Stop smoking.
This nasty habit isn't just rough on your lungs, it takes a toll on your skin too. Sucking on cigarettes accelerates the development of fine lines around the mouth, and smoking leads to premature wrinkling and dull skin tone all over your face. It's even linked to increased risk of psoriasis, a skin disorder that causes itchy, raised red patches on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back. Researchers at Oregon University School of Medicine found that female smokers are more than three times more likely to develop it than non-smokers.

Start wearing sunscreen daily.
That means all 365 of them—regardless of the weather, since ultraviolet rays can penetrate a cloud cover too. Photoaging, which is damage caused to the skin by UV light, leads to premature wrinkling, sagging, a leathery texture, and dark spots. To keep skin pretty and protected, religiously apply a SPF 30 sunscreen before heading out of the house in the morning.

Eat a balanced diet.
A healthy mix of lean protein, whole grains, and antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies keeps your body humming at peak performance, and your skin happy too. And it's not just healthy foods that can give you a glow: It turns out that chocolate can too. The fats in cocoa can hydrate the skin, and dark chocolate contains powerful antioxidants that boost you skin’s health and appearance. Choose bars with at least 70 percent cacao, and limit yourself to a few nibbles a day.

Exercise regularly.
If you hit the recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week, your skin will thank you for it. We all know that moving your body is terrific for your heart and lungs, but it's great for your skin's appearance too. Any activity that promotes healthy circulation - walking, running, biking, to name just a few - keeps skin looking vibrant. Exercise can also help combat stress, which is linked to acne, eczema and fever blisters.

By Cathy Garrard
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer

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