Everyone ages. But nothing can make you look older than your skin.

Feeling your best often means looking your best, and effective steps to prevent skin from showing its age can help you look and feel years younger.

Here are six proven ways to keep your skin healthy and youthful.

1. Protect Your Skin.

The sun is one of your skin’s worst enemies. UV light from the sun contributes to a host of skin cancers and can leave skin looking dry and leathery. Avoid times when the risk for sun exposure is greatest and use clothing and sunscreen to keep you safe from harmful UV rays.

2. Avoid Tobacco.

Smoking adds years to your heart, lungs, blood vessels — and skin. It contributes to wrinkles that can make you look sallow and angry. If you smoke, stop. If you don’t, don’t start.

3. Don’t Drink.

Alcohol leads to dehydration. Over time, skin without proper hydration becomes wrinkly and saggy. Avoid alcohol and, as much as possible, keep up your consumption of water.

4. Keep Clean — Gently.

Harsh scrubbing may make you feel clean, but it doesn’t get you any cleaner than gentle scrubbing and irritates your skin. Gentle cleansing is all you need to remove oils, makeup and other substances without causing irritation.

5. Avoid Products That Burn.

“If it’s burning, it’s working.” Your dad might’ve been wrong on this one, as with harsh scrubbing, alcohol-based aftershaves, body sprays and other substances can irritate the skin, adding unnecessary years of damage.

6. Use Moisturizer.

While alcohol saps moisture from the skin, an effective moisturizer can trap water in the skin and keep you hydrated. Avoid moisturizers with strong odors, as these are more likely to contain alcohol or cause irritation.

Even if you feel like your skin has already seen its years, it’s not too late to stop — or even reverse — skin aging. A professional dermatologist can provide effective, clinical, evidence-based approaches that stop the aging process and help skin regain its youthful, healthy glow without expensive, invasive procedures.

To schedule an appointment or learn more about the skincare, call West Georgia Dermatology at 770-838-9333.