Is your desk at work aggravating your skin?
Ageing is a big skin concern for women, and we all know that there are plenty of creams and serums on the market that promise to turn back the years and reduce the look of wrinkles, but is there something more simple?
You may think you’re getting ahead putting in the hours at your desk, but it could be taking its toll on your face.
Jill Zander, founder of the Jill Zander Skin Rejuvenation Clinic, looks at how your desk could be ageing your skin.
Desk Dilemma 1: Slack jowls
If you sit for extended periods of time with your head bent slightly forward, staring at a keyboard, laptop or iPad screen, you may shorten the neck muscles and increase the gravitational pull on the jawline eventually leading to the formation of jowls.
Solution: Make sure that your computer screen is correctly positioned at eye-level to keep your face lifted, forward-facing position as much as possible. This helps prevent a drooping jawline which can be caused by looking down too much.
Desk Dilemma 2: Lean lines
There are such things as ‘sleep lines’. Sleeping in the same position night after night means that the lines you create whilst asleep can become permanent. This effect is replicated if you constantly lean your face on your hands in certain positions at your desk day after day.
Solution: Adjust your chair height so that your forearms rest on the desk. This will make you less likely to lean on your hand and make you more aware of your sitting position.
Desk Dilemma 3: Office stress = Skin stress
A study found that work-related stress has a damaging effect on critical DNA in the cells in the body. Researchers found that individuals with the most stressful job has the shortest telomeres; the shorter they are, the less able they are to protect our DNA and those who did not experience much work stress had longer telomeres, so better protected and healthier DNA. When you get stressed your sebaceous glands also produce more oil and this can result in adult acne.
Solution: Even if it’s just for 5 minutes, try and get out of the office for a de-stressing walk. Getting out in the open of the office is also great for helping to top up vitamin D levels, which stimulates the production of elastin and collagen.
Desk Dilemma 4: Bacteria build-up
Keyboards and phones can harbour a lot of bacteria. Using these appliances and then touching your face, or touching a phone to your face, can transport bacteria onto the skin causing blockages to the pores and possible infections.
Solution: Keep a pack of anti-bacterial wipes in your desk drawer and clean your keyboard and phone each week. A bottle of hand sanitiser will also help curb the spread of spot-causing germs.
Desk Dilemma 5: Desk dehydration
Air conditioning can dehydrate the skin resulting in more fine lines and a dull complexion.
Solution: Keep a water misting spray to hand which you can spritz over make-up plus a large bottle of water to sip throughout the day to keep hydrated from within.
Tagged in Beauty Tips Anti-Ageing skincare