Every woman’s greatest fear is waking up one morning and realizing that her skin is gradually losing its youthful nature.

Imagine looking in the mirror and realizing that your skin isn’t as fresh-looking and doesn’t glow as much as it used to.

The truth is, everyone of us will eventually get to this point.

Aging is inevitable and just like every part of your body, your skin also gets affected by this biological process.

However, some people experience aging signs earlier than others.

What Causes Early Aging?

There are numerous factors that can make your skin age faster than it should. They include:

• Exposure to the sun

Sun rays from the sun can cause great damage to your skin.

Sun damage can lead to spots on your skin or uneven skin tone. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress causes the release of free radicals which damage skin cell structures and destroy collage and elastin in your skin.

• Smoking

Smoking speeds up the appearance of aging signs.

Cigarettes contain nicotine and other chemicals that trigger the actions of free radicals in your skin.

These chemicals also intensify the damaging effect of sunrays on your skin.

• Inappropriate skincare practices

There are numerous skin care practices that put your skin at the risk of developing aging signs quickly.  They include:

• Bathing with hot water.
• Using too many skincare products.
• Using makeup everyday without giving your skin a break.
• Self-medicating and using skincare products without consulting your dermatologist.
• Going to bed without removing your makeup.

If you are able to stay away from these factors, then you can greatly delay the appearance of aging signs on your skin.

Common aging signs you should watch out for

Here are common aging signs you should watch out for on your skin:

1. Age spots

These are also known as liver spots.

They are caused by your skin’s exposure to the sun over a long period.

Sun damage causes dark or brown skin patches to form on parts of your skin that are constantly exposed to the sun.

So, expect age spots on skin parts like hands, arms, face and shoulders.

Usually, age spots do not surface until you are 50, but you can get them earlier especially if you are experiencing premature aging.

How do I treat age spots?

First, you need to see your dermatologist to be certain they are age spots and not cancer.

Then, get a lightening cream or bleaching product (be sure to consult with your dermatologist first) to get rid of them completely.

Prevention

To prevent age spots, avoid the sun as much as you can.

And if you must be under the sun, wear clothes that cover your skin. Also get a sunscreen immediately.

2. Dry skin

As you age, your skin becomes drier than it used to be. This is because your sweat and oil glands do not function as effectively as they used to.

You might experience dry skin patches on your elbows, legs or lower arms.

Dry skin can also be as a result of bad skincare practices, like bathing with hot water or using harsh soaps.

How do I treat dry skin?

Diligently use your moisturizer every day.

You can also change your soap.

Make sure to use a milder soap and stay away from detergents as much as you can.

Also, do not use hot water to bathe. Warm water is just fine.

Finally, take fewer baths and try not to spend a long-time in the shower.

3. Wrinkles

Your skin loses moisture, collagen and elastin as you grow older.

These are proteins that help to keep your skin in shape. When your skin does not have enough supply of collagen and elastin, wrinkles begin to form.

Your eyes and mouth will likely get affected by wrinkles the most.

How do I treat wrinkles?

Do not expose your skin to the sun. Sunrays make your skin less elastic.

Also, quit smoking. It contributes to the appearance of wrinkles.

You can as well make use of creams that fight against wrinkles.

4. Sagging skin

As said earlier, collagen and elastin production decreases as you grow older. This means that your skin becomes less elastic and very thin.

This makes it almost impossible for your skin to remain firm and strong. So it begins to sag.

How do I treat sagging skin?

Eat foods that can help boost collagen production in your body. These are foods like carrot, garlic, green vegetables, almonds, etc.

You can also take collagen supplements and use creams that reduce sagging, as long as they are prescribed by a dermatologist.

5. Dull skin tone

Your skin tone becomes dull as you grow older.

With age, the rate of blood flow decreases. So, the supply of oxygen, blood and nutrient decreases and your skin is deprived of nutrients it needs to glow and stay healthy.

Also, your skin renewal decreases over the years. Gradually, it becomes harder for your skin to shed off old skin cells and produce new and healthy ones.

The buildup of dead skin cells on your skin therefore makes it appear dull.

How do I treat dull skin tone?

Ensure that you strictly follow your daily skin care routine. As you age, skincare becomes more important to keep your skin from aging faster.

If you do not have a skincare routine for glowing skin, please read this article: 7 Things to Include in Your Beauty Regimen.

Also, exfoliate twice weekly to remove dead skin cells from your skin. You can also go for weekly massages to help improve blood circulation in your body.

How to prevent the appearance of early aging signs

Ways to prevent the appearance of early aging signs include:

• Reduce your intake of alcohol.
• Always eat a balanced meal.
• Exercise daily.
• Wash your face twice a day; in the morning and at night.
• Always keep your skin moisturized by applying a moisturizer every day and drinking lots of water.
• Stay away from the sun.
• Treat skincare conditions immediately you notice them.

In conclusion,

We cannot stop ourselves from getting older, but we can definitely delay our skin from showing aging signs.

It is very important that you treat your skin with utmost care.

Stick to a skincare routine, see your dermatologist as regularly as possible and avoid anything that can harm your skin.

If you are already experiencing these signs, there is no cause for alarm. Just follow the tips I gave above, and you should be fine.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me in the comments — I’ll definitely reply.