...... or how it is that some people seem to have sickenly young and soft looking skin way into their maturer years?
What increases the ageing process?
We are becoming wise to the problems, such as the increasing rate of ageing, that parabens and sulphates can cause to our skin but lets not forget the fact that there are basic environmental factors that can increase the rate of ageing also. Alcohol, smoking, late nights, working too hard and exposure to the sun are all key environmental factors that will negatively affect your skin and increase the age process.
Alcohol:
As well as causing bloating, alcohol dries out your skin which can lead to wrinkles and premature ageing. Heavy drinkers may develop acne rosacea, a skin disorder that starts with a tendency to blush and flush easily. It can also cause pimples and, in advanced stages, thickened skin. If untreated it can progress to a condition known as rhinophyma. The most common characteristic or symptom of rhinophyma is an enlarged, bulbous, and red nose.
Smoking:
Smoking speeds up the normal ageing process of your skin. These changes in your skin can occur after only 10 years of smoking. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more your skin is likely to wrinkle. Smoking doesn't only cause wrinkles to your face, it is also associated with increased wrinkle and skin damage on other parts of your boding, such as your inner arms. While the wrinkles may not be reversible, you can prevent worsening of wrinkling by quitting smoking now. In addition, repeatedly exposing the heat from a burning cigarette to your face and the expressions you pull when smoking (such as pursing your lips and squinting when "dragging" on a cigarette) may all help contribute to wrinkles.
How does smoking lead to wrinkles?
The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels and in the outermost layers of you skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin and with less blood flow, your skin won't get as much oxygen and important nutrients (ie. Vitamin A) as it needs. There are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke and these will also damage collage and elastin, both of which are fibres that give your skin its strength and elasticity.
How does stress affect the skin?
During times of emotional stress, the blood flow is directed to areas of the body that are considered vital for responding to the stress that we are under. At the same time, blood flow is withdrawn from areas that are considered non-essential, such as the skin. Therefore, during such times of stress, the skin is constantly being starved of both oxygen and blood. This causes the skin take on a dull and lifeless appearance.
Not only will continued stress change the skin's natural appearance, it can can increase cortisone secretion. This suppresses the body's immune system. Once the skin's defence is lowered, it becomes extremely susceptible to irritation from outside pollutants.
Stress can also affect more than just our immune system. It can also impact the body's ability to properly digest food, which canimpact the health of the skin, as well as the health of the body. If food is not properly digested, nutrients are not absorbed as they should be. This allowes undigested impurities to remain and accumulate in the body.
Stress has been known to trigger or aggravate skin conditions such as psoriasis, warts, rosacea, eczema, blisters and cold sores. However it most commonly causes three specific skin reactions: itching, hives and acne.
Although these reactions are common, most people who are under stress will find themselves affected with acne. Stress can unleash chemicals within the body that stimulates oil glands (sebaceous glands). The excess sebum tends to clog the skin's pores, irritating the skin and causing acne to form.
As irritating as these skin complaints can be, they are usually temporary. There is a wide variety of products that are able to help soothe the skin and help us relax in the processs
take me back to Pura Naturals
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