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7 hours ago
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Experts have created a simple way to tell if your job could be prematurely ageing you—with a simple online calculator.
Developed by The Harley Street Skin Clinic, the tool calculates how aspects of your work life can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin.
It accounts for factors like shift patterns, working location, stress and hours spent per day looking at screens.
Once a user enters this information, the calculator generates a score out of a possible 100 points. The calculator can be accessed here.
Getting less than 40 means a person is at low risk of ageing due to their work and may only show minor signs like wrinkles around the outer corners of the eyes.
However, a score between 40 and 60 means a person is at risk of 'moderate ageing'.
The clinic said such a person is likely to develop fine lines around their eyes and a poor posture from stooping over a screen for long hours of the day.
The calculator also warns that working too many hours a week can lead to burnout, and poor sleep, decreasing productivity and increasing the risk of serious health problems like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Created by The Harley Street Skin Clinic, the tool calculates how aspects of your work life is making you look and feel older
While working in the great outdoors may seem like it would be good for your health, the calculator warns this is one of several factors that could lead you to a 'severe ageing' score of 60 to 80.
This is due to the increased risk of sun damage to your skin which could lead to issues like sun spots on the face.
Other factors, such as working with harsh chemicals such as smoke from cooking or vehicles, and night shift work disrupting sleep could also contribute to this level of ageing.
The clinic said these could lead to deeper, pronounced wrinkles spreading across the face, and skin losing elasticity, leading to sagging around the jawline, cheeks, and neck.
When multiple of these factors combine people can be at risk of 'extreme ageing', a score of 80 to 100.
The clinic says this can lead to the spreading of wrinkles around the face as well as the development of deep nasolabial folds, the creases of skin that run from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth.
It also warned further loss of elasticity could lead to sagging skin and the formation of jowls below the jawline.
Having consistent work patterns, leading to a good sleep schedule, frequent screen breaks and a low stress job were all considered important factors to avoid premature ageing.
But the clinic added there were other ways people could also protect their skin from premature ageing.
One of these, especially for those who worked outside, was to wear sunscreen to protect the skin from sun damage.
They added this was important even during winter or on a cloudy day — as ageing rays can still reach the skin.
Other tips included getting enough sleep, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and drinking lots of water to ensure your body gets the rest and nutrients it needs.
The clinic specifically highlighted vitamin C, found in fresh fruit, as helping to repair damaged tissues.
They also recommended cosmetic treatments like facials or chemical peels to remove the outermost layers of skin encouraging new, and smoother, growth.
Products like retinoids — chemicals derived from vitamin A — could also be used to promote the creation of new blood vessels, which can help improve the skin’s appearance and texture, they said.
