We can stop neither the aging process nor the physiological changes that come with it. However, sometimes our bad habits make those changes worse; other times they even accelerate the changes. Such is the case with the skin. Some of the bad habits that we participate in actually accelerate and exacerbate the development of wrinkles, lines, age spots, under-the-eye circles, and so on. If we learn to recognize those bad habits and avoid them, we will be in a much better position to maintain healthy and young-looking skin.
Cigarette Smoking
One of the single-most damaging bad habits for the skin is cigarette smoking. Besides the obvious increase in risk for lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses, cigarette smoking causes damage to the body that affects the skin in several ways. First off, the chemicals in cigarette smoke are absorbed into the bloodstream when the smoke enters the lungs. Those chemicals are passed on through the body wherever blood as needed; that includes the skin. Skin cells are damaged by those chemicals and must be replaced. As we age skin cell replacement naturally decreases, so cigarette smoke simply adds to the problem.
Second is the matter of vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the things that helps your skin retain its elasticity. It also adds plumpness and helps in the creation of new skin cells. Cigarette smoking hinders these processes because it robs the body of vitamin C. Again, as we age the body processes vitamin C to a lesser degree. That fact alone has a detrimental effect on the skin. But when cigarette smoking is part of the equation the lack of vitamin C becomes more of an issue.
Excessive Alcohol Use
Another bad habit damaging to the skin is excessive alcohol use. When we consume alcohol it dilates the blood vessels. The small vessels near the surface of the skin open up to increase blood flow to the cells. Over time, if alcohol is consistently consumed in excess, the cells at the surface of the skin can become permanently damaged. This is manifested by a flushed look on the face of someone who drinks excessively.
Other Bad Habits
There are certainly other bad habits that have a negative effect on the skin including illicit drug use, poor personal hygiene, and poor diet. The good news is that all these bad habits can be avoided. For those who do so, they are one step ahead in slowing down the appearance of wrinkles and lines. By adding wrinkle creams and other healthy skin supplements to a lifestyle of good habits, it is possible to have healthy and youthful skin all the way into the later stages of life.
