10 Science-Backed Strategies to Reverse Aging Naturally

When surfing the internet, don’t you just stop and stare with envy at the gorgeous celebrities?

Read about their beauty routines and you’ll see that they follow a careful skin care regimen with extensive cleansing, moisturizing, and toning routines.

As scientific studies will tell you, the skin is a complex organ and several internal and external factors can affect its health.

While you can’t do much about genetics or how the skin cells regenerate, it is possible to do your best to avert the external factors that take away from your skin’s flawless beauty.

An interesting fact is that there is no minimum age for caring for your skin, the younger the better.

So, when your mom insisted that you wear sunscreen before stepping out of the house, she had a point.

Now you know the secret behind the flawless beauty of her skin.

She probably started caring for it when she was young.

Don’t you just hope you have her genes?

Let’s explore the 10 factors that can affect the perfection of your skin.

And, the natural options available to correct the flaws.

Hormone Imbalances

As you near 30, the production of hormones levels in your body starts to slow down.

For instance, the Human Growth Hormone (HGH) which is around 800 at age 18, is only around 150 by the time you hit 30.

For this reason, you start to see the minute crow’s feet appearing along with other fine lines and wrinkles.

You might also start to see more of acne and breakouts than when you were a teenager.

Or, the face staring back at you in the mirror might start to seem dull, tired, and lifeless.

Your hair also takes the brunt of the lowered hormone levels. So, if you notice thinning hair, you’ll know what’s the cause.

In addition to HGH, around the age of 30, your endocrine system may start easing its production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone.

Together, the ebbing hormone levels lead to a slower production of collagen and elastin under the skin.

As a result, the layer is ineffective in keeping the skin firm and plumped up.

Remember, hormones are also responsible for maintaining the skin’s regenerative capabilities.

Without this boost, the cells can no longer repair quickly from the onslaught of bad lifestyle choices like smoking and excessive drinking.

Your answer to these imbalances? Hormone replacement therapy.

And if you’ve heard rumors about its safety, here’s what an expert has to say:

“Hormone optimization is proving to be one of the safest, reliable, and effective means of hormone imbalance treatment available,” says Dan Holtz – a leader in the field of HRT, and is responsible for treating celebrities such as Superman star Dean Cain.

In this technological age, there really are safe options to balance hormones and achieve radiant skin!

Sun Exposure

Yes, you enjoy spending time in the sun, attending pool parties, and going for beach holidays.

After all, isn’t sunshine a good source of vitamin D?

However, sunshine is also a source of damaging UVA and UVB rays.

In fact, expert dermatologists warn that 90% of skin damage is a result of sun exposure and these effects seem to worsen as you age.

The harmful rays of the sun can effectively break down the matrix of collagen and elastin in your skin.

The result? Lines and wrinkles.

And, worse, skin cancer and pigmentation like brown spots that won’t go away.

In addition, sun rays have a drying effect on your skin.

And, dehydration will take away from its flawless beauty by causing wrinkling.

Do keep in mind that sun damage is permanent and your skin may not be able to recover from the effects.

Your answer? Never step out of the house without sunscreen.

Make it a point to avoid going outdoors in the afternoons.

And, if you must go out, cover up completely with hats, scarves, and long-sleeved clothing.

Once you get home, try natural face masks that can reverse the sun damage.

Think ingredients like milk, honey, aloe vera, cucumber juice or paste, apple cider vinegar, and tomatoes.

Improper Cleansing Routines

Given the dirt and pollutants, your skin is exposed to each day, it is extremely essential that you cleanse it thoroughly before going to bed.

Adopting a careful cleansing routine will ensure that your pores are open when you sleep so the skin can breathe and rejuvenate.

Use a gentle cleanser to remove all makeup, dirt, impurities, and oils that may clog the pores.

And, choose a product that does not contain added alcohol-based perfumes or deodorizers.

These ingredients can strip away the natural oils from your skin leaving it dry and lifeless.

Alternatively, you can apply coconut oil, baby oil, tea tree oil, or lemon essential oil.

Massage the oil gently into the skin to stimulate circulation.

These oils will clean, nourish, and moisturize your skin for flawless beauty.

Next, rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry gently and moisturize well.

As the associate clinical professor in the Department of Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, Mona Gohara recommends, “Remember, skin is our largest organ and it is subjected to external toxins and germs 24/7. Cleansing and moisturization are essential for keeping the skin’s equilibrium intact. Of course, protection against UV light is also essential in terms of optimal skin health.”

Inadequate Moisturization and Hydration

Your skin needs nourishment so it can maintain its flawless beauty.

And, nothing works better than careful moisturization.

Search the internet and you’ll find a mind-boggling array of beauty products, each promising to repair and rejuvenate your skin.

In fact, Forbes reports that by 2017, the beauty industry has already made sales worth $445 billion.

But, the fact is that you don’t need to promote the beauty industry to nourish your skin.

Instead, you could check the grocery aisles for a range of natural products that are likely to work way better.

Think coconut oil, olive oil, yogurt, honey, milk and milk cream, avocado pulp, almond oil, and aloe vera.

Apply the oils liberally after a shower. And, use the other products as face packs.

Your skin will respond to all that love with flawless beauty.

And, make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.

The best way to hydrate your skin is from within.

Acne Marks, Injury Scars, and Other Blemishes

Acne marks and injury scars are an unfortunate part of growing up.

