10 Ways to prevent wrinkles

Laugh lines, crow's feet and frown lines —oh my! Stop these nasty culprits from settling onto your face with these wrinkle-busting tips:

Sleep on your back.

Sleeping on your side causes wrinkles on your cheeks and chin, while sleeping on your stomach gives you a furrowed brow. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends sleeping on your back to avoid sleep lines that will eventually turn into wrinkles. Invest in a supportive neck pillow and place a pillow under your legs to help you get used to this new sleeping position.

Get your eyes checked.

Squinting can cause crows' feet and lines around your eyes, as well as a furrowed brow. Get your eyes checked regularly and, if needed, wear reading glasses or contact lenses. Wear sunglasses every single time you are outside to prevent squinting in the sun.

Stay out of the sun & wear sunscreen.

"Wearing sunscreen and staying out of direct sunlight is a must to slow down and prevent signs of aging," says Connie Elder, founder of Underology Ageless Beauty Products. "Find a great tinted sunscreen to wear even on days you don't wear makeup. Make sure you are protected even when driving a car or in the shade." She recommends UNDEROLOGY Fabulous 40 tinted, peptide moisturizer with SPF 40.

Drink Acai berry juice.

Free radicals cause cell damage, which in turn causes wrinkles; however, antioxidants help neutralize those free radicals. Studies have shown that acai fruit pulp has more antioxidants than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry and blueberry. Incorporate acai juice into your daily diet by drinking acai berry juice.

try Glycolic acid & retinol.

Dr. David Bank, president of New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, recommends women start using products with glycolic acid and retinol as soon as they are in their 30s. "Glycolic acid can improve the skin's appearance and texture by reducing wrinkles and hyperpigmentation caused by acne scarring and sun damage," he says. He tells women to use a retinol product before bed and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with antioxidants during the day to block free radicals and prevent sun damage.

consider Botox.

Dr. Joseph Broujerdi, a Los Angeles-based physician who sub-specializes in cranio-maxillofracial surgery, recommends getting Botox injections beginning in your 30s to control and prevent wrinkles.

Don't smoke.

If the effects on your health aren't enough to make you stop smoking, maybe the aging effects on your skin will! A study of identical twins showed that the twin who smoked had weaker skin with more wrinkles than the one who didn't. Smoking apparently affects the blood supply to the top layer of the skin and increases collagen breakdown.

eat an Anti-inflammatory diet.

Skin guru Dr. Nicholas Perricone says to fight aging and wrinkles from the inside out by following an anti-inflammatory diet. He says that free radicals cause inflammation and weakening of the skin's cell structure, resulting in loss of firmness and elasticity and increased discoloration. He recommends a diet high in fish, skinless chicken, tofu, legumes, nuts and seeds, as well as colorful fruits and vegetables.

Have sex regularly.

A study of more than 3,500 European and American women showed that those with active sex lives were estimated to be seven to 12 years younger than their actual ages. So get busy --- doctor's orders!

Exfoliate.

As you age, the outer layer of your skin (the epidermis) becomes drier and thicker because cells are not replaced as quickly, says Melanie Vasseur, cosmetic chemist, medical esthetician and founder of Vasseur Skincare and Spa. As a result, your skin looks dull and dry with an uneven texture. Exfoliating two times per week helps minimize the fine lines and improves cell turnover. "Periodic exfoliation may help restore a more youthful feel by removing the excess of dead cells from your skin's surface," says Vasser.

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Could your smartphone cause wrinkles?!

Wrinkles may be a sign of approaching middle age but younger women now have a reason to worry -- and the culprit may be your smartphone. According to New Jersey board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Brian Glatt, many younger women are beginning to develop premature wrinkles from staring at their Smartphones. What these women need, says Dr. Glatt, is 'Blackbery Botox.' Sounds scary, doesn't it? Dr. Glatt explains:

"The trend for 'BlackBerry Botox' is highly increasing especially among women who are addicted to gazing on their BlackBerries or iPhones all day.

Peering at a small screen causes facial strain, around and between the brows which may cause premature wrinkles on the face."

Smartphone-related wrinkles are the latest condition that doctors attribute to overuse of technology. Others include 'BlackBerry thumb' -- a form of repetitive strain injury caused by excessive texting.

Before you start to panic or begin glaring at your Smartphone with resentment, this can all be prevented by taking a few precautions. Try some of these tips from Dr. Glatt to avoid those tech-savvy wrinkles.

Prevent Smartphone wrinkles with these tips:

Take a break
It's important to put down or at least glance up from your Smartphone regularly so that your eyes can rest. Though squinting is necessary when using a Smartphone, taking time to relax your eyes can make a significant difference in reducing this new type of strain on your facial muscles.

Turn the light down low
Too much light and contrast can cause you to narrow the eyes to take in the brightness. A no-no for fresh-looking eye contours. Combat the dreaded 'crow's feet' effect by dimming the screen in your 'settings' options -- and see how low you can go on the light emission. The less, the better. (as a bonus, this will also help preserve your phone's battery life!)

Enlarge the text
If you find yourself struggling to read the small text on your Smartphone and start holding it so close you wrinkle your nose so much it hurts, just enlarge the text by simply going to your settings and altering the text size. Also, the zoom function can be a fantastic thing -- use it to focus in on images on your device so you can see much more clearly and avoid pulling the inner eye.

Looking after your eyes
If you can bear it, spend less time glued to your iPhone or Blackberry. And during this timeout, take some deep breaths to relax the face into a more natural expression, and gently massage the area around the eyes -- a simple thing that can make a big difference to preventing those lines that starts subtly but can get deeper and more pronounced. Not only will your face be serene looking, you will feel more serene -- and in a much better state to deal with any inbox horrors.

Don't forget to smile!
If you are experiencing stress from being constantly attached to your Smartphone, just think about the potentially negative effect this is having on your youthful appearance. Then, take time to do something that relieves the tension, like playing on a fun app, like TomCat or Angry Birds; this will help relax your face, soften your expression and prevent long term frown lines.

Wrinkles, crow's feet and grown lines can all be prevented -- all you need to do is stay informed and be good to your skin. That youthful glow can be preserved by taking advantage of a healthful diet with foods ultra-rich in anti-oxidants, along with a regular beauty regimen that includes anti-agining formulas. Avoid the habits that make your skin more prone to wrinkles as best you can -- it's a small price to pay for big wrinkle-free beauty results!

More skin care tips

Skin care tips for women in their 20s
Skin care tips for women in their 30s
Skin care tips for women in their 40s