The years have been kind to you, but not your skin. Sun, wind, smoking, and other lifestyle factors can do a number on your skin. Skin aging isn’t something a lot of people think deeply about, but it can affect how well you turn over cells in your body absorb nutrients through skin, and detox. It can also affect you psychologically. Here’s how to get your skin looking young and wonderful again.

Get Just Enough Sun, But Not Too Much

The sun is actually good for your skin. UVB radiation initiates the conversion of cholesterol in your skin to vitamin D while upregulating melanin production – the body’s natural defense against the sun. UVA from the sun oxidizes the melanin in your skin, providing further protection from future radiation.

Of course, it’s easy to get too much sun. A light tan benefits most people, but too much sun can contribute to the dreaded “C” word. No one wants cancer, but few people understand the significant impacts of vitamin D deficiency and many of the dangers of sun exposure are really overblown.

The sun is the only known way for your body to make Vitamin D3-sulfate. The sulfate, of course, is sulfur, which is very beneficial for skin and other organs. And, the vitamin D generated in the skin binds with vitamin D receptors.

These receptors are comprised of a group of special proteins that sense the presence of steroid hormones (vit D mimics hormone function in the body, and is often considered a hormone instead of a true vitamin). Once vitamin D is sensed, the receptors regulate the expression of genes that turn various cell functions on and off. One of these functions is directly involved in skin cell proliferation and differentiation as well as immune functions.

In other words, vit D helps skin cell turnover (the production of new cells to replace old cells) by supplying them with adequate amount of the hormone. Without enough vitamin D, your skin becomes thinner, more fragile, easier to damage and dry. Wrinkles set in as moisture is lost.

So, bottom line: get enough vitamin D. Fortunately, it’s easy to do. Just expose your skin to the sun during times of the day when your shadow is shorter than you are tall, get regular vitamin D tests to ensure you’re levels are adequate (which are cheap), or get a UVB lamp if you live in an area that doesn’t get much sun.

Laser Skin Care

Some types of laser skin care treatments, like those performed at the Rossi Center, can help erase fine lines and wrinkles. It may seem like a short-term solution, but the treatment works by using special lasers that penetrate the skin, removing the upper layers and revealing layers underneath. The body responds by initiating the healing process. During this process, new skin is generated and looks younger than the skin that was removed.

Some types of laser therapies do not burn or remove the skin, however. Instead, they treat the underlying layers without touching the upper layers. This increases cell turnover and allows the body to naturally “push” the new skin to the top. This process takes longer than ablative laser therapy, but can still generate amazing results.

Stem Cell Serum and Acetyl Tetrapeptide

If you don’t want to treat you skin with lasers, you can opt for the high-tech serum approach. New serums that incorporate stem cells help cells stay looking younger and youth serum that contains Acetyl Tetrapeptide mimics your body’s own natural thymic youth hormone to help it generate younger skin.

All of these approaches have their place, and each one should be explored individually and in combination with one another for the best results.

John Del Rossi is a dedicated anti-aging and HIV specialist out of Philadelphia. He enjoys helping others both in his clinic and by sharing his insights online. Whenever he gets the chance, he likes to share what he has discovered along the way. You can read his informative, interesting articles on many health, medical and wellness websites.