Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

Here are ways to improve and maintain your skin's youthful appearance:

  • Protect your skin from the sun. Protect your skin — and prevent future wrinkles — by limiting the time you spend in the sun and always wearing protective clothing and hats. Also, use sunscreen when outdoors, even in winter.
  • Choose products with built-in sunscreen. When selecting skin-care products, choose those with a built-in sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Also, be sure to select products that block both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Use moisturizers. Dry skin turns plump skin cells into shriveled ones, creating fine lines and wrinkles long before you're due. Though moisturizers can't prevent wrinkles, they may temporarily mask tiny lines and creases.
  • Don't smoke. Even if you've smoked for years or smoked heavily when you were younger, you can still improve your skin tone and texture and prevent future wrinkles by quitting smoking.
References
  1. McCullough JL, et al. Prevention and treatment of skin aging. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2006;1067:323.
  2. Renova (tretinoin cream). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2002/21108s1lbl.pdf. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  3. Rabe JH, et al. Photoaging: Mechanisms and repair. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2006;55:1.
  4. Soft tissue fillers. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/SoftTissueFillers.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  5. Kafi R, et al. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol). Archives of Dermatology. 2007;143:606.
  6. Facial skin rejuvenation. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/cosmetic_facial.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  7. Helfrich YR, et al. Overview of skin aging and photoaging. Dermatology Nursing. 2008;20:177.
  8. Mature skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/Publications/pamphlets/MatureSkin.htm. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  9. Baumann L. Cosmetics and skin care in dermatology. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3007166&searchStr=xerosis. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  10. Freiman A, et al. Cutaneous effects of smoking. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. 2004;8:415.
  11. Physician's guide to cosmetic surgery: Facial surgery and skin care surgical procedures. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. http://www.plasticsurgery.org/medical_professionals/publications/Physicians-Guide-to-Cosmetic-Surgery-Facial-Surgery.cfm#. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  12. Rados C. Science meets beauty: Using medicine to improve appearances. FDA Consumer Magazine. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2004/204_beauty.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2008.
  13. Just M, et al. Effect of smoking on skin elastic fibres: Morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. British Journal of Dermatology. 2007;156:85.

DS00890

Jan. 27, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger