Dear Mary,

- Cassandra

Dear Cassandra,

Unfortunately, as we age, our skin naturally begins to wrinkle. However, by taking care of your skin when you are young, you will be able to reduce the number and severity of the wrinkles you have later on in life. And luckily, there are many simple things that you can do now to help prevent wrinkles or reduce the amount of wrinkles that you have.

First and foremost, take care of your skin, and particularly your face, by washing and moisturizing it regularly. Your skin will be less prone to wrinkle if you have taken care of it properly. When you wash your face, be gentle. Don't scrub or rub so hard that it stretches out your skin — this may increase the likelihood that your skin will wrinkle prematurely.

Protect you skin from the sun. This is one of the most important things you can do to reduce the amount of wrinkles that you get when you are older. Though it seems cool (and maybe even healthy) to have a nice, golden brown glow, you will pay dearly for it later. Not only does exposure to UV rays age your skin, but it can also cause cancer—that’s way too high a price to pay, if you ask me. To prevent these effects, use a good sunscreen (check the SPF and match it to the amount of time and type of sun exposure—one with at least SPF 15 is best). Wear a hat to protect your face. Also, if you are going to be outside for a long time, wear long sleeves and pants, or stay in the shade. And avoid artificial tanning. Though it may seem safer than natural tanning, you are still exposing your skin to harmful UV rays, and because the UV rays are more concentrated than they are from the sun, artificial tanning is often even more dangerous than normal sun exposure.

Wear sunglasses when outside so that you don’t have to squint so much to protect your eyes from the sun. This is important because squinting can cause the skin around the eyes to wrinkle.

Moisturize your skin as needed throughout the day with a good lotion, cream, or oil to help keep it young and healthy. You can also use aloe vera gel as desired to moisturize your skin and to help heal it, particularly after overexposure to the sun and/or wind.

Drink plenty of water. This is also one of the best things you can do to prevent and reduce the number or severity of wrinkles. By drinking water, the skin tissue can remain more elastic. If you are adequately hydrated, you will not need to use as much lotion or other creams. Also, watch the amount of carbonated drinks that you consume—they can actually act to dehydrate you more quickly, rather than hydrate you.

Eat healthy so that your body will receive the proper vitamins and other nutrients that it needs to perform at its best. Proper nutrition is an important part of overall skin care, and it may help to prevent or reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging.

Quit smoking, or better yet, don’t start the habit in the first place. Aside from the other negative effects of smoking, smoking cigarettes can cause skin damage, and it can also cause your skin to become tough, particularly the area around the mouth.

Humidify your home. This will help to keep your skin from becoming overly dry, especially during the cold, dry winter months.

Get enough rest. Resting allows your body time to relax and rejuvenate after a hard day of work (or play). Give your body the time it deserves to unwind, and it will thank you for it for years to come (and you won’t get those unsightly bags under your eyes, either!). If you can go to bed by 10pm everynight, this will help your body in countless ways.

Use a good anti-wrinkle cream. Wrinkle creams increase the number of skin tissue cells and help to smooth lines and wrinkles.

Remember, when you're 20 you have the skin you were born with. By the time you're 60, you have the skin you deserve. So be wise, take care of your skin, and reap the reward of beautiful, soft, and wrinkle-free skin for years to come.