5 Tips for Young and Healthy Skin

Want to keep - or start - having that youthful glow in your skin? Following a few simple steps can make all the difference.

Tip #1: Protect Your Skin

All tanning causes damage to your skin, so choose the right sunscreen and wear it every day. Not only does exposure to ultraviolet sunlight increase a person's risk of skin cancer, it also affects the elastin in the skin, which leads to wrinkles and sun-induced skin aging such as a leathery look and blotchy pigmentation. If you like the sun-kissed look, try self-tanner.

Tip #2: Include the Right Kinds of Fats in Your Diet

Foods rich in essential fatty acids (EFA's), like salmon and nuts are thought to reduce inflammation.

• Related: 5 Food Rules to Live By

Tip#3: Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen!

While you should apply sunscreen every day, using sunscreen with a high SPF doesn't mean you can stay out in the sun all day. And, sunscreen is not "water proof." It will not work as well after you have been in water or have been sweating in the hot sun. It is important to reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.

Tip #4: Decrease Your Stress and Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is essential for healthy skin, and not enough quality sleep will make your skin look tired and older, especially with bags under your eyes. Poor quality sleep can become a vicious cycle because lack of sleep makes you irritable, anxious and depressed, which makes it harder to get quality sleep.

• Related: Sleep Guide: Ways to Outsmart Insomnia

Tip #5: Get Checked Out

It's important to perform self-examinations. Dr. Pranav Sheth , of Group Health , recommends doing a skin check once a month and to have a loved one examine your back and other hard-to-see areas for any changes to your skin or moles.  

Dr. Sheth also cautions that "it's important to see a dermatologist if there are any concerns, or if you are at higher risk for skin cancer." You're at higher risk if you have fair skin, light hair, or blue eyes, or if you have a history of sunburns, multiple moles, atypical moles, or a personal or family history of skin cancer.

"Even with the best precautions, problems can arise, but a trained dermatologist knows what to look for in skin changes and can help you if something is wrong," Dr. Sheth says.