Another Thing To Worry About: 5 Ways To Prevent Premature Wrinkles

Young people don't need to worry about wrinkles, right? Wrong.

If you think wrinkles suddenly appear the day after you turn 40, think again.

Wrinkling is a process that happens over time, and it can be avoided with the proper preventative measures.

The only thing worse than not caring about signs of aging and wrinkles is caring and acting too aggressively.

Over-moisturizing and using skin care products for older people may end up harming young skin and causing more damage.

But rest assured, there is a happy medium.

Using these five methods, you can fight the early signs of wrinkles and aging, without launching a full-blown assault on your skin:

1. Increase your consumption of Vitamin C.

Growing up, we were all told Vitamin C helps prevent sickness, but it's an incredibly important antioxidant for your skin as well.

For people in their 20s and early 30s, a Vitamin C serum might be the only tool necessary to prevent aging.

Try to eat foods high in Vitamin C, such as citrus oranges, grapefruit and lemons.

Other fruits like strawberries and raspberries have high quantities of Vitamin C as well.

2. Be mindful of the sun.

Getting some sun is healthy and feels great, but it actually plays a bigger role in aging and wrinkles than your genetics. Even if your parents and grandparents seem to have aged well, spending too much time in the sun can put your skin in a bad position.

One important preventative measure is to use sunscreen liberally on your face, neck and commonly exposed skin, even if it feels and smells gross.

Fair-skinned people living in sunny climates might want to apply it before going to work in the morning, as the5 sun's rays can penetrate windows.

3. Know sensitive skin.

The number one spot to protect is your eyes. The skin around the eyes is particularly sensitive, and it is one of the first places where you might show signs of aging.

In your mid- to late 20s, finding an eye cream with peptides that promote collagen production is your best defense.

Most people overlook the skin around the eyes when applying sunscreen, which further exacerbates the problem. Cover this area thoroughly, and use a cream with peptides to prevent signs of aging in the future.

4. Exfoliate your skin.

Exfoliating your skin becomes more important in your mid- to late 20s, but there is still no reason to be aggressive. Try to find a gentle exfoliator that doesn't feel like sandpaper on your skin.

This will help to remove the dead and dull skin, allowing oxygen to permeate through all the layers of your skin.

This may be a practice you already engage in to prevent wrinkles, but ensure you have the right type of exfoliator for best results. If it's too harsh, there will be fewer advantages.

5. Stop habits that cause aging.

There are plenty of active ways to prevent aging and wrinkles, but ceasing certain habits can be just as effective.

As this infographic shows, certain habits like smoking and drinking through a straw exacerbate signs of aging around your lips.

If you don't wear sunglasses, you might squint, which can also lead to wrinkles and aging.

Changing these habits can go a long way over many years.

By combining better habits with sunscreen, exfoliation and a healthier diet, it's possible to prevent wrinkles and aging for a long time.

Fighting aging and wrinkles at a young age is less about buying every anti-aging product on the market, and it's more about daily habits and gentle methods that make a big difference over time.