Skin Concerns That Are Caused By Everyday Habits

Kim Kardashian once said that she doesn’t smile much in photos because it causes wrinkles. You might think that sounds ridiculous, but she actually is right. Below we talk about common skin concerns like wrinkles, acne and sun damage and break down what habits could be influencing or accelerating these concerns to happen.

Frowning frequently can cause wrinkles and lines

It’s natural to see lines and wrinkles as you age, but you can see them earlier than expected due to facial animation. That means frequent frowning and smiling can very well influence the formation of wrinkles and lines. The glabella lines (also known as the 11’s) are the frown lines between your eyebrows. If your skin has already been sun damaged, there’s a higher chance of you developing glabella lines. Sun damage breaks down the skin’s collagen and elastin and thins out the skin.

Solution: Botox injections temporarily treat and relax these muscles so you won’t look tired, aged or angry.

Using your cellphone causes acne

Cell phones are carried around and left on different surfaces throughout the day. You may leave them on dinner tables, beds, bathroom surfaces, or just stuffed in your purse with several other items. With this constant contact with various surfaces, bacteria easily fester on your cell phone. Now imagine constantly pressing your face against your cellphone. These bacteria can aggravate your skin. Not only that, your pores can get blocked from perspiring on your phone after long conversations.

Solution: Use a headset so your phone won’t have to be against your cheek all the time.

You can get still sun damage during the winter and on cloudy days

It’s a given that you are susceptible to sun damage during the summer. It’s the same case even during the winter and on cloudy days. If you do winter sports, the sun’s ultraviolet radiation still puts you at risk of sun damage. Here’s bad news for skiers and snowboarders—the sun reflects off the snow and higher altitudes can put you at risk for overexposure to the sun’s UV. The Skin Cancer Foundation says higher altitude can contribute to sun-induced skin damage. “UV radiation exposure increases 4 to5 percent with every 1,000 feet above sea level,” says the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Solution: Strong wind and snow can wear away sunscreen, so apply SPF 30 sunscreen or higher. Don’t forget the more obscure places like behind your ears and around your lips. If you know you’ll be outside for a long time, reapply sunscreen every two hours.