Aging is a normal thing that everyone goes through. Your skin may start to sag and age, or your hair may turn gray or white. Aging can't be stopped, but you can slow it down or even turn back the clock on some of its effects. Some ways to slow down the aging process are to drink a lot of water every day, keep your face moisturized, and wear sunscreen.
As you get older, it's important to keep yourself healthy by eating well and exercising regularly. Find out about 15 of the best ways to fight aging that you can use every day to stay healthy as you get older.
1. Put on sunscreen
To keep your skin from getting dark spots and lines, make sure you use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. Putting on sunscreen when you go outside will protect your skin from the sun's dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. Being in the sun can make you more likely to get skin cancer.
2. Take good care of your skin
The skin often shows signs of aging. Dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and thin skin are all signs of getting older. If you take care of your face, you can stop or slow down aging. You could try using beads or chemical peels to scrub your skin. This process helps get rid of dead skin cells, which shows a better skin tone below.
But exfoliating too much can make your face worse.6 You should talk to a dermatologist about the best way to exfoliate your face. If you want to see bigger changes than what you could get from home cures, they can suggest treatments like a glycolic or trichloracetic acid peel.
Some evidence shows that putting vitamin C serum on your skin can have health benefits, like protecting your skin from sun damage. A 2024 study found that using a vitamin C serum on your skin every day for three weeks can smooth out your skin and lessen lines on your face and neck.
Also, make sure you moisturize your face often. To keep the wetness in your skin, put on a light lotion right after you get out of the shower or bath.
3. Keep your hands safe
Most of the time, hands don't get as much care as other parts of the body. Nails that break easily, changes in the appearance of your skin, dark spots, and wrinkles can all be signs that your hands are getting older.11
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). How can I make my hands look younger?
There are many things you can do to keep your hands from getting old, such as:
- Peels with chemicals
- Cold therapy
- Use of lasers
- Lotions and creams for the skin
4. Take retinoids
Retinoid, which comes from vitamin A, speeds up the reproduction of cells. This strong ingredient in skin care products increases collagen, makes skin tone and texture better, and lowers wrinkles.
If you use retinoids too often, they can dry out your skin or give you acne. Use a low-strength retinoid every other day to start slowly. Work your way up to using the product every day or trying a stronger one.
5. Cut back on the salt you eat
When you eat foods that are high in salt, your body holds on to water, which makes you feel bloated and uncomfortable. Those spicy foods can make your face react in the same way, giving you puffy eyes.
To cut down on sodium, cook with things like garlic, lemon juice, and fresh herbs that add taste without salt. A meal low in salt will not only make you feel better, but it can also lower your risk of getting high blood pressure.
6. Don't smoke
Along with skin problems, smoking raises your chance of heart disease and lung cancer. The CDC is in charge of keeping people healthy. What smoke does to your health?
When you smoke, your face may get lines because of the way it moves. Smoking also makes your blood vessels narrow, which is called vasoconstricting.
Because of this, smoking can make your skin age faster than normal. Your looks will suffer a lot because of this habit, which can lead to:
- Increased risk of psoriasis, which causes itchy, thick patches of red skin and silvery scales
- Premature aging
- Stained teeth
- Wrinkles
7. Stand up straighter
You might never take your eyes off of your phone during the day. Doing things over and over again, like craning your neck downward, can cause fine lines and wrinkles. Keeping your phone at eye level can help your balance, which may lower your risk of getting hurt or in pain.
A Quick Review
As you age, your body changes. This is a normal part of the time. Your hair will turn gray and your face will sag and wrinkle as you age. You can't stop getting older, but there are many good things you can do to slow it down. Make sure you get enough sleep, use sunscreen, eat a healthy diet, work out, and deal with your stress.
