide personalised tips to help women so they don't feel the need to turn to plastic surgery.

A spokeswoman for Simple skincare said: "We've taken this valuable insight and combined it with over 50 years experience caring for sensitive skin to develop this unique online tool called Simple Sense."

The team behind Lift and Glow Pro emphasizes that living a healthy lifestyle contributes to a youthful and healthy glow.  Access this Facebook page for more materials about skin care.

 

Skin care: Ten commandments to live by

The summer weather can entice anyone to go out of their house and enjoy the outdoors. But with this come the harsh effects of sun exposure. From dry skin to skin discoloration and sunburn, the effects of the sun on the skin can range from mild to alarming conditions --- therefore, extra care should be given to the skin when a person spends time under the sun.

Image Source: edensoapandcandle.wordpress.com

NBC News shares the ten commandments for keeping the skin healthy and looking great this summer:

1. Using skin protection. Basking in the summer sun without sunscreen or protective clothing is like going out in a battlefield without arms.

2. Honoring the changes of the seasons. Knowing what products to apply on the skin in certain seasons is crucial in achieving maximum protection.

Image Source: blog.mariobadescu.com

3. Buffing the skin. Buffing and exfoliating the skin remove dead skin cells and speed skin regeneration.

4. Engaging in morning and evening anti-aging rituals. Regular skin care routine—one in the morning and another one at night—enhances the skin’s natural beauty.

5. Moisturizing. Moisturizing and hydrating the skin are a must, no matter what time of year it is.

 

Image Source: newbeauty.com

6. Getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation has some ill effects on the skin. It releases the stress hormone called cortisol and leaves the skin dry and acne-prone.

7. Not pricking or popping pimples and zits. Popping zits will only spread the bacteria to other areas of the skin, and the skin can develop skin trauma.

8. Loving the whole body. Skin in other parts of the body should also be taken care of. A person should focus not only on the skin on the face, but also on the skin in the lower areas of the body.

Image Source: besskincare.com

9. Exercising. Getting pumped up increases blood circulation and regulates stress hormones, giving the person a beautiful glow.

10. Eating fish, fruits, and vegetables. Eating food rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants keeps the skin smooth and looking young.

Image Source: webmd.boots.com

The summer months require added skin protection. Taking good care of the skin can offer a lifetime of health benefits.

This Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page provides more information on how to protect your skin from harsh elements.

Using the sun to benefit your skin and emotional well-being

Image Source: foxnews.com

Health experts agree that sunshine helps the body produce vitamin D, and plays a role in preventing osteoporosis, depression, and certain cancers. A study even states that regular exposure to sunlight can make the skin develop self-protective mechanisms against the sun’s harmful effects. However, too much sun exposure can be extremely harmful not just physically, but also emotionally. Multiple studies have already showed that sunlight exposure can affect a person’s emotional well-being by either uplifting the person’s mood or causing him to be depressed.

Fortunately, this doesn't mean that people have to totally give up outdoor fun altogether. Protection from harmful rays is the key to a healthy skin and good mood. Below are some tips on how to use the sun’s rays to benefit the skin and uplift the mood:

• Being outside, but not directly under the sun, for 30 minutes will benefit the mood

• Protecting the skin using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher

• Wearing a hat or protective clothing while outdoors

Image Source: telegraph.co.uk

• Seeing the dermatologist annually

• Moisturizing before, during, and after sun exposure

• Eating fresh fruits

• Drinking water and juices

There is nothing more uplifting than feeling the warmth of the sunshine every now and then. But too much exposure to the sun can be harmful to the skin and to one’s emotional health. Like other great things in life, basking under the sun should be taken in moderation.

Image Source: flickr.com/caitlynrp

Lift Serum Pro protects the skin from aging. Visit this Facebook page for more information on how to take good care of the skin.

What your skin says about you

"Almost every health condition translates to the skin. When something isn't functioning well on the inside, the clues start appearing on the outside," says Francesca Fusco, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Image Source: self.com

If you have an unsuspecting eye, skin patches, wrinkles, and dry skin seem like a common and ordinary sight on a person’s face. But doctors say that these may be early indicators of health issues. True enough, the largest organ of the body has important things to say about your overall health. This Huffington Post article says that you have to look out for these surprising signs on your skin and know the story behind them:

Deep wrinkles on the face and neck

A study showed that postmenopausal women with wrinkles were more likely to have lower bone density in the hip, spine, and heel areas. Deep wrinkles are a sign that the body produces less collagen, which could mean that there’s a decrease in bone density, too. This makes women with wrinkles prone to bone fractures.

Image Source: futurefashionstyle.com

Thick, dark, and velvety patches

When you see these patches on your skin, you may want to consult an endocrinologist and have your glucose tested for diabetes. This skin abnormality may also be an early signal to other health risks like cancer.

Rough or dry skin

The first signs of an overactive or underactive thyroid show on the skin. It begins with a mild rash on the hands and arms. But as the disease progresses, other body parts are affected, too. This includes hair loss, brittle nails, and flaky skin.

Image Source: livestrong.com

What looks like a simple wrinkle or rash may be a crucial tip-off to what is going on inside your body. When you see the signs, visit your doctor.

For more articles and links on skin health, visit this Lift and Glow Pro Facebook page.