Although it is a natural part of getting older, many of us are focused on how we can prevent the ageing process. This includes using anti-wrinkle creams and dyeing our hair as it starts to grey.
In other cases, some people have started to turn to more extreme anti-ageing methods such as Botox or fillers.
But a world-renowned plastic surgeon has revealed the main cause of premature ageing – and shared five simple ways to stave off the process that doesn’t rely on invasive procedures.
According to cosmetic surgeon, Dr Daniel Barrett, the worst thing for ageing is stress.
As reported by the Mail Online, it impacts your gut, which is directly linked to skin health as well as metabolic, brain and immune health.
Long-term stress that lasts weeks, months or even years will have a lasting impact on the body and especially the skin, he warned.
This is because the skin constantly misses out on essential nutrients and stunts the growth of new cells.
Tackling stress though, is quite often easier said than done. The NHS warns that the most “unhelpful thing” you can do is turn to something unhealthy to help you cope, such as smoking or drinking.
Instead, you should first try to identify the cause of the stress to then tackle the root cause, the health body says.
10 ways to help reduce stress, according to the NHS, are:
- Be active
- Take control of your situation
- Connect with people
- Have some “me time”
- Challenge yourself
- Avoid unhealthy habits
- Help other people
- Work smarter, not harder
- Be positive
- Accept the things you can’t change.
Aside from managing your stress, Dr Barrett revealed five other ways to slow the ageing process in a TikTok video.
“Sleeping, exercise, sunscreen, not smoking and decreasing your sugar intake will slow down the signs of ageing,” he said in a video.
Cutting out sugar and applying sunscreen – even in the winter – will help protect your skin, he said.
He also explained getting enough sleep encourages muscle growth and repair, helps keep your brain alert, improves your blood sugar levels, and ultimately prolongs your lifespan.
The NHS recommends adults get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Children and babies will need more.
To achieve this you should aim to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day – even on weekends.
As well as ageing the skin, smoking is a known contributing factor to many deadly conditions and diseases. If you need support giving up you can visit nhs.uk/live-well/quit-smoking.
