You should use sunblock on all exposed areas of skin when you are outside. Some people forget to apply it to their hands, ears, and neck. You should also use sunblock lip-balm for your lips, which are very susceptible to sun damage. Be sure to cover your nose well with sunblock, because its angle causes it to receive more intense sunlight during mid-day. (The worst photoaging many people have is on top of their nose.)

Sunblock should be used year-round and also on cloudy days, because even diffuse sunlight causes damage. People who live at high altitude should always use sunblock and cover up as much as possible when outside because the intensity of UV radiation is higher there.

High-altitude areas have higher skin cancer rates. Mountain climbers and skiers should shade or cover their faces as much as possible with brimmed hats, wrap-around sunglasses or goggles, nose shields (see www.bekogear.com), and facemasks.

It is becoming less fashionable for light-skinned people to have a dark tan because of its association with skin damage. However, if you want a tan, today there are many self-tanning lotions that will temporarily dye light skin to various shades of brown. They are much better than older products that produced an orange color.

Note that these are not sunblocks, and the dyed skin doesn't provide any sun protection. However, they should be used sparingly, because the active chemical in them, dihydroxyacetone, could be harmful to your skin in high-concentration.

If you smoke, quit. (This includes marijuana and other smoked drugs as well as tobacco.) Doctors say smokers have much worse skin than non-smokers. The toxins in all types of combustion smoke damage the skin and diminish blood flow to the skin. A medical study showed that smoking was correlated with a much higher incidence of facial wrinkles.

Effects of Alchohol, Drugs and Diet 

Limit your consumption of alcohol. A medical study showed that heavy alcohol consumption was correlated with a variety of skin diseases and blood vessel abnormalities. Heavy alcohol consumption has adverse effects on nutrition and immune functions, which also affect the skin.

Don't use illicit street drugs. They can contain all sorts of contaminants and toxins that can damage your organs, including your skin.

There is scientific evidence that diet influences intrinsic aging of the body, including the skin. Healthy immune and cardiovascular systems may prevent skin abnormalities. Both of these systems are improved by a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat protein, and low in simple carbohydrates and sugar.

Avoid processed foods with "partially hydrogenated vegetable oil" (trans fat) in the ingredients list - it can lead to arterial plaques. (Most regular vegetable oils are O.K.). Avoid junk-food like chips, candy, and sodas. Animal studies indicate that cellular aging processes may be
slowed down by restricting your daily caloric intake.

It is theorized that caloric-restriction lowers the production of free radicals (unpaired electrons) and reduces circulating blood glucose, both of which can damage cells. This is another reason to eat more fruits and vegetables, and reduce your consumption of simple carbohydrates and sugar, which are high in calories and increase blood glucose levels.

Simple carbohydrates include foods made from refined grains like sugary breakfast cereals, cakes, pasta, and white bread. Foods like this which significantly increase blood glucose levels are said to have a high "glycemic index." You can find lists of foods and their glycemic indices on the Net and in some diet books.

Vitamin and mineral supplements that contain the recommended daily allowances (RDA) provide necessary nutrients for skin health. However, large doses of supplements well above the RDA may be dangerous, particularly for people with certain diseases or pregnant women. Despite what you may have seen in advertising, scientific studies have not shown that high doses of vitamins and minerals above the RDA prevent disease or slow aging.

You can find lists of the RDA online for both vitamins and minerals. The labels on supplement products list the percentages of the RDA. There are products available that contain the full RDA for either vitamins or minerals, so you only have to take two pills per day. If you eat a good diet, you can get most of the RDA from your food, so you need only take supplements once or twice per week.