When skin loses its elasticity and thins, wrinkles begin to form around the eyes, mouth and cheeks. Aging is one cause, but sun damage actually makes up for 90 percent of wrinkles. Luckily, there are many nutrient-rich foods, homemade skin care products, herbs and procedures that can help repair damaged skin and rebuild skin tissue. Try these wrinkle-prevention ideas and recipes. Does this Spark an idea?
Foods to Eat
Eat a well-balanced diet of whole grains, legumes, lean proteins, vegetables, fruits and low-fat dairy products. Avoid processed foods, refined flour and sugar. Skin cells act much like the kidneys and liver; when your body is full of toxins, some are flushed out through sweat. The more unhealthy food you put in your body, the more your skin will be damaged. To avoid wrinkles, follow a diet with carotenoid-rich foods such as carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, spinach and sweet potatoes. Get Vitamin A, zinc, calcium and selenium by drinking low-fat milk. Zinc is needed for skin tissue repair and strength. Vitamin A is essential for formation of new skin tissue. Up your intake of Vitamins D and E by eating tuna, salmon and vegetable oil. Eggs and legumes are wonderful sources for Vitamins A and B and zinc. Vitamin E protects skin from the free radicals that causes wrinkles, while a Vitamin D deficiency will cause skin to age.
Wrinkle Recipe Skin Care
Citrus fruit works very well when removing fine lines. Juice up some pineapple and apply it to your face, and leave on for 10 minutes. This mask is another great trick: Mix 2 tbsp. of cucumber juice, 1 egg white, 1 tsp. of lemon juice, 1 tsp. of rum and 1/2 tsp. of sodium benzoate. Spread over skin, and wash off after 15 minutes. To store, put in an air tight container and keep in the refrigerator. Other natural wrinkle prevention ideas include using a mashed tomato to deep-clean pores, moisturizing with mashed grapes, gently exfoliating with short-grain rice and nourishing skin with a slather of avocado. Skin needs Vitamin C to form collagen, and nutrient-rich Ester-C gel has been known to do wonders for aging skin.
Know Your Ingrdients
If you're buying ready-made products, be sure to look for certain ingredients to know if that skin is getting the help it needs. Burdock helps the body rid itself of poisons, and leaves skin clearer. Use a product with calendula to promote smoothness. Chamomile is great for sensitive skin. The Vitamin A in retinoic acid improves circulation, and reduces fine lines. Likewise, yarrow will tighten saggy skin, and act as an anti-inflammatory.
Other Routes
There are other serious steps you can take to reduce wrinkles. Alpha-hydroxy acids come from citrus fruits and are added to cosmetics. You can also buy a peel or go to a spa for a treatment that uses glycolic acid. This acid is derived from alpha-hydroxy acids and in its commercial form is used to take the rust off of machinery. The highest amount that would be used in a cosmetic or at a salon is 10 percent.
Tags: skin tissue, fine lines, your body