Wellness

Things You’re Doing Daily That Cause Premature Aging

The upside? You can change them today.

By 

Smoking and Drugs

Things You’re Doing Daily That Cause Premature AgingThe nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes go into your skin’s blood vessels and restrict the oxygen flow, destroying your skin’s elastin and collagen. This results in the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and pucker lines around the mouth, and in your skin overall. Also, smoke, in general, is filled with volatile free radicals and cancer-causing compounds that can prematurely age the skin. These compounds interfere with collagen production, causing your skin to lose firmness more quickly. The result is skin that looks more battered and degraded than it should.

You probably already knew this, but I figured a reminder can’t hurt.

If you can’t stop smoking, you’ll have to embrace the dull and sallow skin. If you partake regularly, multiply your age by two and that’s how you’ll actually look… and soon.

Coffee

Seriously? Whatever happened to the “coffee-is-rich-in-antioxidants-that-protect-your-cells-from-damage” claim? Well, coffee does contain antioxidants, but it also has caffeine, which is still its most potent ingredient. And the antioxidant levels in coffee are nothing compared to those that you get from a piece of fruit.

Things You’re Doing Daily That Cause Premature Aging

Ever wonder why you don’t feel thirsty after drinking coffee? It’s because caffeine act like diuretics that make you less thirsty for water, while at the same time pulling water from your body and making you have to pee more often. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker and you don’t drink at least eight glasses of water a day, chances are your skin looks dry and dull. (*more about coffee and its effects.) If you can’t resist the urge to drink your favorite latte, try drinking more H2O or organic herbal tea to compensate and stay hydrated, or try on of these 5 ridiculously delicious alternatives to coffee.

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Avatar of Hilary Rowland

A writer, artist, and designer since she was young enough to put pencil to paper, Hilary taught herself code and created Urbanette when she was a teenager. Currently, she lives in Monte Carlo, but spent the past decade living in NYC, still considers herself a New Yorker, and visits regularly. She's always traveling, looking for hot new topics, destinations, and life hacks to bring to Urbanette readers.

Reader Discussion: 144 Comments

  1. Avatar of Sheena Osborn

    Sheena Osborn

    never smoked never took a sip of alcohol i sleep on my back never fake tan !! damn i’ll stay young forever ?

  2. Avatar of Lynn Dixon

    Lynn Dixon

    Can anybody tell me my face seems wrinkled and folds ( not actually wrinkles) while laughing and when I get angry and I’m only 23…. Why’s it happening?? I don’t drink and smoke and keep myself hydrated and never forget to wear my sunblock… An it’s been happening to me since my school days… But only when I laugh or get angry. I’m too disturbed with this ??

  3. Avatar of Marlene Collins

    Marlene Collins

    You can do all the diet and exercise you want and do all the right things but if you have a bad attitude unfortunately it will age your face quickly… hasn’t done it to me yet but it might eventually if I don’t shape up

  4. Avatar of Kim Benes

    Kim Benes

    Thank you for the advice, Hilary. I’m wondering how my mum looks so young, she’s almost 50, but looks 35. And she barely does skincare.

  5. Avatar of Elisa A

    Elisa A

    My biggest problem is my phone ? I don’t drink alcohol and I avoid everything you said — but I look older than my age just because of this ??

  6. Avatar of Ruth Burkes

    Ruth Burkes

    Yes, I have already started aging… I am already getting wrinkles… I hate the world AAARRRGGHHH

  7. Avatar of Maryann Carlton

    Maryann Carlton

    According to who? Sun ? is really good for you especially for dark skinned people. ?

    • Avatar of Sheri Smith

      Sheri Smith

      I totally agree. The sun has vitamins that help plants grow. Nobody talks about that. We cannot live without our beautiful sunshine, and not being in the sun can cause major depression that would actually add to the aging process.

  8. Avatar of Maddison Gibson

    Maddison Gibson

    There was this guy I knew who was an alcoholic, he looked like he was in his 70’s or 80’s, his hair was grey and falling out, he had wrinkled skin with droopy ears and cheeks, and a big red nose, as it turns out he was only in his early 50’s, when his brother died and he was attending his funeral, I thought he was his father because he looked so old.

  9. Avatar of Rachael Wise

    Rachael Wise

    Yep, my sister says the “Hello Miss” changed to “Hello Ma’am” at 35 ??? My biggest fear is getting old.

  10. Avatar of Helen Vincent

    Helen Vincent

    Thank you for these tips! I’m 30 years old, with a dry skin. Do you have any recommendations on a good moisturizer for my age?

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