what makes your face look old?

[Rachel]

health habits that make you look older
Are bad habits adding years to your appearance? Check out these five habits that make you look older, and what you can do to fix them

By Cynthia Reynolds


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Have you ever looked at someone who appears 10 years younger than she is, and found yourself feeling jealous of her good genes? Well, according to research, your bad habits and poor health choices may be sabotaging your appearance.

"Aging has two components," says Dr. Bahman Guyuron, who studied the aging differences in identical twins. "One part is genetics, while the second part is related to the environmental factors that we control." In other words, the choices we make and the stresses we suffer take a much harsher toll on our faces than most of us realize. The good news is that knowing what we’re doing wrong can help guide us in making better lifestyle decisions, in order to prevent the appearance of premature aging. And it’s not just good for the sake of our looks, but for our health, too. Here’s a list of the top five aging blunders and what you can do to fix them.

1. Yo-yo dieting
We all know that yo-yo dieting isn’t great for our bodies. But it turns out that rapidly and repeatedly losing and gaining weight actually makes us look older, too—at least when the weight loss totals more than 11 pounds in a single year. A study (whose findings were published exclusively in the UK's Daily Mail) by Dr. Rajiv Grover, secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, suggests that yo-yo dieting alters the ligaments in the face that support the soft tissue, thereby changing the actual shape of the face. According to the article, changes in facial shape can make us look older.

The fix: Find your ideal weight and maintain a healthy diet and exercise plan to help you stay there.

2. Losing too much weight
According to a study conducted by Dr. Guyuron, weighing more after a certain age can give you a younger appearance. In the study, Guryuron compared the appearance of 186 pairs of identical twins. One of his findings: with twins over 40 years old, the sibling that weighed slightly more was perceived as looking younger than the twin who weighed less.

The fix: If you’re over 40 and still reading fashion magazines, remind yourself that having the body of a 15-year-old, size-0 model will make you look less—not more—attractive. And if you’re not yet 40, it’s wise to find and maintain a healthy weight to prevent any drastic dieting later in your life.

3. Bad lifestyle choices
Guyuron’s identical-twin study also suggests that everyday habits have an impact on the appearance of age. According to the study's findings, smoking also played a significant role in facial appearance—the longer the twins smoked, the older they appeared. Among other factors that contributed to facial aging: sun exposure, antidepressant use and alcohol consumption.

The fix: If you're a smoker, it's time to quit! Also, limit direct sun exposure and alcohol consumption.

4. Stress
Situations that cause prolonged angst can also affect facial appearance. Some experts suggests that divorce, debt, a hated job and grief contribute to face changes. And it’s not just a question of dark circles or wrinkles—stress can lead to acne, brittle nails, hives and even hair loss. Plus, those under a lot of stress tend to neglect their skin, which can compound the situation.

Worse still, chronic extreme stress doesn’t just have the power to make you appear older, it can actually cause you to become physically older. In a study of 58 women between the ages of 20 and 50, Dr. Elissa Epel found that the immune cells of those who lived with extreme stress (in this case, mothers who cared for their chronically ill children) tended to show signs of approximately 10 years’ worth of added aging, compared to those women who led less stressful lives.

The fix: While you can't necessarily avoid a divorce or quit your job, you can seek out ways to help deal with that stress. Epel’s study found that, of the women leading stressful lives, those who were better able to deal with their stress (i.e., a positive outlook, the ability to let stress roll off them), did not show the signs of additional aging. So whether it’s yoga, kick-boxing or meditating, find something that helps you de-stress and unwind.

5. Eating too much sugar
When you consume sugars, they are converted to glucose in your body and enter the bloodstream, where they then search out and attach to skin proteins. Once attached, they form new molecules called advanced-glycation end products, or AGEs. What does that have to do with your face? The more sugar consumed, the more AGEs you create, and these AGEs mess with your body’s collagen and elastin, which help maintain your skin’s firmness and elasticity. In short: too much sugar leads to sagging, wrinkled skin.

The fix: Reduce the amount of AGEs your body produces by avoiding sugary products, especially the processed foods they tend to hide in. Know sugar by its many names: corn syrup (especially bad is high-fructose corn syrup), glucose, fructose, dextrose and sucrose are among the more common ingredients, while saccharose, treacle, xylose, dextrin and maltodextrin are some of its trickier disguises.

[margaine]

interesting Rachel.

