Alternative Health Blog

The Alternative Health Blog is presenting “Stay Younger Longer Week” from Sept. 22 through Sept. 27.

You probably know this already, but there is no guaranteed method for keeping your skin younger longer. But research shows there are some documented habits that can keep your skin as young-looking and wrinkle-free as possible. Best of all, these habits will keep your skin healthier longer, which will not only improve what you hope to see in the mirror but also protect the body from illness. After all, the skin is the body’s largest organ. Try these habits as part of any skin care regimen;

Drink water. OK, know it, got it, what’s next? Guessing that is what you think when you see “drink water.” And, yes, it is common knowledge that getting your fluids keeps skin elastic and allows cells to rejuvenate. What you might not know? Any level of dehydration will show your wrinkles more.

Eat foods rich in vitamin C. Research shows eating multiple servings each day of citrus, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage and sweet peppers help fortify the skin against the development of wrinkles, fine or heavy. Whole foods are always better, but drinking a daily mix of water and vitamin C powder (1,000 milligrams) is good strategy. Just be careful; too much vitamin C at one time doesn’t get absorbed and too much in one day can lead to diarrhea.

Get enough linoleic acid in your diet. Linoleic acid is an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid. It is plentiful in sunflower oil and seeds, plus most nuts (not peanuts, which are technically legumes).  Eating salmon is another good habit. What linoleic acid does is help prevent skin dryness and skin thinning that is common as we age.

Respect the sun. A new government study reports that 90 percent of skin aging can be directly linked to overexposure to ultraviolet A and B rays. Don’t interpret this to mean you avoid sun or slather the sunscreen every time you go outside. Moderate exposure to the sun each day (10 to 20 minutes on the face and forearms without sunblock) is good for the body and, by extension, the skin. The problems arise when people connect a “healthy-looking” tan to healthy skin. Moderate sun, good. Too much sun, not wearing sunscreen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., working for that perfect tan, bad. Simple as that.

Consider changing up your sleep positions. People who sleep on their sides (researchers say women dominate this group) in the same positions for years are likely to develop wrinkles or sleep lines on the cheeks or chin. It starts with those lines apparent when you look in the mirror first thing, then they never disappear all day. Individuals who sleep with their faces pressed down into pillows (men dominate this group) will develop sleep lines on their foreheads. Sleeping on your back avoids wrinkles since skin isn’t habitually folded and crinkled against the pillow.

Where there is smoke, there is aging skin. The research is clear. Smoke and you develop wrinkles sooner. One study found wrinkling equivalent to a person in his/her 40s among smokers in their 20s. There’s even some evidence that long-term smoking can yellow the skin. Yuck.

Tuesday: Stay Younger Long Week continues with a look at maintaining physical stamina.

Bob Condor blogs for Alternative Health Journal every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.