Like death and taxes, everyone will experience wrinkles (God willing). Some people, however, will have more wrinkles and presented sooner than others. Research in the past have focused on the cause of wrinkles and why some people wrinkle more quickly than others. Studies have looked at sun exposure, smoking cigarettes, the intake of food and water.

Does the food you consume can really affect the look of your skin? A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition that food not only nourishes the body but also our skin.

Food consumption and skin damage
The researchers studied the diets of more than 400 adults living in Greece, Australia and Sweden. Feeding patterns were estimated for the previous year, and the foods were grouped into 10 major categories. The skin was studied to detect the damage by the sun and the degree of such harm would agree on a scale of six steps. The researchers adjusted the data to include age and smoking, factors which by themselves have shown that increase premature aging.

The study’s authors found that the wrinkles were influenced by the type of food that people had. A high consumption of vegetables, olive oil and vegetables appeared to be a barrier against damage to the skin, while a high intake of meat, dairy and sugar derivatives seemed to increase the damage to the skin.

Definition of wrinkles

By definition, a ridge is a groove or fold of skin or other membrane, either by decreasing the deeper layer of fat or by decreasing the size of the cells that are part of the dermis. Essentially, a true decrease of water content, the skin produces less oil and the outer layer (epidermis) becomes rough and dry, while there is an alteration of elastic fibers and collagen in the dermis. When the production of collagen decreases, skin yields. As the elastin fibers are deteriorating, the skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles appear and the changes in appearance that can differentiate the skin of the young skin.

Appearance of wrinkles

The blood vessels in the dermis or deep layer, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the skin, which amount to the skin to stimulate formation of new cells. Housed in the dermis collagen fibers that give strength and firmness to skin, and elastin, which gives the skin its flexibility. Moreover, this layer is responsible to produce and maintain moisture. which gives the skin its texture and smoothness over time. The natural aging is not necessarily with wrinkles, but causes the occurrence of superficial fine wrinkles. The sun exposure that leads to premature wrinkles are deep and thick.

How does food affect your skin?

The skin suffers from a lot of pressure oxidizer in the course of everyday life. This can cause wrinkles to develop. The investigation showed that antioxidants such as vitamin C, E and beta carotene can help protect the body from oxidation damage caused by free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules). The study’s authors suspect that certain foods provide extra protection to the skin because they contain high levels of antioxidants.

Protecting your skin

In addition to eating healthy foods, there are other things you can do to protect your skin from damage and wrinkles.

The American Academy of Dermatology offers some tips to help keep your skin healthy and young look:

• Quit smoking. Smoking causes premature aging and wrinkles on the face.
• Wash your face daily and always use a moisturizer. The best time to apply a moisturizer to the skin immediately after taking a bath with shower or tub.
• Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
• Stay away from the sun between 10 AM and 4 p.m. The sun’s rays are strongest during these hours. When in the sun use a wide-brimmed hat four inches and sunglasses with lenses for UV protection.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 or greater on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before exposure to sun and then reapply every two hours.