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Anti-ageing myths busted

BY READERS DIGEST

1st Jan 2015 Health Conditions

Anti-ageing myths busted

Many of us seek ways to defy the ageing process, but it's not always easy to know what works and what doesn't. Here are some of the top anti-ageing myths debunked.

More expensive products achieve better results

It's not necessarily the case that the more you pay for an anti-ageing product, the better the results will be. There are a lot of factors that come into play when determining the price tag of a product, but it's the formulation and active ingredients within the product that really count.
 

If you pluck out a grey hair, seven greys will grow

Plucking a random grey hair out will not cause grey growth to multiply sevenfold. Each hair has its own follicle, and is independent of the follicles around it. There's nothing you can do, apart from colouring your hair, to stop the rate at which your hair turns grey. It's usually down to genetics, so if your parents went grey young, chances are you will too.
 

You don't need sunscreen on a cloudy day

The sun is responsible for damage to the skin and accelerating the ageing process. Even on a cloudy day, up to 80% of the sun's harmful rays can still penetrate through, so if you want to keep your skin healthy and youthful, slap on the sunscreen daily.
 

Crossing your legs causes varicose veins

Unsightly varicose veins in the legs are more common as we age, but there's no truth in the theory that if you cross your legs it can cause these bulging vessels to appear. There are many factors associated with getting varicose veins, including obesity, genetics and hormones. 
 

What you eat has nothing to do with getting wrinkles

Most wrinkles are caused by the ageing process, and factors such as sun damage and smoking, but studies have also shown that what you eat can also influence the formation of fine lines. Sugar, in particular, can cause an inflammatory response in body organs, accelerating the ageing process, whilst alcohol can dehydrate the skin, causing sagginess and wrinkles. Top foods to keep skin looking youthful include avocado, fish, almonds and green vegetables.
 

Ageing is all down to genes

Certainly, genetics does play a role in the ageing process, but just because your parents aged well, doesn't necessarily mean you will, too. There are many other factors that influence ageing aside from genetics, such as diet, smoking, stress, damage from the sun and lack of exercise.
 

Drinking lots of water prevents wrinkles

Water is great for hydrating the skin, but, unfortunately, it isn't a cure-all for stopping the onslaught of wrinkles. Drinking plenty of fluids is good for the body, however, and can help to eliminate harmful toxins that may speed up the ageing process.
 

Liver spots indicate a problem with the liver

As we get older, brownish spots on the skin may become more noticeable. These are liver spots, and actually have nothing to do with the liver at all. They are caused by exposure to the sun.

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