...are revealed in the BBC Horizon documentary The Truth About Looking Young on iPlayer right here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...Looking_Young/

The different types of ultraviolet light responsible for skin damage are UVB light which is responsible for the skin burning effect and the more penetrating UVA light which is responsible for the skin ageing effect. Both types are blocked by modern sunscreen lotions and it turns out that there are other precautionary measure that can be taken to reduce skin damage.

These include a good diet containing coloured fruits and vegetables (full of antioxidants) and oily fish/omega-3 supplements (natural anti-inflammatory effect) but avoiding too many sugary foods that can effectively age your skin by two extra years.

There are a couple of other things that are worth mentioning in that documentary. Ordinary glass does block UVB light but it lets through UVA light so if you're going on a long car journey or are sitting in your conservatory in direct sunlight then it's worth putting on some good sunscreen lotion to prevent skin damage.

Cosmetic and food companies are working on a range of anti-ageing creams and supplements although it'll be a few years before they come on the market. In the meantime, a previous BBC Horizon documentary found that an over the counter anti-ageing cream really did reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles and the link is here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/20...-wrinkle-cream

As that article indicates, it is Vitamin A/retinoid compounds that are responsible for this wrinkle-reduction effect and the retinyl palmitate ingredient in things like Boots No7 Protect and Perfect and Bio-oil is the compound that's converted in the skin into the biologically active retinoic acid.

As someone with a science background, I find all this stuff fascinating.

I found it interesting too. Good show.

Indeed it was, Jo09. I wish it had been longer so that it could highlight other skin damaging factors, such as smoking, which can literally prematurely age the skin by a decade or more : http://www.simplyantiaging.com/820/s...nd-skin-aging/

As that article said, there's no point using anti-ageing creams, etc. if a person is still smoking.

I smoke. I'm 37 and don't look much past 30. I do eat well, I exercise and am not heavy smoker (10 a day maybe). I only started using any sort of face/eye creams about a year ago. Smoking can affect your skin. But the sun has the worst affect. A friend of mine (43) uses creme de la mer, has never smoked, and also does Botox and fillers. And still looks every day get age. Why? Because she worships the sun & never uses anything above factor 4. Go figure...

I think everyone who uses a tanning salon or goes on a beach tanning holiday abroad ought to be shown a computer projection of their face in 30 years' time with and without the effect of all that ultraviolet exposure. That might shock them into being sensible.