Our face is one of the most delicate, intricate, and important parts of ourselves; it’s a wonder how it stays the same for decades, considering the barrage of outside stresses we put it through every day. As resilient as our faces are, it’s still important for us to protect it from the outside world. As the years go by, even the most harmless seeming actions can add up to years of aging that comes much too early. So what kind of aspects in our environment are slowly aging us?

Sun Damage

Every single day we’re barraged with countless UV Rays, which are responsible for decreasing collagen stores in our skin. The more sun exposure we get, the more collagen and skin cells are damaged, eventually leading to wrinkles, spots, and other blemishes. Sun damage accumulates over the years, making a person who’s been excessively exposed to sun damage more likely to age earlier than someone who’s protected their skin.

Sleeping on Your Stomach

While it might be standard protocol for you to sleep on your stomach at night, sleeping on your stomach basically squishes your face onto your pillow for hours at a time every single night. This stretches and folds skin, making it more likely to form creases and wrinkles. Without even being awake, you could be creating lasting damage to your skin.

Sleeping in Makeup

Dry skin is not only a sign of aging, it’s also something that causes aging. Dry, flaky skin is more likely to wrinkle and fold, so keeping your skin moisturized is essential for younger looking skin. Wearing makeup to bed is a good way to drastically dry out the skin: by clogging up the pores, the skin lacks proper hydration and lubrication by our skin’s natural oils.

Washing Your Face Too Hard

It’s not just the repeated tugging and pulling that ages us, but the repeated washings from harsh cleansers can really dry out the skin. If you cleanse your face too rigorously and frequently, you’re putting your face at risk of early wrinkling and folding.

We can’t protect our face from everything, but with enough work, we can slow down aging by its exposure to damaging external elements. Ready to reverse all the damage that’s been done? Contact the Aesthetic Institute of New York & New Jersey now, for a consultation on their facial rejuvenation procedures, including facelifts and non-surgical options such as fat transfer and fat grafting.