How to Fight Wrinkles, Signs of Ageing

skin aging

Sagging, wrinkling skin is a sign of ageing. Who wants to age?
None of us.


When the signs of ageing start to reflect on our face, it surely is a sign of worry. Isn't it? I have had a flawless skin for decades. I will credit it to my water intake. Yes, I gulp down 8-10 glasses of water daily and have been doing this for ages - since I realized the benefits of water for skin and health.

I am still young - in my early-to-mid-thirties. But does that mean my face should start to show those ageing signs now that I have entered thirties. Those smile lines are starting to show up! I am ageing! But I am young at heart for sure. Nevertheless I am trying to find the best natural skin care remedies to fight the signs of ageing.

Everybody seems to be fighting ageing signs. What causes skin to age is the question that pops up every now and then.

The anti-wrinkle industry has become a big business.
Of course, everybody ages, and it is part of human evolution. We must accept what we are. But it does not mean we should not look after our own selves  - including our skin & health.

So what are the best ways to avoid ageing signs.  How to avoid aging wrinkles? Are you photo aging (aging due to exposure to UV rays)?

You can prevent photo-aging by:

• avoiding direct exposure to sun 
• applying sun protection creams or using sunscreens that can easily block or reduce skin exposure to the harmful effects of UV rays
•  increasing consumption of antioxidant- rich fruits and vegetables to neutralize the effects of free radicals - nutritional antioxidants repair oxidized membranes.

My research has brought me closer to the best natural anti wrinkles remedies:

SKIN AGING

1. Water

Water is life. It helps maintain skin elasticity.  If your skin has started to sag, it is time to increase your intake of water, which is an essential nutrient for the skin and helps plump up your skin cells. Females should consume at least 8-10 glasses of water. Yay!! I do just that - sometimes my intake is even more. My day begins with two big glasses of water. I have been doing this for almost 15 years.

A splash of water early morning and throughout the day can help you get rid of wrinkled eyes. Puffy eyes? No problem, eye massage or yoga can come to your rescue, working equally great for dark circles.

2. Nuts

Vegetarians should snack on nuts to replace dead skin cells and improve elasticity. Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds, are good sources of protein and vitamin E, which protects the skin from losing its elasticity. The fat soluble vitamin also helps prevent the skin from the harmful effects of sun. Nuts also provide biotin that helps replenish your skin cells and lighten those wrinkles on face. 

3. Beans, peas, legumes 

Green vegetables, such as peas and beans, provide minerals and nutrients to the body and skin. Copper is an essential mineral sourced from legumes and green veggies, which helps improve skin  elasticity by supporting its structure. Undoubtedly fruits and vegetables are great sources of antioxidants, which help negate the signs of free radicals in the body. Antioxidant- rich fruits can protect your skin and improve skin elasticity. Vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables also improve collagen and skin health. Free radicals have the worst impact on your skin and health. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals, preventing them from  doing any damage. Try to include prunes, blueberries to increase your intake of antioxidants and give your skin and health a great boost.
4. Alkaline-forming foods
Alkaline-forming foods, including lemons, kale, parsley, almonds, pears, and apples, can help you have strong skin, hair, and body. If your body is too acidic, primarily due to unbalanced diet, it leaches alkaline minerals, including  potassium, calcium, magnesium. It is these essential minerals that help boost hair, skin, teeth, and bone health.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants reduce concentration of free radicals in tissues, which reduce the risk of various cancers in the body. Various cell regulators, including peptides, retinols   (vitamin A), directly influence collagen metabolism and production.

Retinol is one of the most common compounds found in anti-angeing creams available on the market today, helping remove those wrinkles on face.

Vitamins B3, C, and E are crucial antioxidants for the body. These are the most important due to their skin penetration ability through their small molecular weight. Vitamin C, which is water-soluble, heat-labile, has an anti-aging effect on skin, as it helps in the production of various enzymes that play an important role in the collagen production.

Some systemic antioxidants include vitamin C,  E, carotenoids, selenium, and copper. Studies reveal that a combination of vitamins C and E  with ferulic acid offers the double effect of a sunscreen and antioxidants.

Common examples of antioxidants include Vitamin A, C, E, Lutein, Beta-carotene, Selenium, and Lycopene. Antioxidants, such as flavonoids, vitamins, polyphenols, check collagen degradation.

• Turnips are rich in antioxidants. It is a perfect addition to your meal planning if you are watching calories, since turnip is a low-calorie vegetable. Additionally, it is teeming with Vitamin C, which helps the body fight off free radicals that are linked to cancer. So we can claim that our very own shalgam has cancer-fighting properties as well.
• Avenanthramides, an antioxidant in oats, contains free radicals in our body and prevents atherosclerosis.
• Lotus seeds or fox nuts are said to be rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Corn can act like your natural sunglasses.  Zaexanthin and Lutein are antioxidants in corn that help prevent the damaging effect of UV radiation by forming muscular pigments, helping lower risk of macular degeneration and blindness.
• Grapes/Indian gooseberry (amla) are rich in antioxidants.
• Pomegranates are antioxidant powerhouse.
• Finger millet flour is antioxidant rich and helps boost body vigor and keeps you young.
• Olive oil is a rich antioxidant source.