And, both conditions can affect your psyche making you feel self-conscious and less assured.

Acne marks can range from minor blemishes to pits, boxcars, depressions, and any other.

As for scars, you can get them from injuries, accidents, burns, insect bites, chicken pox, and surgical incisions, to name a few examples.

But, now you can opt for several treatments that help erase the scars or at least, lighten them to a point where they’re barely noticeable.

Should you consult an expert dermatologist, she might recommend popular options like chemical peels and scrubs.

These chemical agents work by scraping off the top layer of the skin cells surrounding the scars so that the area gains a more even appearance.

However, it is understandable that you’re wary about having possibly toxic compounds smeared on your skin and the side effects they can cause.

Thankfully, there are several natural compounds that can help you with the scarring and restore the flawless beauty of your skin.

You can use these ingredients individually or combine them with others to make scrubs and masks.

The objective here is to stimulate the skin to heal itself.

So, try applications of coconut oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil, honey, lavender oil, onion juice, and lemon juice that has a lightening effect on the skin.

Also, try using sandalwood in any form, paste, powder, or oil.

Combine any of these bases with sugar crystals, oatmeal, sea salt, or baking soda to make a paste.

Apply, leave for a few minutes, and then scrub off.

Another effective solution that is gaining popularity is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments for injury scars and acne marks.

As the National Center for Biotechnical Information reports, this therapy involves applications of a serum extracted from the blood of each individual user.

And there are little-to-no reported side effects and adverse reactions caused by traditional chemical treatments.

If you’re dealing with tougher keloids or scar tissue that forms on injury sites, you could check with your dermatologist for help.

Depending on the condition of the skin, he might use a needle to break the tough fibrous tissue so that the skin responds better to the natural remedies you’re trying.

Effects of Pollutants in Your Environment

Your skin protects your body from the effects of the pollutants in the atmosphere.

But, over time, the exposure can start to take away from the blemish-free perfection of your defense system.

Like a feature in Environmental Science warns, several atmospheric pollutants like oil, tar, aerosols, formaldehyde, and insulation materials in your home and workplace can affect your skin.

In addition, various allergy-causing agents can harm your skin including cigarette smoke.

And, if you live in a warm climate, perspiration can cause heat rashes and breakouts.

Protect your skin by being aware of these possible polluting agents.

Detox your home and if you notice symptoms like rashes, irritations, and dryness, check with your dermatologists for any anti-allergy medications you need.

You can also calm the irritated skin and restore its flawless beauty with applications of natural aloe vera and apple cider vinegar, or take a baking soda bath with the advice of your doctor.

Inadequate Nutrition

While applying natural products on your skin is great for reversing all kinds of damage, a better solution is to check the diet you eat.

By including skin-repairing foods in your diet, you can rejuvenate from within.

Further, by avoiding certain foods, you can slow the aging process and prevent acne and breakouts.

For instance, avoid foods that score high on the glycemic index.

These foods include processed and refined foods like white bread and sugar.

Choose organic, grass-fed ingredients for your meals as far as possible.

The preservatives, chemicals, and other additives in your food have the effect of accelerating the aging process.

But, if you can add probiotics, and foods containing zinc, and vitamins A and E, your skin will reward you with flawless beauty.

Try some examples like lentils, chickpeas, oysters, beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.

Eat all the colorful vegetables and fruits you can and choose lean meats.

Good sources of probiotics include flax seeds, chia seeds, oats, plain yogurt, and kefir.

Vitamin C is another anti-aging element for flawless beauty and you can find it in citrus fruits, rosehip, parsley, guavas, and blackcurrants.

Insufficient Sleep

Lack of sleep has several ill-effects on your cognitive functions and general well-being.

But, new studies reported on WebMD now show that fatigue can accelerate the aging process.

Each time you sacrifice the necessary 8 hours of sleep, it reflects on your skin.

That’s because, to cope with the fatigue and exhaustion, your body produces more of the cortisol hormone.

This compound has the effect of breaking down the collagen and elastin fibers of your skin.

Without adequate collagen, the skin starts to sag into loose folds.

As a result, your skin starts to take on that tired, haggard appearance.

You develop lines and wrinkles along with bags under the eyes and dark circles.

So, you see, a simple, natural solution is to get enough sleep and watch your skin regain its perfection.

Too Much Stress and Anxiety

When you’re stressed out, your body responds by releasing large amounts of cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol stimulates the skin’s oil glands to produce more of oils that lead to acne and breakouts.

According to WebMD, doctors now have a term for the skin’s response the stress, they call it “psychodermatology.”

Instructor in the Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Karen Mallin, PsyD reveals, “Psychodermatology is a field that addresses the impact of an individual’s emotion as it relates to the skin. The mind and skin are connected on many different levels.”

She goes on to add, “A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension.”

To maintain the flawless beauty of your skin, you only need to keep away worry and anxiety.

Your Skin Responds to Your Moods

This one is possibly the simplest of age-defying factors.

As long as you’re happy and contented, the positive effects will reflect on your face.

Smile and you’ll see the frown lines and wrinkles disappearing.

And, your eyes will start to shine with a youthful glow.

Challenges, problems, work issues, child-rearing, and any other causes of worry are a part of life.

Tackle them head-on.

But, let your skin reflect the fortitude and strength with which you live life.

And, that’s the best-kept secret to flawless beauty and well-being.