Skin Aging Summary Your skin changes as you age. You might notice wrinkles, age spots and dryness. Your skin also becomes thinner and loses fat, making it less plump and smooth. It might take longer to heal, too. Sunlight is a major cause of skin aging. You can protect yourself by staying out of the sun when it is strongest, using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding sunlamps and tanning beds. Cigarette smoking also contributes to wrinkles. The wrinkling increases with the amount of cigarettes and number of years a person has smoked. Many products claim to revitalize aging skin or reduce wrinkles, but the Food and Drug Administration has approved only a few for sun-damaged or aging skin. Various treatments soothe dry skin and reduce the appearance of age spots. NIH: National Institute on Aging National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Array Aging changes in skin Blepharoplasty – slideshow Eyelid lift Facelift Facelift – slideshow Forehead lift – slideshow Liver spots Wrinkles Start Here Aging Skin Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health Skin Care and Aging National Institute on Aging Skin Care and Aging National Institute on Aging What Causes Our Skin to Age? American Academy of Dermatology Find an Expert American Academy of Dermatology American Academy of Dermatology American Society for Dermatologic Surgery American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Find a Dermatologic Surgeon American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Find a Dermatologist American Academy of Dermatology National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute on Aging National Institute on Aging Specifics Bags Under Eyes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Sagging Skin American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Treatments and Therapies Blepharoplasty American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Botulinum Toxin Therapy American Academy of Dermatology Chemical Peels American Academy of Dermatology Laser Skin Renewal Logical Images Neuromodulators for Aging Skin American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Wrinkle Fillers Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Aging National Institutes of Health Related Issues Eldercare at Home: Skin Problems AGS Foundation for Health in Aging Is It True That Smoking Causes Wrinkles? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Encyclopedia Forehead lift Living With How to Create an Anti-Aging Skin Care Plan American Academy of Dermatology How to Select Anti-Aging Skin Care Products American Academy of Dermatology Tips for Relieving Dry Skin American Academy of Dermatology Wrinkle Creams: Your Guide to Younger Looking Skin Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Wrinkle Remedies American Academy of Dermatology Journal Articles Skin Aging Children What Are Wrinkles? Nemours Foundation Latest News ‘Freckle’ Gene Might Make You Look Older HealthDay