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There are some things that girls with great skin always do--and some things they would never. Take tanning, for one. While it's tempting in the short term to get a glow, it doesn't take a clairvoyant to know that too much sun doesn't do any favors for your skin. I say this as a woman who's done almost everything bad for hers. It took me many years of making *bad* decisions before my dermatologist was able to intervene.
So, what did she and other dermatologists say are the worst things for your skin?
1. Tanning beds
"Unlike when you’re in the sun, you don’t feel yourself burning, so there is no sense that you’re damaging your skin," dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, told Refinery 29. "Secondly, (and this is the main one), they use UV light, which causes wrinkles, sagging, and sun spots."
Yikes!
2. Smoking
"Nicotine causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the skin, which decreases the blood supply to the skin, which starves it of oxygen and other nutrients like vitamin A," Dr. Jaliman told Refinery. "There are also 4000+ toxins in tobacco smoke that attack collagen and elastic fibers, which causes the skin to sag and wrinkle prematurely. It adds at least ten years to your age."
3. Excessive drinking
Alcohol dehyrdates the skin, causes redness and flushing, and depletes your skin of vitamin A. It also leads to breakouts.
4. Not drinking enough water.
Not staying hydrated wreaks havoc on the skin: it causes fine lines, dry patches, breakouts and sallow skin.