How can you help prevent premature wrinkles?

You can help prevent premature wrinkles by protecting your skin from the sun every day, not smoking and avoiding sunbeds. Cleanse gently and use a moisturiser to make fine lines caused by dryness less noticeable. Outdoors, choose at least SPF 30 with UVA protection, apply enough and use clothing and shade too. Sun protection also helps prevent sunburn and skin cancer. You cannot stay completely wrinkle-free: skin changes with age, even when you take good care of it.

Start with habits that fit your day: keep sunscreen by your toothbrush, include your neck and put a tube in your bag for later. You do not need a complicated collection of serums. Below, we explain which changes you can influence, what researchers have found about sunscreen and how to build a comfortable routine.

Natural ageing and sun damage are different

Skin changes as we grow older. It can become drier, feel less firm and develop lines. Genetics plays a part. Habits and the environment also affect how soon some changes appear. The American Academy of Dermatology distinguishes natural ageing from premature ageing caused by external influences.

Long-term UV exposure plays an important part in sun-related ageing, also called photoageing. UVA penetrates deeper into the skin and can damage its supporting tissue, contributing to a loss of elasticity. UVB also contributes to skin ageing and is the main cause of sunburn. The WHO explains the effects of both kinds of radiation.

This involves more than the day you come home sunburnt. Sun exposure during an outdoor lunch, errands or gardening adds up too. You cannot tell from a single wrinkle how much the sun contributed to it. Nor can a photograph measure your total UV damage. Fine lines and pores are part of real skin.

What else can you do besides applying sunscreen?

Do not smoke. Smoking speeds up skin ageing and contributes to wrinkles. Quitting is therefore worthwhile for your skin too. If you need help, ask your doctor about support; adding another cream will not cancel out the effects of smoking.

Avoid sunbeds and deliberate tanning. Artificial UV radiation also speeds up skin ageing. A tan should not be the goal of your skin care. You can still enjoy spending time outdoors with suitable protection.

Cleanse gently and keep skin care simple. Harsh scrubbing can irritate your skin. Wash gently, remove make-up without rubbing hard and use a moisturiser if your skin feels dry or tight. This follows the AAD's advice on premature skin ageing.

If you also want to try a product for fine lines, introduce one at a time and follow its instructions. The AAD recommends stopping non-prescription skin care that burns or stings. For a prescribed product, speak to your clinician first. More products or more frequent use than directed will not necessarily improve the result.

What did the 4.5-year study find?

The 2013 study by Hughes and colleagues involved 903 adults under 55 in Australia. Participants were randomly assigned to use broad-spectrum sunscreen daily or at their own discretion. The daily-use product was labelled SPF 15+; the study did not compare modern SPF 30 and SPF 50 products.

After 4.5 years, measured skin ageing had progressed less in the daily sunscreen group. Assessors examined impressions of the skin on the back of the hand without knowing each person's assigned group. They did not count facial wrinkles. The widely quoted 24% comes from that statistical comparison of skin ageing. It does not mean participants had 24% fewer facial wrinkles or looked 24% younger.

The practical finding is that a regular sunscreen habit helps over the longer term. The study does not give a number of weeks in which you should see a difference. Participants were predominantly fair-skinned and lived in a sunny climate, so its result is not a personal forecast for every age or skin tone.

Build a routine around your day

You need not wait for your first wrinkle to start. Equally, protection remains useful in your forties, sixties and beyond. You are protecting the skin you have now from future exposure. The essentials stay the same throughout adult life, although what feels comfortable may change.

In your twenties, getting out of the door may be the main obstacle. Keep sunscreen beside something you already use. In your forties, you may want it to work well under make-up. Later on, a richer texture might feel better if your skin becomes dry. Choose for your own skin and day, without treating age as a rigid product category.

