Age is just a number. True but the visible signs of ageing like the first grey hair, wrinkles etc can sting worse than a bee. If you want to look younger than your age, the following are scientifically-backed tips to do so. See below:
1. Groom your grey hair
Grey hair is regarded as a sign of wisdom. They appear for most men first in their thirties. Instead of reaching for hair dyes, you should allow them to be. You would also notice that your skin pigmentation naturally lightens as you get older, and hair pigmentation works with that. So no matter how subtle the results you are promised, bottled hair colour won’t bring back your youth. Try using a silver shampoo once or twice a week to help bring out the best of the grey hair.
2. Don’t forget to wear SPF
Your skin and sun exposure don’t augur well. In fact, it has been observed that sun exposure is the leading cause of visible ageing. So never leave home without wearing SPF because it helps prevent UV damage that can increase photo ageing. SPF also prevents pigmentation, slows the rate of collagen breakdown and wards off fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Sleep
A study at University Hospitals Case Medical Center found that subjects who didn’t sleep well exhibited more signs of skin ageing including fine lines, uneven pigmentation and reduced skin elasticity. That’s because shut-eye helps the skin regenerate and repair itself in a variety of ways, including by promoting human growth hormone (which boosts cell production), reducing inflammation (which can lead to dry skin) and lowering the body’s cortisol levels (which can lead to the breakdown of collagen and fast-track the formation of lines and wrinkles). So sleep so that your body rejuvenates rather than breakdown. A good night’s sleep has a role in making you look younger.
4. Tame your beards
A man’s beard is a sign of physical maturity, virility and dominance, but it actually ages him. As with most things in your twenties, you can get away with going wild, but come to your thirties, and especially when you get to your forties; big, unruly beards look older. You would notice that as you get older, you lose definition in your cheeks and jawline, so keeping your beard neatly groomed will help you look less aged. Experts suggest a short and tidy style is best, especially if you have grey hairs in your beard, which tend to look denser in longer beards. The same goes for your eyebrows, ear and nose hair.
5. Invest in eye cream
The eyes are windows to the soul, and also are quick to show signs of ageing because of the skin around them. Along with browlines, crow’s feet are the first facial wrinkles to develop, starting to form as early as in your mid-twenties. Eye creams would do wonders and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles so the skin can look fresher and younger.
6. Get products rich in retinoids
Retinoids, which are a powerful class of anti-ageing compounds, are known secret weapons in the fight against ageing. Originally developed to treat acne, retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that have been proven in the journal Clinical Interventions In Aging to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and brown spots by boosting collagen production and increasing cell turnover. Given how potent these creams and serums are, most are only available by prescription and can also cause the skin to become red, dry and flaky.
7. Change your habits
What is your sugar intake? Do you stay up late? These and similar activities like smoking and drinking alcohol kickstart the ageing process. The Department of Geriatric and Environmental Dermatology at Nagoya City University concluded that cigarettes cause the skin to age prematurely, gradually breaking down both the elasticity and collagen your skin needs to stay looking its best. Alcohol, meanwhile, not only does the same when consumed in excess but also dehydrates your body, dilates the blood vessels in your face and leads to a poor night’s sleep.
8. Poor posture
Poor posture like slouching, bending is bad for it contributes to the ageing process. However, with age, it becomes increasingly difficult to stand up straight, as the cartilage between the vertebrae of your spine begins to stiffen and shrink. While you can’t stop the process, there are moves that will help allay its effects. Engage in exercises such as planks, squats and Romanian deadlifts all target the muscles that help keep you correctly aligned. Weight training has also been shown to increase testosterone levels in men, and given that this vital hormone decreases by approximately one per cent a year from 30 onwards – and plays a key role in self-confidence, mood, sex drive and muscle development.
9. Botox
Botox is now one of the most common cosmetic procedures undertaken by men – in fact, of all botox treatments performed in the US, men account for some 10 per cent according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Once established, lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes need something stronger than creams. Botox works by temporarily paralysing the lines and wrinkles responsible for wrinkles, giving a smoother, more youthful appearance that lasts anywhere from three to five months.
10. Avoid refined sugar
Refined sugar reacts with protein, creating advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). These substances cause skin to be wrinkled and cell structures to harden. Refined sugar is one of the biggest contenders to unwanted skin concerns like acne. It contributes to the formation of collagen-damaging AGEs. When our sugar levels are elevated, this AGE process is stimulated. It is sped up even more if sunlight is involved.