We are all familiar with the effects of aging on our skin. It is a known fact the skin looses flexibility as we age.

Have you ever wondered, why some areas of your body show the signs of aging more than others?

Your hands, arms, knees, neck and face show more the passage of time, than your upper tights, lower back and buttocks. The skin on these areas are normally protected, many times by more than one layer, of clothing,

If you are doubt pinch the skin on the back of your hand and see how fast it retracts, and then do the same with the skin around your hips.

There is a big difference on the elasticity, same body, and different levels of exposure to the sun.

Your face, neck, hands, and knees are exposed to the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays from the sun. Continuous exposure to the sun, the ultraviolet energy of the sunlight interacts with fats on the skin to produce free radicals.

Free radicals damage the proteins on the skin causing them to fuse together, thereby diminishing the ability to freely slide over each other and losing flexibility.

Two major skin proteins are collagen and elastin. Collagen in particular it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging.

What can you do?

1. Avoid skin products that contain petroleum byproducts, as these accelerate the damage of the sun, and contribute to the formation of free radicals. To find out about other harmful chemicals visit "Not Just a Pretty Face".

2. Inform yourself about the chemical content of the cosmetics that you are presently using.

3. Join organizations like join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and stay informed. The use of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects have been banned in Europe but are still being used in the U.S.

3. Use a topical antioxidant. It has been found that skin protected by antioxidants takes longer to get sunburn than skin that goes unprotected.

4. Use a sun-block, wear a hat, and be aware of the amount of time you spend on the sun.

5. Increase your consumption of anti-oxidants. Antioxidants cannot undo deep wrinkles or repair the permanent sun damage of actinic keratosis (precancerous skin condition) but they can make your skin healthier, livelier, and smoother.

Antioxidants also improve the permeability of the blood capillaries by improving the production of ground substance (an intercellular cement) between the cells. And most important for slowing the aging process, they promote the two major skin proteins, collagen and elastin.

Regular exercise, a healthy diet and enough sleep go a long way in keeping you looking young and healthy.

Remember invest in your health today to have a disease free tomorrow.

Roberto G. Guerrero is a Texas licensed acupuncturist, a Chinese herbalist and a National Board Certified Practitioner of Oriental Medicine with a practice located in San Antonio, Texas. Roberto splits his time between his professional practice, building a Network Marketing Organization, and teaching others how to be successful using the Web 2.0 technology and attraction marketing.