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Many products on the market claim to make your skin look younger. But no anti-aging cream, exfoliating wash, European facial or herbal remedy is more powerful than the lifestyle steps every woman can take to keep her skin looking smooth and healthy for as long as possible.

Many people begin to develop fine lines around the eyes in their forties. But most deep facial wrinkles that emerge before age 50 can, in part, can be blamed on the effects of sun exposure and cigarette smoking or both, experts say. Compare the skin on your face and the backs of your hands to the relatively smooth skin of your buttocks to see the effects of sun exposure.

But some factors are beyond your control. If your grandmother and mother looked younger than their years, you probably will, too. Genetics plays a big role in how you look at middle age. But you can also make a difference in your skin by adopting a habit of using sunscreens, wearing wide-brimmed hats on sunny days and shunning tobacco and secondhand smoke.

How sunlight harms the skin

Excessive sun exposure can lead to dryness, wrinkles, fine lines, liver spots and even skin cancer. Damage to the skin occurs over a period of years with repeated exposure to the sun.

To reduce skin damage:

• Apply sunscreen year round. Sunscreen should have both UVA and UVB protection and a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors to all skin that will be exposed. It should be reapplied after sweating or being in water.
• Avoid direct sun during the middle of the day, when the sun's rays are the strongest.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves and other protective clothing outdoors during the day.

Don't be fooled by an overcast day. UV light penetrates clouds and can still harm unprotected skin.

How smoking ages the skin

Cigarette smoking ages people on the inside by causing lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and an array of other health problems. But smoking also ages your appearance.

Chemicals inhaled from cigarette smoke constrict tiny blood vessels in the skin, reducing the oxygen and nutrient supply to delicate facial tissues. Over years of smoking, this effect causes skin to wrinkle prematurely and lose elasticity, the ability to "bounce back" after being stretched.

People who smoke 10 or more cigarettes a day for a minimum of 10 years are more likely to develop deeply wrinkled, leathery skin than a nonsmoker. Some smokers also develop an unhealthy yellowish hue to their complexion.

But quitting smoking can stop or greatly reduce these signs.

How facial expressions age the skin

In a sense, skin has a "memory." If it is repeatedly folded by facial expressions, a groove forms beneath the surface. For example, people who squint a lot often develop lines around their eyes. Wearing sunglasses outdoors is one way to prevent squinting. It can also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Certain habits like frowning or smiling also wrinkle the skin. Some of these habits are easier to change than others.

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology. Sun safety is critical. Accessed May 27, 2008. National Institute on Aging. AgePage. Skin care and aging. Accessed May 27, 2008. American Academy of Dermatology. Causes of skin aging. Accessed May 27, 2008.

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