Avoid These 4 Skin Wreckers

Reader s Digest Magazine

Smoking


Next to the sun, smoking is the second biggest skin wrecker. Heavy smokers are almost five times more likely to have facial wrinkles than nonsmokers, plus they're more susceptible to skin cancers. Smoking also damages capillaries and artery linings, which reduces nourishing blood flow to the skin. Just 10 minutes of smoking decreases the skin's oxygen supply for almost an hour. All this results in shiny, fragile, deeply wrinkled skin that also heals more slowly. In fact, 40 percent of plastic surgeons said in one survey that they refuse to operate on cigarette smokers because they're notoriously bad healers.

PLUS: 25 Ways to Stop Smoking

Drinking
For smooth and supple skin, you should be drinking water throughout the day, and not just at meals. Alcohol, however, dehydrates the body. So try to limit your imbibing to one drink per day. Also, try not to drink alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime. Doing so increases the risk of capillary leakage, which causes puffiness.

Sleeping
There's a reason they call it beauty sleep. While you're resting, the body regenerates collagen and keratin (proteins essential for taut, healthy skin). Lack of sleep dulls your overall complexion and, in particular, makes the skin under your eyes appear dark and baggy. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.

PLUS: 10 Foods to Get You to Sleep

Stressing
Too much stress can leave your skin pale and drawn. If the cliché advice to breathe deeply and sip herbal tea makes you want to scream, try something that's effective and fun: Get a massage. It improves blood and lymph circulation, accelerates the elimination of toxins, and speeds the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin. Schedule a massage for the afternoon before a big event, and everyone will remark at how relaxed, healthy and glowing you look.

Popular Links:
15 Foods You Should Never Buy Again
20 Secrets Your Waiter Won't Tell You
6 Rose Colors and Their Meanings
5 Ways Love Makes You Smarter
5 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda
7 Home Health Checks That Can Save Your Life
13 Things You Never Knew About Your Weight
11 Secrets of Getting Better Doctor Care
13 Things Your Supermarket Isn't Telling You
13 Camp Counselor Secrets
13 Things a Burglar Won't Tell You
13 Things Your Plumber Won't Tell You
13 Teacher Secrets
13 Hotel Secrets
Get more insider secrets!

Sign up for the 13 Things newsletter to receive insider secrets.

Download our Life IQ trivia game for your iPhone.