5 HOME TREATMENTS FOR WRINKLES

1: Be Vigilant About Sunscreen and Moisturizer

Protecting your skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is one of the best ways to prevent premature aging. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 25 to 30 for the best protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.

 For those among us who want a little more from their sunscreen, some sunscreens contain skin-strengthening, collagen-regenerating ingredients such as vitamin E and soy isoflavones. Find the right sunscreen for you, and apply generously throughout the day.

2: Goal: More Sleep, Less Stress

Most adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. When you're asleep, your body produces human growth hormone (HGH), which is the body's own anti-aging tool. HGH helps the body maintain healthy tissues, including your skin.

 When you don't get enough sleep, the body responds by producing the stress hormone cortisol, and cortisol interferes with how the body is able to maintain itself. Too much cortisol, and your skin may become drier as well as more susceptible to infections, more susceptible to damage from sunlight and therefore more susceptible to wrinkles.

3: Topical Treatments

Applying over-the-counter topical anti-aging treatments can be a good way to plump up your skin, but it's the nutrient-based ingredients rather than the topical cosmeceutical treatments that most effectively reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

 Look for topical anti-aging products that contain retinol (which is vitamin A), peptides or hydroxyacids. These treatments don't protect you from the sun's damaging rays (which can lead to premature aging), so don't forget to apply sunscreen.

4: Fight Wrinkles With Fat (and Other Foods)

First, let's look at fats. Adding foods that are full of good-for-you dietary fats and oils can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as improve the long-term health of your skin. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially good at plumping and tightening skin, because they nourish skin cells. Oily fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines are good sources of omega-3s, as are almonds, walnuts, flaxseed and sunflower seeds (and oils).

5: Antioxidants Against Gravity

Did you know some vitamins may help you fight gravity? And minerals and enzymes can lend a lifting hand, too. All these substances are antioxidants, and antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging healthy skin cells.

They do this by supplying electrons to the unbalanced free radicals -- antioxidants are actually molecules that help neutralize free radicals. They are vitamins (vitamins A, C and E), minerals (more on that later) and proteins (enzymes) found in darkly-colored fruits and vegetables (the dark fruits and vegetables contain the most beta-carotene and anthocyanins), nuts, and legumes.