3 Ways You May Be Damaging Your Skin Accidentally

Posted: August 10, 2023 | By: Shanon Peckham

Our skin is amazing! A living, breathing organ of the human body, this thin layer of epidermis keeps out chemicals, toxins, radiation, pathogens, and allergens.¹ It’s even self-healing,² but make no mistake: this thin outer layer is also fragile and temperamental. Diet, sun exposure, skin care products, air quality, and a ton of other environmental factors can contribute to unwanted skin conditions and damage – it’s hard to know where to begin when it comes to protecting your skin. The good news is: whether you’re turning 26 or 62 this year, there are things you can start doing now to make sure your skin maintains a healthy glow for many years to come.

WHAT CAN DAMAGE/AGE SKIN

Though you may not realize it, you are constantly exposing yourself to environments, skin care products, and eating habits that play a big part in the overall well-being of your epidermis. On your morning walk or commute, you probably get a bit of sun. It turns out that the farmer’s tan, even that little bit of sun that falls on your steering wheel, can cause your skin to age faster. According to experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 10 to 15 minutes a day of unprotected sun exposure can lead to cell damage. “The more sun exposure you have, the earlier your skin ages,” explained NIH cancer prevention expert Dr. Barnett S. Kramer. This means more pronounced wrinkles, leathery skin, sagging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.³

During your afternoon meetings or grocery runs, you may be exposed to old building chemicals, allergens, smoke, and other air pollutants. If your office’s central AC system is enough to make you sneeze all year round, it’s definitely not doing your skin any favors. Thanks to your skin’s porous design,⁴ much of what’s in the air around you gets absorbed into your body. As the authors of a 2019 study⁵ on airborne pollution pointed out, “Living in a polluted environment may also reduce skin moisture, increase the rate of sebum excretion, and likely exacerbates the symptoms of chronic inflammatory skin diseases both in children and adults.” The damage doesn’t stop there. Even your home heater’s dryness can be enough to mess with your skin barrier and inflame skin conditions like dermatitis.¹

At night, you may indulge in salty fast food and apply some sweet-smelling lotion after your shower. Those small instant gratifications are everything in the moment, but over time, they can lead to visible skin problems. Aside from adding on the pounds faster and spiking your body with large quantities of sodium, consuming takeout regularly can also increase your risk of stroke and heart disease.⁶ Likewise, mass-produced, perfumed lotions can cause acne breakouts⁶, irritated skin, and allergic reactions.⁷

HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOUR SKIN FROM DAMAGE

Thankfully, most of these damaging exposures can be offset by a few simple, easy changes in your daily routine. First of all, grab yourself a nice high-SPF sunscreen and a hat. According to the NIH, the higher the number on the bottle, the longer you can enjoy the sunshine without getting a sunburn.³ Next, you’ll want to invest in an essential oil diffuser (for added humidity) and an air purifier for your office. You may not be able to get by without an AC or a heater in your area (and there’s no getting around pollution outdoors), but you can certainly improve the quality of the air in the place you spend the most time. Lastly, trade in your cheap lotion and processed food for products that have higher quality, more natural ingredients.

Here are some of our favorite Youngevity skincare products and supplements to get you started on a cleaner, healthier skincare routine:

Scent Free Body Lotion – No perfume in this moisturizer, just a whole lot of high-quality botanical add-ins. This lotion features luxurious, skin-loving ingredients like jojoba oil, rosemary extract, and sunflower seed oil.

Calming Diffuser Blend Kit – Some soothing essential oil blends for your new humidifier! All oils are made from natural plant extracts and can be safely used around house plants.⁹

Beyond Hot Chocolate™ Keto – Antioxidant-rich chocolate and Reishi mushrooms combine for a killer hot cocoa combo! Squash your chocolate ice cream craving fast and enjoy a mere fraction of the fat with this cozy keto-friendly beverage.

Next week, we’ll explore what makes our Muscadine Grape Extract the perfect supplement for supporting healthy skin from the inside out.