How to reverse ageing and turn back your biological clock
There’s no denying that the time spent under lockdown has been stressful. Many have noticed that fatigue is showing in our face while there is a general agreement that most of us have gained a few pounds. Journalists have created the term Covid face to describe pandemic ageing during the last 6 months. But please don’t think that it is all gloom and doom and before you think about booking that appointment to go under the knife, take reassurance in the fact that it’s not permanent.
Take heart in this comment by Professor Mark Birch-Machin, Professor of Molecular Dermatology at the National Innovative Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University.
“The good news is that it’s temporary. Skin has a tremendous ability to bounce back and renew itself if you do the right things like eat a better diet and those measures will vastly improve your overall health and banish the perception that you have prematurely aged.”
This is true not only of your skin but also your entire body. It’s only natural that the stresses of lockdown will be reflected in our complexion and general wellbeing . However, making a few healthy lifestyle choices will see your face brighten and encourage you to take more steps in the right direction.
We talk of the chronological clock, which is our actual age, but we also have a measure in our biological clock . Our biological clock relates to how well our body is ageing. You could be 70 yet your body acts like that of a 50-year-old, or you could be 50 with a body that has a biological age of a 70 year-old. It’s remarkable how bad habits truly can make a difference.
No matter how old you look and feel right now, you can take steps to become more youthful.
Let’s start with perking up the skin:
- Switch to a diet rich in nutrients; it’s been far too easy to munch away at calorie ladened snacks whilst binge watching a recommended TV series. Now’s the time to start adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet to enjoy a full range of nutrients.
- The same goes for alcohol; a couple of glasses a day over the weekend, easily slipped into a nightly bottle of wine. Did you know that 29% of us agreed that we’ve drunk more alcohol during lockdown? Alcohol is one of the primary causes of weight gain, it also leads to facial broken capillaries. Top up on the amount of water you drink so you’re less inclined to consume as much booze.
- Supplements have been a godsend during lockdown. It’s so easy to take a few capsules or top up your beauty regime with a collagen or hydration drink to look after overall health and boost our complexion.
- Beauty sleep isn’t just a saying, getting enough sleep can actually boost your ‘youth hormone’, known the Human Growth Hormone and promote a healthy metabolism. Get to bed early and remove all tech devices from the room for a more peaceful sleep.
- At last, beauty clinics are open again. Even small treatments like having your eyebrows shaped and eyelashes tinted can make a huge difference to how we feel about ourselves. A face peel will brighten your skin and a whole range of facials can have you glowing as you walk out. You can check out Rejuvenated clinics here.
- Did you commit to exercise when we first went into lockdown? If you did, you are one of the real winners of the last 6 months. But if like most of us, you found it easy to drift from day to day, it really isn’t too late to turn back the clock. Numerous studies link exercise to healthier eating habits, they also release endorphins to give us a feeling of wellbeing.
- Look in the mirror and smile. When we smile it acts as a trigger to the mind and body to release chemicals that include pleasant emotions(1)
