4 Ways You Might Be Prematurely Aging Your Skin

Premature aging of the skin is not something anyone wants. People seem to have a passion for holding onto their youth, whether that means their physical appearance or other activities. So when I get clients that come to me in their early to mid 20s and their skin looks much older, I find myself very concerned. 

In this article, I outline a few ways you might be prematurely aging your skin and a few ways you can work to reverse that. 

O N E 
Not Drinking Enough Water

This one seems like a simple solution, but there is more to it than you might consider. 

With the skin being the largest (& often most overlooked) organ of the body, it tells us what is going on internally. The skin is literally a mirror of our health. With the human body being up to 60 % water, with the skin itself being about 64% water. I always like to give the analogy of a grape. A freshly picked, then washed grape is plump & vibrant. If you leave it out for a while, it will start to wither a bit, the coloring will begin to become dull-- eventually it might even turn into a raisin.  The skin is similar. When you aren't properly providing adequate water to the body, your body will allocate the water to the most important functions, such as the heart & lungs, while other not as necessary areas of the body will not receive as much water. 

If you are properly hydrated, your skin will remain plump & have great elasticity meaning it will be less likely to crack or wrinkle. So do you have fine lines? Are you looking much older than you should be? How about we bump up the hydration factor? 

T W O
Your diet lacks good fats & has lots of simple sugars

Ooooh did you know we were going to throw in the diet factor? 

A diet that is high in sugary foods and beverages & simple sugars themselves, has been known to cause connective tissue issues with the skin. When the connective tissues of the skin are compromised, they can lose their ability to stretch and can become rigid. 

A diet that is high in good fats like coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, pasture raised lard, grass fed tallow, flax seed oil, and more, is not only great for digestive health & reproductive health, but amazing for the skin. Omega 6 fatty acids are especially known for being the building blocks of cell membranes. They help maintain healthy, hydrated skin. Omega 3 Fatty acids are known for nourishing the skin & adding softness to your complexion. If you frequently struggle with dry, flaky skin, consider dropping out some sugars & carbs and adding in some good fats to your diet. 

T H R E E 
You don't deal with your emotions

A big one. This is an absolute huge factor in the aging of the skin. 

Do you feel neglected? Overlooked? Like people don't see you for who you are? Do you feel forgotten? Those feelings among many others actually can have a direct impact on the looks of your skin. 

Like I said previously, the skin is a mirror of what is going on inside our body... but also a mirror to our mental & emotional health as well. Have you ever watched someone get bad news and see all of the color drain from their face? Have you ever seen someone get great news and watch their face light up? Yeah, we witness this phenomenon on a daily basis- we just don't always witness what is right in front of us. 

The relationship between the emotions and the skin actually begins in the womb. According to board certified psychiatrist, Josie Howard, "The skin and nervous system share a common embryonic origin, meaning the same cells form both the brain and the skin," Read More here.  

The emotions we feel also release chemicals in our body. Stress releases cortisol, when your body releases cortisol, the skin begins to rapidly produce more sebum, which in turn clogs pores. 

Depression is another condition that can greatly effect the skin. The chemicals released in the brain that cause long-term, chronic, depression cause the skin to stop combating inflammation in the cells. Depression also is known to cause a lack of sleep, which lack of sleep can be shown on the face by droopy eyes, more pale appearance, and bags under the eyes. 

F O U R
Over Exfoliating 

Did you know that you could be exfoliating your skin too much? 

Exfoliating every day (even every other day) can cause tiny micro-tears in the skin and expose new skin cells before they are mature enough to be "on the outside". This can lead to dermatitis and other rashes. The skin *sees* the exfoliation as a form of aggression towards the skin. The skin will then use up it's ability to fight inflammation and repair itself. If this is done regularly & often, it will damage the skin. 

Have you ever exfoliated your skin and then your skin hurt after? This is why ^^ soothe the skin & slow down on the exfoliating. 

Here are a few ways to reverse premature aging:

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
• Don't take scalding hot showers
• Take a collagen supplement, like collagen peptides
• Massage your face every night
• Look into taking some B Vitamins & Vitamin C- both are associated with skin health. 
• Ladies, get in touch with your cycle & regulate your hormones. 
  • Look into following @menstruationqueen on instagram
  • Look into following Cassandra Wilder with her amazing tips! 
  • Listen to the Goddess Ceremony Podcast!
• Take time for yourself & learn how to destress.