What causes premature ageing?
In the words of dermatologist Tanya Gilmour, “Sun exposure and smoking are the two major causes of premature skin ageing. Photo-ageing is ageing due to excessive ultraviolet light over time, causing damage to the skin. UVB & UVA wavelengths of light result in damage to our DNA and premature breakdown of collagen and elastin. We see this ageing in our skin as roughness, uneven skin colour, fine and deep wrinkling and prominent blood vessels. Smoking produces chemicals that impair the production of collagen and cause an increase in the breakdown of both collagen and elastin.” Beauty sleep Getting enough sleep gives your body the chance to rest and rejuvenate. Sleep can mop up much of the free radical damage caused throughout the day and also reduce the amount of stress we endure. Stress can affect your skin, too, as when under pressure, we often don’t eat as well and tend to reach for quick fixes that are high in caffeine and sugar, and low in antioxidants.