Botox, hormone replacement therapy, and other invasive procedures are widely prevalent as anti-anging techniques. However, they come with their share of  side effects. I always prefer alternative healing to conventional medicine to deal with various health issues.

Aging Symptoms

Red eyes, overly dry or sagging skin, fine lines, dull thinning hair, and wrinkles are the most common signs of aging. Of course, everyone ages, but there is a time to age naturally. If you are aging prematurely, there is some need to worry.

Of course, who wants to look old faster? Not you, not me, not anybody else!

What is Collagen

A type of protein, collagen provides strength, elasticity, smoothness, and resilience to your skin along with keratin.

When you are young, there is no dearth of collagen in your body,. This is the reason your skin looks young, lively, fresh, and glossy when you are young. It won't be wrong to dub collagen as the cement that holds everything together.

With age, there is a decline in collagen production and appearance of wrinkles. As a result, the skin starts to weaken and shrink, wrinkle lines, smile lines, frown lines, crow's feet show up on your face, and neck becomes saggy.

Collagen is formed in the dermis or the second layer of skin.

Ageing affects every single layer of your skin - including epidermal, dermal, and sub or hypo dermal.

Epidermis/ outermost skin layer - skin cells, pigment, proteins
Dermis/middle layer- hair follicles, blood vessels, nerves, oil glands - all of which supply nutrients to the outermost layer or epidermis
Subcutaneous or innermost layer- Fat, some sweat glands, blood vessels, and hair follicles

Reasons for Aging Skin

Why do wrinkles appear on your face? Your premature aging signs could be due to the following reasons:

• Poor blood supply to the skin: The skin is not able to receive proper supply of oxygen and nutrients. As a result, the skin looks dull and rough. Your rosy glow simply disappears.

• Nutritional deficiency - A diet lacking in antioxidants that fight free radicals will do nothing to prevent your face from wrinkling or signs of ageing. Contrarily, a diet rich in antioxidants could work miracles on your body, particularly skin, and have a skin-protecting effect. Good nutrition is the key building block for a healthy skin and body.
• Environmental factors/exposure to sun/smoking - Exposure to certain environmental factors, such as smoking, pollutants, UV rays. Sun exposure can cause increased collagen degradation. Tanning is one of the most common signs of skin damage from exposure to ultraviolet rays. This means that UV rays have penetrated and damaged the support structure of your skin. You won't believe that sun exposure contributes to most wrinkles on your face and body. This is one reason the sunscreen lotion industry is ballooning. But I have never invested in any sunscreen lotion thus far - seems it is high time I looked for one that has high SPF that can ward off solar rays from harming my skin. But my skin is very sensitive. I rarely apply body lotions and skin creams. 
• Genetics- Yes, some genetic factors do play a role in the wrinkling or sagging of skin. It could be a hereditary factor for some. 
• Little to no care - My mom's skin has been ageing for a long time- I have never seen her care for herself. She has always been busy looking after each one of us, with no time for herself, let alone her skin. Contrarily, I have always followed a holistic skin care regimen - washing my face every time I return home, cleaning it up with a natural soap (my dermatologist always advised me not to use a soap on skin, but they always recommended a medicated soap themselves - strange!!!), drink plenty of water, consume a lot of nuts, go for regular face massage or facials every 20 days. But now I need to include more nuts and beans in my diet to fight off ageing signs.
• Lack of sleep - Sleeplessness or insomnia will result in stress. Remember, stress is a slow killer, which could first kill your skin and then gradually your body. Of course, stress does us more harm than good. I wonder if it ever does any good to anyone! You won't believe incorrect sleeping pattern or posture, too, causes wrinkles on your forehead, chin, and cheeks.      Sleep on your back to avoid those aging signs or wrinkles on your face. 
• Eating too much sugar - Are you a sugary baby? Eating too much sugar isn’t great for your waistline, but is it for your skin? Well, indulging too much in desserts and sweets can add years to your face.
• Drastic fat intake reduction: This is one reason that has contributed to the first signs of aging on my face. When you consume an unbalanced diet, you are bound to make your hair, skin, and nails  suffer. If you think cutting down your intake of calories is the key to good health, think again. Rather, it could have devastating effects on your body, depriving it of certain nutrients that help in healthy cell division and regeneration. You are compromising with health of your skin when you are drastically eliminating fat from diet, which could have a negative impact on your overall skin tone and texture. Your skin needs essential fatty acids that cannot be produced within the body to maintain hydration. A low fat diet could cause your skin to age, become dry, affect hair and nails quality, resulting in brittle nails and excessive hair loss.

Aging skin looks wrinkled, thinner, paler, and lighter due to loss of strength and elasticity.

Presentation of skin or facial aging is related with the loss of volume, loss of bony skeleton support, muscle action, gravity impact, and diminishing of superficial and deep fat - all of which causes changes in the shape and color of the face and leads to wrinkling and sagging.

(I will continue to add more to this space as I research deeper into fighting ageing signs. Keep watching this space for the most effective tips to fight wrinkles.)

Image source
1: http://www.imedeen.co.uk/sites/default/files/3.2_skin_and_ageing_healthy_skin_large_0.jpg
2; http://cdn1.bigcommerce.com/server3200/i0ipf/product_images/uploaded_images/aging-cycle.jpg