Let’s face it. Change happens in our body and on our skin as we age. Some of these changes can be a great source of annoyance especially for us women. And one of these annoying skin changes is facial sagging.
While the internet has provided us with tons of resources on how to prevent it, it’s also filled with fallacies that keep us from doing what is right.
It’s time to put an end to these myths and find out what’s really true about our sagging face.
Here’s the myths and truth about facial sagging:
Running leads to facial sagging
MYTH: Running causes the body to bounce up and down but it’s least likely to cause facial sagging. Sagging skin is an age-related problem brought about by the loss of collagen. Collagen is what makes your skin elastic. And as we age, we start to lose it. It’s when we start to lose collagen that our skin begins to sag.
So keep on running. It’s good for both your health and skin.
Unprotected sun exposure can lead to facial sagging
FACT: If you running outdoors under the intense heat of the sun, then you’re more likely to suffer from premature aging.
Staying outdoors for long perios without any form of skin protection can expose you longer to UV rays which can eventually break down your collagen. When you lose your collagen, your face starts to droop.
The solution? Slather up with broad-spectrum sunblock if you head outside even if you can’t see the sun. It’s also best to avoid prolonged sun exposure especially between 11 am and 2 pm, when the sun is strongest.
Tummy sleeping causes facial sagging
MYTH: Sleeping on your abdomen or any other sleeping position doesn’t cause your face to sag BUT it does result in sleep wrinkles. These are the fine lines you see on your face when you wake up. This isn’t a problem if you’re young as the skin is elastic enough to bounce back easily. However, when you’re older these lines can stay for long.
You don’t have to worry if you’re a big fan of tummy sleeping as there are sleeping devices these days that promote sleeping on your back. An example is a sleep pillow which is a specially formulated pillow that minimizes the contact between your face and the pillow each time you roll on your side.
Weight loss causes your skin to sag
FACT: There are two main causes of skin sagging. One is the loss of collagen which promotes skin elasticity and the other one is the loss of facial fat.
When you gain weight, all the skin on your body stretches. So when you lose weight and starts to age, you will notice skin sagging in the form of eye bags and a slack jaw. It’s the result of both the loss of collagen and facial fat.
Facial exercises can reduce skin sagging
FACT: Facial exercises can reduce skin sagging as they increase the size of the facial muscles and hence, can help get rid of expression lines.
There are facial workout moves that are shown to be effective in preventing jowls or skin sagging around the jawline. These include moves like lifting the lower lip over the top lip, sticking out the tongue and pointing it toward the ceiling, lifting the head upward, and putting pressure on your chin as you open your mouth and lower your jaw.
Facial sagging may be inevitable as we age but there are certainly a lot of ways to prevent or minimize it. If you’re afraid of needles and don’t want to go under the knife, then facial exercises can be a good option. It’s easier to do and it’s less expensive than cosmetic surgeries and treatments.