| As we age, our bodies show their mileage in different ways. To be certain, there are many things we can do to combat the aging process, from the way we eat and exercise to the way we treat our skin and hair. Here are a few ways that you can keep Father Time from making you look as old as your age.
Ever felt those bumps on the back of your thighs, bottom, and upper arms? The technical term for them is “keratosis pilaris,” or KP. It looks like the acne we used to get back when we couldn't wait to get older, but it's just the place where dead skin cells have collected around hair follicles. To get rid of these, simply use a body scrub to eliminate those dead cells, and follow up with an exfoliator (alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid or retinol will all help) on a daily basis to keep more dead skin cells from making new bumps.
Omega-3 fatty acids aren't just good for your heart anymore. If you take 1,000 mg each day, you can get rid of the redness that goes with eczema and psoriasis, and eliminate those patches of dried skin. These acids help your skin stay flexible.
Instead of using a washcloth, use a damp puff when applying your body wash. When you inject air into the body wash, you use more foam (and less actual wash), so you don't dry your skin as much.
And while we're on the subject of soap, you don't want to use it more than once a day, and you don't have to use it on your whole body, even then. Places like your groin, buttocks, feet, face and underarms need soap, but most of the rest of your body will get clean simply by standing under the shower. Soap takes away your skin's oils; a warm rinse does not.
If you want to give your skin a fresh glow without making it excessively dry, choose a scrub made of something that will dissolve, like sugar or sea salt. Scrubs made with tougher materials, like walnut shells, do clean more vigorously, but they add to the risk of skin inflammation. You want a glow – but you don't want a glare.
Worried about allergic reactions to skin-care products? In many instances, the organic products are less likely to cause sensitivity, because they have fewer ingredients than the man-made treatment products.
Remember when everyone was saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away?” Well, now think about eating a grapefruit daily – or tangerines. If you can add 75 mg of Vitamin C to your daily diet, you will reduce your susceptibility to wrinkles.
Is your face looking a bit dried out? Next time you're choosing your facial lotion, pick one that has thermal spring water. The sulfur, zinc, calcium and other materials will help you hydrate your skin – and soothe the discomfort that comes with psoriasis, rosacea or eczema.
Do you wake up with pillow lines all over your face, because you sleep with your face in your pillow? If you sleep that way every night, those lines can become wrinkles. Turn over and try to sleep on your back – your face will thank you.
Did you know that many women's faces look older on the left side? The culprit is your car window – all that time driving exposes the left side of the face to the sun – but not the right. If the sun isn't in your eyes, consider moving that visor over to the left to block UV rays.
Any supplement with a Vitamin A derivative, or a retinoid, can help ramp up your body's production of collagen and renewal of cells. As we age, these processes slow down, and our skin gets duller. These are available in over-the-counter products and in specialized supplements.
 Did you know that sweets can give you wrinkles? Glycation is the process by which sugar contributes to the breakdown of skin, leading to a drop in pliability. This is one reason that diabetics often have older-looking skin, because of the lessened control they have over their blood sugar.
Another way to boost your skin's glow is to eat salads with olive oil, which has the monounsaturated fats our bodies need to help absorb the Vitamin E in the greens, which will unlock that glow.
These are just some of the myriads of tools that can help keep your skin from showing signs of aging. If you're concerned about the effects of any particular supplements, check with your doctor before beginning any regular program in addition to your normal routine.
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