So you have wrinkles. Believe it or not there are ways to fight wrinkles and you can start now by making simple changes in your routine.

Protect Your Skin Against the Sun

Sun damage is the number one cause of unsightly wrinkles.  There are more people now than ever before getting wrinkles prematurely because more youth are using tanning booths and do not understand the importance of adequately protecting their skin.

Prior to time in the sun you should cover yourself with sunscreen.  Make sure to use sunscreen about 15 to 30 minutes before you go in the sun so your skin has adequate time to absorb the sunscreen and make it most effective.  You should also know that the higher the SPF the more protection you will have against harmful rays of the sun.  If you are using a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 then your skin will be protected 30 times more than if you were not using sunscreen.

Sunscreens usually block UVB rays and offer little protection against UVA rays.  UVB rays are more likely to cause cancer and wrinkles but there are more UVA rays so look for a sunscreen that offers protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

Sun damage causes liver spots and can reduce the elasticity of your skin.  When your skin loses elasticity it cannot spring back into place as quickly.  This is part of what causes the youthfullness of skin.  For example, when you smile the muscles under your skin cause your skin to wrinkle on top.  Wrinkles and fine lines form when your skin cannot return to how it was and lay smoothly on top of the muscles. Sun damage makes your skin leathery.  Wearing sunscreen has another bonus as well.  You will be less likely to develop skin cancer when your skin has been adequately protected by either using sunscreen or covering your exposed skin when you are outside during the most damaging times of day.

Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Chemicals that we put into our bodies as well as on our skin can actually cause wrinkles.  Smoking is one of the most common chemicals and can cause the most damage.  Smoking makes your skin brittle and thin.  We have all seen people that look as though their skin is so thin we can see right through it. When you smoke you can cause this to happen much more quickly.  Also beware that smoking causes deep wrinkles especially around your mouth.  When you smoke you release enzymes that break down collagen and elastin making the skin appear to be aging more quickly.

Also beware of what you put on your skin.  Some creams and moisturizers can actually do more harm than good.  For example, mineral oil such as what is found in Vaseline adds a lot of moisture to the skin.  Unfortunately, at the same time it also strips your skin of natural oils needed to replenish skin cells and keep your skin young.

To prevent wrinkles start by using only all-natural products on your skin. If you choose to use wrinkle removers, look for products that are natural and contain proven ingredients. But if you really want to avoid wrinkles you should think about giving up smoking–you could save your lungs and your skin.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Your skin needs specific vitamins and minerals in order to replenish itself.  To fight wrinkles you may want to evaluate your diet and see what you can do to include more whole products.  Look for whole grains and include dairy products in your diet.  Fruits and vegetables can be one of the biggest sources of vitamins and minerals in your diet.  Try to shop on the perimeter of the store so you can buy whole and natural foods instead of regularly shopping in the aisles.

To get the most benefits out of your foods you may also need to change your cooking habits.  The more you cook fruits and vegetables the more vitamins and minerals are removed from them.  Look for bright vegetables and eat them raw.  If you can’t stand the taste of raw broccoli, try steaming it.

Water is probably the most important aspect of wrinkle fighting related to diet.  Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.  It will allow more water to enter the cells keeping them hydrated and supple. If you combine water and the vitamins and minerals your body needs, you will have everything necessary to replenish cells and keep your skin healthy.

Exercise

Along with diet you probably don’t want to hear about the benefits of exercise yet again.  It can be almost as hard to keep up the habit of exercising as it is to break the habit of smoking.  However, if you can work exercise into your daily routine you will see surprising results in your skin.

Try to find an activity you enjoy.  Perhaps you will enjoy taking a short walk in the evening.  You may want to use this as the jump start to preparing for a 5K.  Whatever you choose, make sure you enjoy it so you can continue the pattern.  It might help to know some of the benefits of exercise.  When you exercise you increase your circulation.  This can make it so your body is more efficient at removing toxins from your body.  You will also be able to better transport the vitamins and minerals from your improved diet!

Know What to Put on Your Skin

We already talked about what not to put on your skin so you are probably wondering some things that can be beneficial to use on your skin.  There is probably not one product that will work for everyone so look for products with similar, and proven, ingredients.  Vitamin E is an example of a proven ingredient designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  Look for a wrinkle remover that has retinoids such as Retin A.  This is one of the only FDA approved ingredients that can help to reduce wrinkles.

Whatever you choose to use keep in mind that it will likely take some trial and error to find something that is effective for you.  Keep all them ideas in mind and try to incorporate them into your daily routine so you can see dramatic results and a younger looking face.