I'm curious about how the use of antidepressants results in looking older. That is not explained in the article and doesn't appear immediately obvious to me (in the way that "sun exposure" is)

Recently, I've become really good about putting sunscreen on daily. I hope it pays off in the future. ;)

[Rachel]

That is because Margaine, antidepressants relax the muscles and we have muscles in our faces, therefore after a while the muscles will begin to droop, causing the flesh to sag.
I never started using any sunscreen until a couple of years ago. I am sure it helped although I don't really have wrinkles. I don't know how I did not , I certainly did not take proper care of myself. I am very grateful though! I really believe the amount of anti free radical things you consume helps a great deal. But who knows in the end?

[Jez]

That is because Margaine, antidepressants relax the muscles and we have muscles in our faces, therefore after a while the muscles will begin to droop, causing the flesh to sag.

That is interesting!

[Winifred]

Hmmm, so I should take an antidepressant, stand on my head while it relaxes my muscles and lets them sag back up where they belong, then think about family stresses to stiffen all muscles, then spray my face with sugar water to keep everything in place (being careful not to swallow any of it).

Got it. :)

[Jez]

Hmmm, so I should take an antidepressant, stand on my head while it relaxes my muscles and lets them sag back up where they belong, then think about family stresses to stiffen all muscles, then spray my face with sugar water to keep everything in place (being careful not to swallow any of it).

Got it. :)
:p Love the mental picture!

[Rachel]

So do I.life is getting so complicated that I don't know how everyone doesn't burn out by the age ten unless they don't watch teli, read the news visit a supermarket or hide up in the hills where the plastic bowl sales people and the skin cream people can't find you.
I have to admit though when someone in my family, only sixteen was put on anti depressants a couple of years ago, in about three months her face looked much slacker and it was upsetting to me. She went off them a year later and for about another six months her skin looked like that. she joined a gym and ate super well and now she has quite a firm face. So............................. I suppose as long as one's nose doesn't start hanging or the ears or God forbid the breasts the face thing could be tolerable? :)

[margaine]

well, I've been on antidepressants for like six years now (though not for depression - I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm depressed cause I'm not!), and even though I've been out of college for those six years, people still think I'm a college student from time to time. So I don't think it's aging me much. It probably depends on the individual somewhat too. Not being on that medication would probably have contributed significantly more to me looking older, so it's all fine with me.

my biggest aging issue at the moment is the slowly increasing number of gray hairs on my head and my history of sun exposure (lifeguard full-time for six or so summers), which I expect to catch up with me eventually.

[Rachel]

It could also depend on the strength and type of antidepressant. I have not known anyone except my now deceased mother in law that was on anti depressants longer than say a year or two.
I did some research for you on about.com, the alternative medicine site concerning hair and possible reasons why it would begin to go grey prematurely. You may or may not find this interesting.And about the sun thing, just do all you can to not expose yourself any more like that and hope for the best.
At any rate hear is the article for anyone interested:
Question: Natural Remedy to Reduce or Reverse Gray Hair?
Q: I recently heard about supplements and other products that can reduce or reverse gray hair. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input.
Answer:
There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can reduce or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that may result in premature gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in.

It might help to first understand why we get gray hair. Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within our hair follicles called melanocytes. As we age, the activity of these melanocytes gradually declines until they stop making pigment. New hairs grown in without pigment, resulting in gray hair.

Each one of us has a genetically determined time when we will get gray hair. Although nothing can stop hair from turning gray, there are some conditions that can cause hair to gray earlier or more quickly than normal.

•Thyroid disorders. Conditions such as Grave's disease, Hashimoto's disease, hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism have been linked with premature gray hair.

•Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. It can be due to a diet low in vitamin B12, which is found mainly in meat, eggs, and milk. It can also occur if the stomach can't absorb vitamin B12, due to surgery involving the stomach or small intestine (such as gastric bypass surgery), diseases that affect the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, fish tapeworms, or small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or a lack of protein called intrinsic factor due to an autoimmune reaction or a genetic defect.

•Vitiligo. A condition in which your skin loses melanocytes, resulting in very light patches of skin and possibly premature gray hair.

•Early menopause

•Smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to premature gray hair.
Addressing these underlying conditions, in some cases, may help to prevent hair from going premature gray.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, premature gray hair reflects an underlying disturbance.

Hair, according to TCM, reflects the quality of blood and the strength of the kidneys. The kidneys and blood have a broader role in TCM than they do in Western physiology.

