Unfortunately, yes, and more than we’re all prepared to admit.
Your skin is the largest organ of your body, so it is extremely sensitive to changes in your body and environment. There are many different environmental and lifestyle factors that cause flare-ups of existing skin conditions or even just make you appear tired and prematurely aged. Face Perfect Clinic in Leeds will guide you through what lifestyle choices can affect your skin’s health and appearance.
Does smoking affect my skin?
Yes, smoking does affect your skin. Some of the toxins in cigarette smoke damage collagen and elastin in the skin, essential fibres to keeping it plump, bouncy, and youthful. We all naturally stop producing collagen in our 20s and by our 30s our reserves are on an unrelenting decrease.
Regular smoking accelerates these decreasing collagen levels, causing wrinkles and volume loss. Smokers also encounter vascular restriction, or impeded blood supply, which means blood can’t flow as easily with fresh oxygen to your skin. This may leave you with a dulled, tired complexion as well as worsened skin quality. To save your skin, cut back on smoking.
Does alcohol affect my skin?
Sadly, yes! Excessive amounts of alcohol deprive your organs and your skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. Dehydrated skin (read: hungover skin) appears irritated, flushed, and puffy because of the lack of water retained in it. This is because your body has diverted its reserves to your organs to keep your body going.
Also, because alcohol is full of toxins that need to be excreted somehow, you can sweat out the alcohol overnight and the next day, resulting in spots and blemishes. Acne is worsened with alcohol consumption because of this, and complex skin conditions like rosacea often aggressively flare-up too.
Does sleep quality affect my skin?
Not only are we a little moody when we don’t get enough sleep, but our skin quality suffers too. Sleeping is when our body heals and renews itself, so if you don’t get enough sleep then the moisture and pH levels in your skin decrease. This makes your skin irritated, puffy, patchy, and more prone to breakouts.
Because alcohol affects your sleep quality too – it stops you from entering REM sleep which is when our skin cells regenerate – the two are a deadly combination of flushed, angry-looking skin in the morning.
Take care of you this year and revisit your skincare routine and lifestyle choices. Better choices mean better skin.
To find out more about our skincare advice or to receive a private consultation on how we could transform your complexion, contact the Face Perfect Clinic in Leeds or call us directly on 0113 4572805 to book your initial consultation.
