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What Will Help Skin From Thinning As We Age?

Skin naturally begins to age when a person reaches his 20s. However, external factors such as sun exposure and smoking can speed up this aging process. To keep your skin firm, thick and elastic for as long as possible, take steps to control the most influential extrinsic factors that accelerate the skin's aging process.

  1. Be Savvy in the Sun

    • The sun is strongest between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., so stay out of its direct rays during this time. Sit in the shade or stay indoors. Whenever you are outside, use a sunscreen to filter the sun's UVA and UVB rays, the culprits that can damage your skin. You can also deter the effects of the sun by covering your skin when you are outdoors and wearing a hat and sunglasses. When you apply sunscreen, you should note that it needs to be reapplied every two hours to remain effective. You should also reapply sunscreen after extended periods in the water.

    Consume Helpful Foods

    • Vitamins A, E and C are beneficial to the skin, helping it maintain its youthful elasticity and protecting it from the sun's effects. You get these vitamins as well as beneficial antioxidants by eating a variety of fruits. Nuts and leafy green vegetables are good sources of copper, a necessary mineral for your skin's production of collagen and elastin. To encourage growth hormones in your skin, ingest omega-3 fatty acids, found in fresh water fish. They contribute to the skin's production of collagen and elastin and can also assist in reducing the skin's thinning by preventing cellular inflammation.

    Stop Smoking

    • Smoking is second only to the sun in its power to damage the skin. This is because it diminishes the blood's ability to carry oxygen and nutrients to the skin. It also increases production of an enzyme in the body that inhibits the development of collagen in the skin, reducing elasticity. Smoking also inhibits the body's ability to absorb Vitamin C and store Vitamin A, two vitamins crucial to maintaining the skin's health. Studies have shown that smoking adds between 10 and 20 years to a person's age. This means that smokers, in general, experience the effects of aging, such as thinning skin, 10 to 20 years before those who do not smoke.

    Be Aware of Medications' Side Effects

    • As you age, you may begin to take medications that thin the blood such as aspirin or warfarin, both of which inhibit the body's ability to clot bleeding, exacerbating your skin's thinning and resulting in easy bruising. Certain conditions, such as eczema, asthma and allergies, could prompt your doctor to prescribe corticosteroids. When taken internally or applied topically, these actually accelerate your skin's thinning process, as do fish oil and ginkgo. When initiating medications or other treatments prescribed by your doctor, inquire as to whether the medication or treatment might have an adverse effect on your skin.

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