Foods that are thought to strengthen the blood and kidneys are:
•Hijiki seaweed

•Blackstrap molasses

•Black sesame seeds

•Nettles

•Wheat grass

•Chlorophyll
Keep in mind though that consuming excessive amounts of these foods is not recommended. For example, excessive amounts of iodine (from seaweed) may increase the risk of developing thyroid problems, which itself is a cause of premature gray hair.

Foods to avoid, according to TCM, are excessive meat, dairy, and salt

Many commercial products that claim to restore hair's natural color contain herbs that are used in TCM to strengthen the kidneys and blood. The most popular is a herb called He Shou Wu, also called Polygonum multiflorum or Fo-Ti.

The name He Shou Wu means "black-haired Mr. He" in Chinese. This name refers to a legend of an older villager named Mr. He who took this herb and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality.

He Shou Wu isn't right for everyone with grey hair, say TCM practitioners, which is why a consultation is recommended. If used improperly, it is thought to lead to emotional ailments such as anger or depression. For more information about He Shou Wu, read the He Shou Wu / Fo-Ti Fact Sheet.

In ayurveda, hair is associated with an imbalance in the pitta constitutional type. An imbalance in the vata constitutional type, aggravated by stress, is also associated with premature greying.
•Quiz: What is Your Ayurvedic Type?

•Foods to Eat for Your Ayurvedic Type
A herb that is used in Ayurveda for gray hair is called bringaraja, translated as "king of the hair". It is taken by mouth to support the liver and kidney energies, however, there aren't any studies on the safety or effectiveness of this herb. It is also an ingredient in Ayurvedic hair oils and tonics, which are applied topically to the scalp.

Another popular Ayurvedic herb is called amla. It is used for inflammatory conditions, to strengthen eyes, and to address prematurely gray hair

[margaine]

I think for me the grey hair is mostly genetic - my dad's hair became grey very early, and my hair is really similar to his in a lot of other ways too. We basically have the same hair. Although I don't really think it is that "premature" compared to other people - I think so many people (women especially, or at least it is easier to tell on women's hair b/c they have more of it) color their hair that it seems like people in their late 20s or early 30s or so don't have grey hair at all, but really it is colored and they do.

I am very familiar with the ayurvedic body type stuff - in ayurveda, anything that is slightly off is always seen as a sign as some kind of deeper imbalance. As a kid, my parents were always examining my finger nails and stuff like that (white horizontal lines is one kind of problem, the vertical lines that break up the finger nail is another, and god forbid your finger nails bend upwards when they grow past your finger!). I'm happy to not think about those things now. ;)

[Winifred]

That research of yours is interesting, Rachel. I'm moderately late turning grey, although it's well on its way now (I'm 60)! My stepbrothers, whose mother is Cuban, all started graying in their 30's. However, my sister in law (Hub's sister), who is two years younger than I am, has about 3 grey hairs! I used to think she dyed it, but now she has Alzheimer's (and lives with us), so I know that it's natural. The Hub has greyed much more this year, and he is 1 1/2 years older than I am, so maybe that is the family deadline!

I never knew about melanocytes. I wonder what changes grey hair's texture? A cosmotologist told me that grey hair doesn't hold curl as well, which doesn't make much sense if only the color is missing. I haven't noticed any difference with my own, yet.

[Rachel]

Ah, Margaine, I know how you feel. Strangely, yesterday I was just looking up the finger nail thing online from the mayo clinic. When I was nineteen an Italian doctor came for a housecall and examined my fingernails and told me exactly what disorder I had and the tests confirmed it. So I was wondering why I had bumps on two of my nails and then remembered the virus I had and how very ill I was. The grown out bit is normal.
My friend's mother was into all that aryvedic stuff, I only just read about it yesterday, did not know a thing about it before. And she was terribly depressed from the environment around it and her parents' always . But that was no different than my close friend who was becoming a nurse and phoned me in the middle of the night when I was on my graveyard shift as night attendant at the senior's home. She was hysterical and thought she had any number of diseases due to the things she was reading for the course. Oh the flights of fancy our minds sometimes take.

