Each year Americans spend billions of dollars on "wrinkle" creams, bleaching products to lighten age spots, and skin lotions to keep skin looking smooth and healthy in a never ending quest for a more youthful appearance. But the best answer is also the simplest and cheapest way to keep your skin healthier and younger looking: stay out of the sun.

Sunlight is a major cause of skin changes we think of as aging--changes like wrinkling, looseness, leathery-dryness, blotchiness, various growths, yellowing, or pebbly texture. Still, one-third of all adults sunbathe even though they know that sunlight can hurt their skin. Sunlight damage can be just as bad in the late fall and winter especially for skiers since most people forget about sunscreens in witner.

Your skin does change with age--for example, you sweat less and your skin can take longer to heal. You can delay these changes by staying out of the sun.

Sun Damage

Elastin

A protein that is similar to collagen and is the chief constituent of elastic fibers.

Over time, the suns ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. The skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to snap back after stretching due to the breakdown of these fibers. The skin also bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal. So while sun damage may not show when youre young, it will later in life.

Nothing can completely undo sun damage, although the skin can sometimes repair itself. So, its never too late to begin protecting yourself from the sun.

Smoking

Smokers tend to have more wrinkles than nonsmokers of the same age, complexion, and history of sun exposure. The reason for this difference is unclear. It may be because smoking interferes with normal blood flow in the skin.

Skin Cancer

Sun damage also causes skin cancer. The chance of developing skin cancer increases as people age, especially for those who live in sunny areas of the country. There are three types of common skin cancers:

To learn more about Skin Cancer, visit our Health Encyclopedia...Click Here.

Finding any cancer early and treating it quickly is important, especially in the case of melanoma. The best defense against skin cancer is paying attention to the warning signs. If there is a sudden change in the look of a mole or a new spot, see a doctor. Look for differences in color, size, shape, or surface quality (scaliness, oozing, crusting, or bleeding). Have a doctor check any dark colored spots.

Dry Skin and Itching

Dry skin is common in later life. About 85 percent of older people develop "winter itch," because overheated indoor air is dry. The loss of sweat and oil glands as we age may also worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries the skin (such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths) will make the problem worse.

Dry skin itches because it is irritated easily. If your skin is very dry and itchy, see a doctor because this condition can affect your sleep, cause irritability, or be a symptom of a disease. For example, diabetes and kidney disease can cause itching. Some medicines make the itchiness worse.

Maintaining Healthy Skin

The best way to keep skin healthy is to avoid sun exposure beginning early in life. Here are some other tips:

While the skin damage due to overexposure to the sun's UV rays can't be reversed completely, taking these steps will slow the skin's aging process and result in healthier skin in the long run.

References:
1. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Clearinghouse
2. National Institutes of Health