1. Use the skincare you need. Cleanse gently. If skin feels dry or tight, apply a suitable moisturiser.
2. Apply sunscreen generously and evenly. Cover the whole face, including the hairline, sides of the nose and jaw. Follow the packaging instructions before going outside.
3. Include other exposed areas. Give ears, neck and any exposed upper chest the same attention.
4. Plan for your next time outside. Pack sunscreen if you will need to reapply later.

A small dot spreads quickly, but it does not automatically provide the protection on the label. Our guide to sunscreen amounts for the face, neck and ears helps you cover these areas carefully. Focus on enough product and even coverage: an expensive formula cannot make up for missed patches.

Combining moisturiser, sunscreen and make-up

A moisturiser helps skin retain water and can make fine lines caused by dryness less noticeable. This is different from UV protection. A moisturiser without SPF does not replace sunscreen. One with sufficient SPF and UVA protection can work, provided you apply enough. See our comparison of SPF moisturiser and separate sunscreen if you are unsure.

Keep the routine manageable. For example, apply moisturiser where needed, then sunscreen, then make-up. Give the sunscreen time to form an even layer. There is no single waiting time that suits every combination. Our guide to sunscreen under make-up explains the order in more detail.

If you keep reducing your sunscreen amount because everything feels heavy, first consider leaving out an extra serum, rich cream or primer. Change one thing at a time. This helps you find a combination that still feels comfortable with the recommended amount of sunscreen. SPF numbers from different products do not add together.

Remember your neck and the backs of your hands

Your face is not the only area that often catches the sun. Think of the neck above an open collar, or hands on bicycle handlebars or while gardening. Cover these exposed areas too. Work carefully around the ears and along the jaw so you do not leave an unprotected strip.

Washing or drying your hands can remove sunscreen. Reapply to their backs before heading outside again. A high collar or covering sleeve provides protection too. With an open shirt, a different area of skin is exposed; adjust your routine accordingly.

Reapplication, shade and clothing

When spending extended time outdoors, reapply about every two hours, and after swimming, heavy sweating or towelling, following the label. Morning sunscreen is not an all-day pass for the terrace. If you ate lunch outside and plan to cycle later, take a moment to apply your protection properly again.

In strong sun, choose a place under trees or a parasol and wear a hat, sunglasses and covering clothing. Shade reduces exposure but does not remove all UV. On a walk, take the shaded side of the path; at a café, choose a seat that will not remain in direct sun all afternoon. Sunscreen is not a reason to sunbathe for longer.

For exercise, choose water resistance suited to the activity. Follow the label and reapply after heavy sweating or wiping your skin. Our sunscreen and sport guide explains water and sweat resistance in practice. Keep your tube out of direct sun while travelling so it is ready for the next break.

For help choosing between moisturiser, retinol and a medical treatment, read what helps with wrinkles.

Three common questions

Will sunscreen remove existing wrinkles?

Sunscreen mainly helps limit new UV damage and further photoageing. Do not expect existing deep wrinkles to disappear. Comfortable skincare can help your skin feel better; if you want to treat existing wrinkles, discuss the options with a dermatologist. Sun protection remains useful alongside that.

What about autumn and winter?

Make protection a habit when you go outdoors, taking account of the local UV index, time outside and surroundings. A short winter walk is different from a day in snow at altitude. Our autumn and winter guide helps you judge those situations.

Is SPF 50 enough without UVA protection?

Look for both. SPF mainly describes protection against sunburn; UVA protection also matters for photoageing. On European packaging, the UVA logo inside a circle helps identify that protection. The European Commission explains the logo. A higher SPF does not replace applying enough or reapplying.

Protection you are happy to keep using

Give sun protection a place in a routine you can maintain: apply carefully at home, have sunscreen available later, and use clothing and shade outdoors. Our facial sunscreen basics guide brings these steps together.

Soluveli is still in development. We are working on facial sunscreen that fits comfortably into these everyday moments; its final properties still need testing. Visit the Soluveli homepage to learn about our progress. You can also sign up for one message when we launch.