[Rachel]

Winnifred, I did some research for you concerning the changing of texture of our hair. I will put it in part one and two and you can let me know if it helped you.
Part 1:
Different Stages for Different Ages
“Hair changes every five to seven years,” said Christo of the Christo Fifth Avenue Salon and creator of the Curlisto line of hair products. But even though we might know what affects hair texture, it still is unclear exactly how and why this happens. People with curly hair have a flatter follicle. Straight hairs tend to have a rounder follicle. But how a flat follicle turns round, and vice versa, is a mystery. “What adds to the curl or takes away from the curl is a fascinating issue scientifically,” says Tom Dawson, a principle scientist at P&G Beauty. “You’d think with something as fundamental as human hair, and the amount of time and money we put into our hair, that we’d know more than we do. But it’s a tough nut to crack.

The Hormone Influence
“What is known is that hormones have a major effect on hair texture. “Hormones influence the hair in several different ways since they are regulators of the body’s metabolism,” Christo says. “Hormones tell our body how to perform, therefore increasing or decreasing specific hormones can directly affect the way our body functions. “He cites three major hormones that affect the hair: Thyroxine and triiodothyronine are produced by the thyroid gland and influence the way the body uses the food we eat. An under-active thyroid can cause brittle hair and hair loss. Androgen is produced in the adrenal glands and is responsible for hair growth.
part two next:

[Rachel]

In women, an increase in the production of androgen causes thinning of the hair and excessive facial hair. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and is responsible for the adaptation of glucose in the blood. Under-production of insulin can cause hyperglycemia and over-production can cause hypoglycemia, which can both cause hair loss and change the way the hair looks and feels. Cancer patients often find that after chemotherapy, their once-straight hair grows in curly. Chemo affects rapidly growing cells more than slowly growing ones, and hair follicles in the scalp grow rapidly. They are jolted by the chemo, and when they go back to work, they may have a new job description, says Dr. Jennifer Griggs.

Changing Muscles, Changing Textures?
Over time, the hair follicle tends to return to its normal shape. With little scientific evidence available about how hormones and genetics cause these texture changes, Jonathan Torch, creator of Curly Hair Solutions and founder of Toronto’s Curly Hair Institute, has come up with his own theory. He believes changes in the muscles at the base of every follicle are the key to the changes in hair texture that take place over time. These muscular changes, he says, often come during puberty, chemotherapy, or menopause, when hormones and medications may affect the muscle tone. Sometimes these changes can be extreme, says Torch, who has witnessed many a client go from curly to straight and straight to curly. “I can’t prove anything medically,” he says. “But I have a philosophy that genetically, the muscles are changing. And this changes the shape of the follicle.” I found this on a site called wierdly enough Divine Caroline.

[Winifred]

Ah, Margaine, I know how you feel. Strangely, yesterday I was just looking up the finger nail thing online from the mayo clinic. When I was nineteen an Italian doctor came for a housecall and examined my fingernails and told me exactly what disorder I had and the tests confirmed it. So I was wondering why I had bumps on two of my nails and then remembered the virus I had and how very ill I was. The grown out bit is normal.
My friend's mother was into all that aryvedic stuff, I only just read about it yesterday, did not know a thing about it before. And she was terribly depressed from the environment around it and her parents' always . But that was no different than my close friend who was becoming a nurse and phoned me in the middle of the night when I was on my graveyard shift as night attendant at the senior's home. She was hysterical and thought she had any number of diseases due to the things she was reading for the course. Oh the flights of fancy our minds sometimes take.

Ha Ha Ha! I think looking up diseases on the internet when I have a symptom and scaring myself to death is great fun - right up there with astrology readings! I sympathize with the nursing student :D

[margaine]

Ha Ha Ha! I think looking up diseases on the internet when I have a symptom and scaring myself to death is great fun - right up there with astrology readings! I sympathize with the nursing student :D

Yeah, me too. That is the main reason I could never become a medical professional. I would probably never get past that stage.

[Rachel]

Oh you two! Once when I was about twenty I became really run down, I had been hospitalized with mono for nearly a month a couple of years before and was so ill I could not work for a year.
So now I was run down again and my mind was playing tricks on me. I had stupidly read somewhere about people that had worms inside their body, and how, like animals the tiny ones would crawl out and hang around the bum at night for some reason. So there I was on the toilet and suddenly I thought I felt something and started screaming and screaming. Later I went to the doctor and of course had narely a worm to be found. But at that moment I didnot believe my doctor and so for months after until my blood was back to normal I would imagine I had them and they were migrating to other parts. I was a wreck!!!! :) So now I have share a shameful insane moment with you , are you ready to throw something at me?