Exposure to light is a top cause of premature aging: Sun exposure causes many skin problems. Ultraviolet (UV) light and exposure to sunlight age your skin more quickly than it would age naturally. The result is called photoaging, and it's responsible for 90% of visible changes to your skin.
This is called extrinsic aging. As a result, premature aging can set in long before it was expected. In other words, your biological clock is more advanced than your chronological clock. Controllable factors such as stress, smoking and sun exposure can all play a role in expediting extrinsic aging.
And between the ages of 50 and 60, the “aging trajectory” was up to three times faster. “Men and women age similarly up to the age of 50,” says Sonja Windhager, who led the research. “It's a linear progression. But at the age of 50, for women, it goes really fast.
The best way to slow down aging is to stay in great shape. One study published in Aging Cell found that older people who exercised regularly throughout their lives had the muscle mass, cholesterol levels, and even immune system function of much younger people.
As far as the female or male aging timeline, the biggest changes typically occur when people are in their 40s and 50s. However, it's not unlikely to notice changes in your mid to late-30s, as well. Some of the first signs of aging are droopy skin, smile lines, and wrinkles. These changes can be jarring, but natural.
Is it possible to reverse aging? You cannot wholly reverse aging—it's a normal part of life. However, you may be able to slow it down and help prevent age-related diseases by adopting a healthy lifestyle. That includes habits like eating a healthy diet, wearing sunscreen every day, and exercising (Shanbhag, 2019).
An individual who experiences chronic stress is more likely to make unhealthy lifestyle choices, which causes additional health problems. In other words, stress accelerates aging, and aging causes stress—it's a vicious cycle. Stress also affects the body on a cellular level.
When refined carbs integrate with protein, it causes the formation of AGEs . AGEs have a direct effect on chronic diseases as well as the aging process. Foods with a high glycemic index, like white bread, can cause inflammation in the body, which is directly linked to the aging process.
Chest & Neck
Since the skin along the chest and neck is especially thin, the pull of gravity quickly reveals signs of age as the skin begins to sag and wrinkle. Certain habits, like smoking, can also prematurely wrinkle the skin on the chest, neck or any part of your skin.
Get enough sleep, protect your skin with sunscreen, eat a balanced diet, exercise, and manage your stress. Those are only some of the many ways you can take care of your body as you go through the natural process of aging. If you take care of yourself, your body will thank you in the long run.
Lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, and even attitude can be as important as genetics when it comes to living long and growing old gracefully. "Old age ain't no place for sissies," as Bette Davis once said, but that doesn't mean you need to panic every year on your birthday.
Loose waves are more younger-looking, while straight hair can be aging. Play around with face-framing layers to give your hair some softness and movement. Layers can also make your hair appear to be more luscious and healthy. Parra recommends asking your stylist for perimeter layers that are cut in a straight line.
This 2014 study confirms that caffeine slows down your wound healing process and accelerates aging of your skin. Researchers found that exposure to caffeine reduces newly synthesized collagen in your skin cells. To put it simply, the more caffeine you consume, the more your skin ages.
Loss of muscle tone and thinning skin gives the face a flabby or drooping appearance. In some people, sagging jowls may create the look of a double chin. Your skin also dries out and the underlying layer of fat shrinks so that your face no longer has a plump, smooth surface.
“Everyone wants a quick fix when it comes to making skin look better, but drinking more water isn't going to help get rid of wrinkles or plump up your skin unless you are extremely dehydrated,” says Elizabeth Damstetter, MD, a dermatologist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
Dehydration can sap your skin of moisture and elasticity, leading to sagginess, dryness, and wrinkles. In other words, alcohol use can make you look old. Moreover, the older you get, the more likely you are to be dehydrated. Even one night of heavy drinking can make your lines and wrinkles look more pronounced.
Wrinkles, age spots and small growths called skin tags are more common.
Erik Alexander, board-certified dermatologist with Forefront Dermatology, “the first noticeable sign of aging are fine lines and wrinkles. Fine lines are small, shallow wrinkles that tend to become most noticeable at the outer corners of the eyes – also known as laughter lines or crow´s feet.