As you age, the skin cells in your body begin to divide more slowly than they did before, causing the inner layer of your skin to thin. This thinning process causes your skin to become more vulnerable to injuries and damage, as well as to lose much of its elasticity.

When you skin loses its elasticity, it will no longer spring back to its original position; instead it will sag and begin to form furrows. Another effect of aging is degradation of the sweat and oil secreting glands, causing the skin to be deprived of its protective water-lipid emulsions. This causes the skin to lose its ability to retain moisture and becomes dry and scaly.

In addition to age, there are other contributing factors that cause wrinkles, including sunlight. The sun in the most significant cause of premature aging in people, due to the ultraviolet radiation emitted from sunlight. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation is responsible for ninety percent of premature skin aging symptoms, most of which occurs by the age of twenty. Even a small amount of ultraviolet radiation can have negative effects on your skin.

Another factor that can contribute to the creation of wrinkles is your lifestyle. Smoking has been known to greatly accelerate the creation of wrinkles and aging skin disorders. Air pollution is another factor that can cause premature skin wrinkling. Ozone, a common air pollutant, is known to deplete the amount of vitamin E in the skin, which is an important antioxidant.

The best way to reduce the amount of wrinkles you have is to avoid the factors that you can control. Using sun block with a sun protective factor greater than 15, use protective clothing, and wear sunglasses to protect your skin from dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Avoiding sunlamps and tanning beds are also other ways to protect your skin from premature aging.

The stigma attached to looking old can have a profound impact on a persons self esteem. Our society places high regard on youthfulness, which is evident with the amount of money Americans spend on cosmetic products to cover wrinkles. You can slow the process of aging by taking care of your skin properly.