Two different aging processes affect how our skin looks: chronological aging and photoaging.

How much photoaging you experience depends on your skin phototype and the amount of time you spend absorbing UV rays. Prolonged or repeated sun exposure can cause skin damage like:

Prescription medications

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several prescription medications that are clinically proven to slow or reverse some of the effects of photoaging. These anti-aging, anti-wrinkle,creams, serums, lotions, and gels are called topical retinoids.

Retinoids are synthetic and naturally occurring forms of retinol (vitamin A) that are about 10 times more potent than retinol. Topical retinoids and retinol can have similar anti-aging effects by boosting skin cell turnover, but retinoids tend to work faster because they're prescription-strength.

Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments

Countless companies promote the anti-aging properties of their cosmetic products. But because face lotions, eye creams, moisturizers, and serums aren't technically drugs, these claims aren't regulated by the FDA. Informally known as cosmeceuticals, many of these drugstore products contain active ingredients that clinical research has shown to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, boost skin elasticity, and even out skin tone.

Here are some of the more vetted OTC ingredients you can look for on cosmeceutical labels:

In general, vitamins, polyphenols, and flavonoids are considered antioxidants that work by neutralizing the free radicals that cause oxidative stress in our bodies. Retinols and peptides are considered cell regulators that work by influencing collagen production.

Other therapies and procedures*

The following cosmetic therapies and procedures can also reduce the signs of photoaging in skin, although they tend to be more expensive and invasive:

How your skin ages is largely determined by your genes and your skin phototype. For example, people with darker skin tones (phototypes V and VI) might start seeing the effects of photoaging 10 or 20 years after their peers with lighter skin.

But sun exposure, smoking, and air pollution can all accelerate the natural aging process. Can you delay aging? Research shows that it's possible to maintain a more youthful appearance by taking the following steps: