Each year, billions of dollars are spent on cosmetic treatments that claim to erase wrinkles, age spots, itching, peeling, and redness. However, avoiding the sun is the easiest and cheapest approach to maintaining healthy and youthful-looking skin.

The sun is the leading cause of wrinkling, dryness, and age spots. Your skin changes as you age. For instance, you perspire less, resulting in greater dryness. Aging skin thins and loses fat, resulting in a less plump and smooth appearance. Particularly the veins and bones under the skin become more visible. When your skin is harmed, it might also take longer to heal.

These effects may be significantly slowed by avoiding the sun. Although nothing can completely reverse sun damage, the skin may occasionally recover. Therefore, it is never too late to protect yourself from the sun's detrimental effects.

Five methods to slow the aging process:

Wear Protective Apparel

A wide-brimmed hat provides shade for the neck, ears, eyes, and head. Look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of the sun's rays on the label. When in the sun, wear loose, lightweight long-sleeved shirts and long trousers or skirts.

Check Your Skin Often

Examine birthmarks, moles, and spots for variations in size, shape, color, or texture. Consult a doctor if you notice any changes that cause you concern. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that older, fair-skinned individuals have an annual skin examination as part of a routine physical assessment.

Avoid Getting an Artificial Tan

Do not use sunlamps, tanning beds, tanning tablets, or tanning cosmetics. After using tanning tablets, your skin will become orange due to a pigment ingredient. This color additive has been authorized by the FDA for coloring foods but not for tanning the skin. The high concentration of the color additive in tanning tablets may be hazardous. Tanning cosmetics are not suntan lotions and do not provide sun protection for the skin.

Use Sunscreen

The sun protection factor (SPF) for sunscreens may vary from 2 to 30 or higher. A greater number indicates longer coverage. Purchased items with an SPF of at least 15. Additionally, seek products with the following labels: wide spectrum (meaning they protect against both UVA and UVB rays) and water-resistant (meaning they stay on your skin longer, even if you get wet or sweat a lot). Don't forget to reapply the lotion as necessary.

Avoid Exposure to the Sun

The sun should be avoided between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when the sun's UV rays are at their peak intensity. Do not be deceived by the overcast sky. Clouds let harmful rays slip through. UV rays may also flow through water, so do not believe you are protected if you feel chilly when swimming.