Guest Author - Lisa Lambson

Do you take good care of your skin? If you are like most people, probably not. The skin that you inherited from your parents will be greatly influenced by other factors as you age. Aging of the skin is a process that happens over years and varies greatly depending on your sun exposure, your environment, health habits and your general lifestyle.

The sun and its ultraviolet rays have the greatest impact on how the skin ages. As we age, the collagen and elastin fibers of the skin naturally weaken. This happens at a much faster rate if the skin is frequently over exposed to ultraviolet rays without protection. There are two different forms of UV rays; the UVA rays and the UVB rays. UVA rays, otherwise known as the aging rays, contribute to 90-95 percent of the suns ultraviolet rays that reach the earth’s surface. These rays weaken the collagen and elastin fibers and cause wrinkling and sagging in the tissues. The UVB rays, otherwise known as the burning rays, cause tanning of the skin by affecting the cells of the epidermis that are responsible for producing melanin, the skin pigment. Both of these types of rays can be dangerous when overexposed on a regular basis. The key, as with most things, is moderation. UV rays are needed by the body to produce Vitamin D and other important minerals, but if overexposed the UV rays will cause damage.

Changes in our environment also play a major role in how the skin ages. Pollutants in the air can not only affect the appearance of the skin, they can change the health of the underlying cells and tissues and speed up the aging process.

In addition, what we choose to put into our bodies has a huge impact on the aging process. Poor choices can be seen most on the skin. Smoking, drinking, taking drugs and eating a less than ideal diet will all greatly influence the aging process. Both smoking and drinking cause enough problems but the two can often go hand in hand and the combination of the two can be devastating to the skin. The damage done by this is very difficult to reverse or repair.

The following are just some of the precautions you should take to help safeguard your skin:

Wear a moisturizer or protective lotion with sunscreen.

Avoid exposure to the sun during peak hours.

Reapply sunscreen after swimming or heavy sweating.

Follow a good daily skin care routine to protect the skin from pollutants and to remove the buildup of pollutants that settle on the skin throughout the day.

No smoking, drinking or taking drugs.

Maintain a balanced diet.

Use as many natural products as possible.

Follow these precautions and go enjoy a facial once a month and your skin will love you for it. So, relax and treat your skin right.