6 common habits that could be ageing your skin
Ageing is inevitable, but how fast your skin shows it is not. While genetics influence the process, your daily habits have just as much impact. Many seemingly harmless practises quietly accelerate fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and loss of firmness making your skin appear older over time.
The good news? Once we understand what’s working against your skin, we can avoid those habits and use targeted treatments to help visibly soften or even undo the damage.
Here are some of the most common skin-ageing habits we see and what can be done about them.
UV exposure
UV exposure is the number one cause of premature ageing. Daily sun exposure gradually breaks down collagen and elastin leading to wrinkles and pigmentation over time. Wearing a combination of SPF and vitamin C every day is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your skin. SPF acts as a protective shield against UVA rays whilst vitamin C gives an extra layer of protection and makes SPF 4 times more effective. However, if sun damage has already occurred, there are treatments that can help.
How we can help:
– Microdermabrasion to target wrinkles and reduce pigmentation
– Medi-facials and professional peels to improve pigmentation and brighten the skin
– Skin tightening treatments to restore firmness – Radiofrequency microneedling and anti-wrinkle treatments to reduce the appearance of skin lines and wrinkles that may be more evident from UV damage.
– We stock SkinCeuticals, a premium, science-backed skincare brand that is widely recognised for its vitamin C range, designed to suit every skin type. This can be purchased at any of your appointments.
Inconsistent/ poor skincare routine
Using actives in your skin care regime or using harsh products can compromise your skin barrier and speed up visible ageing. The harsh texture of makeup wipes combined with aggressively removing stubborn products can cause micro-tears in skin, which weaken the barrier and decrease elasticity over time.
How we can help:
Our lead skin clinician, Leanne, has over 15 years of experience within the beauty and skincare sector. Leanne can help with:
– Creating a personalised skincare plan using medical-grade skincare tailored to your skins needs
– Medi-facials and professional peels treatments for ongoing maintenance to refresh and rejuvenate your skin
Smoking or vaping
Smoking and vaping damages the skin by reducing collagen and elastin. Smokers often develop wrinkles around the mouth earlier than non-smokers as nicotine restricts blood flow and carbon monoxide reduces oxygen to the skin, dehydrating it and accelerating dullness and wrinkles.
How we can help:
– Skinpen microneedling to improve texture and tone
– Dermal fillers to restore lost volume or collagen-stimulating injectables like Ellansé
– Collagen-stimulating treatments such as Dermalux Flex MD Led Phototherapy, polynucleotides, Ellansé and Radiesse wash to support long-term skin health and boost collagen production
– Our team of medical professionals can refer you to stopping smoking services
Poor hydration
Poor hydration can cause dehydrated skin. When your skin is dehydrated it loses elasticity and plumpness causing a ‘shrivelling’ effect on the skin which exaggerates fine lines, wrinkles and makes the skin appear dull and tired. Common lifestyle factors like frequent caffeine, alcohol and not drinking enough water can worsen dryness and accelerate aging.
How we can help:
– HydrO2 facials for instant skin refresh
– Profhilo injections to deeply hydrate and improve skin quality
– Medical-grade skincare plans tailored to your skin type
– Medi-facials to reduce skin pigmentation and restores skin texture
Lack of sleep/sleeping position
Consistently receiving less than seven hours of sleep a night can impair the skin’s barrier function, reduce moisture and break down collagen which reduces skin elasticity and firmness.
Our sleep position can also contribute to sleep lines, especially on the cheeks, chest and around the mouth area. Over time, repeated compression of the skin from side sleeping can turn temporary creases into permanent wrinkles.
How we can help:
– Anti-wrinkle injections to soften expression
– Dermal fillers to restore volume and smooth deeper folds
– Plinest Newest polynucleotides to improve elasticity and hydration
– Radiesse wash to treat your decolletage by stimulating collagen production
Excessive hand-washing
One of the biggest tell signs of aging is the appearance of our hands. While our hands do age with time, harsh soaps and overly frequent cleaning can strip away our skins natural oils creating a leathery appearance.
How we can help:
– Radiesse wash to improve skin texture and firmness while also stimulating collagen production
Real results happen when lifestyles changes are combined with tailored treatments that suit your unique skin issues.
Book a consultation with one of our practitioners to create a personalised treatment plan that helps you look and feel younger and receive a complimentary no-obligation skin consultation with Leanne.
At Paragon, we have a 3D Visage comprehensive facial scanner, which allows us to detect your underlying skin concerns and will show the efficacy of your aesthetic treatments upon completion of your treatment plan.