You may not have learned this in your biology class, but your skin is the largest organ in your body. That's right...it's just as much an organ as your heart, liver and lungs. Most people don't think of skin that way, but only as a covering for all the other body parts. So unless there is a problem, it's easy to ignore.

But you shouldn't because even though you can't see what's happening, your skin is working hard. It protects you from injury, dirt, and germs. It senses heat, cold and pain. Your skin gets rid of waste through sweat. And you may not realize it, but your hair and nails are also a part of this system. Every 60 seconds, 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells fall off your body. Every month your body will grow a whole new layer of skin.

Most people assume that the appearance of their skin is determined by their genes. But that's not the most significant factor. As the latest research shows, your skin's appearance is more affected by your environment then by your family tree.

First, we need to understand the factors that cause our skin to look prematurely old.

Natural Process of Aging
Time will take its toll on our skin. As we grow older, production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid begin to decrease. Because of this the skin loses elasticity, it becomes thinner and starts to droop. Fine lines and wrinkles appear. This is part of intrinsic aging.

Prolonged Exposure to the Sun
Photoageing or extrinsic aging is caused by constant exposure to the sun. This is one of the primary causes of premature aging. The sun's UVA and UVB radiation damage collagen fibers and cause an accumulation of abnormal elastin resulting in solar scars and wrinkles. Prolonged exposure to sun is also considered by many physicians to be a prime cause of various skin disorders and also many types of skin cancer.

Cigarettes
Smoking produces an unhealthy increase in free radical activity. Free radicals damage cell tissues, thus accelerating the ageing process. Smoking will change the tone of your skin to ashen, produce premature wrinkles, and add years to your face. Not to mention the damage it does to your lungs.

Other Factors
Other factors that can contribute to premature aging is poor nutrition, stress, lack of sleep, alcohol abuse, too much sugar in the diet, and insufficient exercise.

Skin Care: Nutrition and Protection
All the above affect your skin making it dry and dull, causing wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. There are many skin products available which strategically target these specific signs of aging.

• Firstly, dry, dull skin needs to be hydrated with a good moisturizer. Panthenol has been known to effectively relive dry, scaly skin.
• Niacinamide reduces brown spots or age spots and also helps increase skin elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen. In addition, it will assist your body in smoothing away the appearance of wrinkles from your face.
• Antioxidants like Vitamin E help neutralize free radical activity caused by the sun thereby helping to protect the upper layers of the skin from sun damage.
• In addition, it is necessary to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB rays by using sun blocking agents like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.
• Topical applications which target specific signs of age visibility will keep your skin looking soft and supple, improving skin tone and restoring radiance. Remember to keep away from factors that can contribute to premature aging and maintain a low-fat diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. These are proven, scientifically-based techniques.

Who says you cannot fool Father-Time or Mother Nature? Now, anyone can look younger, longer!