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Fall has officially arrived, and Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it. This is the time of year when you will be gathering with friends and family to enjoy the festivities and be together. To look your best during this time, it’s important that you take care of your skin. In one of our earlier blogs, we discussed the importance of cleansing your skin every day, moisturizing it, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of sleep. Here are a few more helpful tips to help your skin look its best during the upcoming holidays and beyond.
Wear Sunscreen Every Day
Probably the single most important tip to slow the effects of aging is to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Most people wear sunscreen in the summer because they are spending a lot of time outside and want to protect themselves from sunburns. While this is a good practice during the warmer months, wearing sunscreen is just as important during colder weather, even when spending more time inside. The sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays are non-discriminatory, and they seep through car and office windows to cause damage to your skin. Not only can exposure to the sun’s UV rays increase your risk for skin cancer, but it can also age your skin prematurely. If left unprotected, UV rays damage the elastin in your skin, which can lead to wrinkles, blotchy pigmentation, a leather-like appearance, and looking older than you actually are.
Don’t Smoke
It is well known that smoking ages the skin. A study published in the Archives of Dermatology in 2007 evaluated a set of twins with markedly different smoking histories; one twin smoked about a pack of cigarettes a week, and the other twin did not smoke. In this study, the twin who smoked showed more severe skin aging than did the non-smoking twin. Collagen is a protein that promotes the natural elasticity of the skin, and it naturally decreases with age, which leads to the development of wrinkles. Smoking damages existing collagen and reduces the amount of new collagen that is produced. In addition to causing the premature breakdown of collagen, smoking also causes tiny blood vessels in the skin to tighten, which decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrition delivered to the skin’s cells, reduces the skin’s elasticity, and accelerates aging. Repetitive facial expressions, such as pursing the lips when smoking a cigarette, can also contribute to the development of vertical lines around the lips. Although quitting smoking can be very difficult to do, it truly is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself this Christmas or any time of year.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
The holidays are a time to eat, drink, and be merry, but drinking too much alcohol can have a negative effect on your skin. Alcohol can cause your body and skin to become dehydrated, making your skin appear dry, tired, and aged. This doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a few cocktails this holiday season. Rather, when drinking alcohol, be sure to limit the number of alcoholic drinks. In addition, be sure to drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks, such as soda water or fruit juice, to help your body stay hydrated.
For all of your facial rejuvenation needs, we encourage you to contact board-certified Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Renato Calabria. Dr. Calabria has years of training and experience performing many different surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Whether you desire BOTOX® Cosmetic or dermal fillers to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles and plump the skin, or more permanent solutions such as a facelift, Dr. Calabria can help you achieve the aesthetic results you desire. To schedule your consultation, please call (310) 777-0069 or fill out our online contact form today.
