Experts’ advice on ways to look and stay younger

There is no way to stop the hands of time and prevent the aging process from actually happening. However, there are a number of ways to help improve longevity and even look much younger than you are.

Maintain Good Posture

Good posture makes you look taller, thinner, and younger, Gbolahan Okubadejo, MD, NYC Area Spinal and Orthopedic Surgeon, maintains. “Unless a conscious effort is made to maintain good posture, we spend so much time hunched in front of our phones and desks, and thus we are training our bodies to slouch,” he explains. Improving your posture as you age not only makes you look younger but has multiple health benefits.” Good posture is also linked to increased self-confidence, and confidence projects a positive, youthful appearance.

Always Wear Hand Cream

Unprotected UV exposure accelerates age related changes such as wrinkles, skin coarseness, and age spots.  Experts reveal that wearing sunscreen protects against skin aging, and decreases age spots, wrinkles, and other premature skin aging. While most people do not forget to wear it on their face, but often neglect the hands. Even if your face looks young, aged hands will reveal your chronological age.

Eat Anti-Aging Foods

Eating specific types of food can have anti-aging powers. Eating foods with antioxidants will make your skin glow. Dermatologist suggests eating pomegranates, blueberries, goji berries, black berries, and cranberries will help have Anti-Aging effects on the skin. Avoid packaged foods also known as processed foods and sugar. It is important to have a healthy diet and to limit the amount of sugar that you eat. Processed sugar glycates the collagen which stiffens and ages it.

Smile More

We have heard times without number that smiling helps one looks younger now experts say smiling can instantly make you appear a decade younger. “People who smile more are often perceived as younger than their actual age, and a genuine smile gives you a youthful appearance, when you are happy, your face glows, as opposed to an angry face, which can make you look grumpy and older. Smiling also boosts overall health and makes you feel happier.

Exercise

How you walk says a lot about your age, explains Jessica Mazzucco, NYC Certified Fitness Trainer. Staying fit and exercising daily can help you avoid age-related changes in gait and puts a little pep in your step. Focusing on core-related exercises will also improve your posture and will not leave you in a hunched body position that will make you look older.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Sleep is one of the best anti-aging treatments, explains Niket Sonpal, MD, NYC Internist and Gastroenterologist. “Skin ages faster and doesn’t recover as well from environmental stressors like sun exposure when you have poor sleep. Poor sleep also can cause wrinkles and fine lines, swollen eyes, and paler skin, all characteristics that make you look older,” he notes. Beauty sleep is not a myth, your body repairs itself while you sleep, and good sleep leads to a long list of benefits that will make you look younger.

Take Care of Your Skin

Stacy Chimento, MD, board certified dermatologist of Riverchase Dermatology in Miami suggests memorizing the ABC’s of anti-aging. “‘A’ use antioxidants daily to prevent signs of aging, ‘B’ use sunscreen daily to create a barrier from the sun’s damaging UVA/B rays, and ‘C’ use vitamin C serum to strengthen skin and repair sun damage,” she says.

Eat Lots of Veggies

Dermatology suggests improving skin health via diet. Increasing one’s consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables along with a balanced diet will provide nutrition for skin health. Having a diet rich in antioxidants helps to promote healthy collagen, fight free radicals, sun damage and improves inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis, acne, and rosacea.”

Stop Smoking

Drop the habit, not only does smoking cause cancer but also premature aging. They contain harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide which displaces oxygen in the skin. The nicotine component reduces healthy blood flow creating a dry and dull appearance of the skin. It can interfere with vitamin C which is an important antioxidant in reducing free radical formation.

Always Keep Yourself and Your Skin Hydrated

One way to immediately freshen up your face is to hydrate, according to Dr. Chimento. The skin should always be in a good PH balance. Dehydrated skin is more prone to inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, rashes, etc.,” she explains. In addition to drinking enough water, seek out hydrating skincare. “Many people who have acne are scared to use moisturizers as they are afraid they will ‘break out’ or make them oilier. If the skin is too dry, then it will make more oil as a response,” Dr. Chimento explains. Products that contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides are great as they improve texture and restore the lipid barrier of the skin. One great way to hydrate your skin is by getting a HydraFacial treatment. Although the face is the most common area for a HydraFacial, this can be used also on the neck and décolletage areas.