Why is it that all of us cannot just keep the skin we were born with? Well I've still got my skin but it has changed and, according to my mother, it has changed a lot. It would also need to have stretched a bit, well in my case stretched a lot.

As we get older, things happen to our skin, like wrinkles. I have them but I am a man so I can luckily “get away with it”. As a man, I am not too bothered by a few wrinkles and as long as I keep my skin clean, I do not bother with it much and no one really notices. However, as I age, I have quickly learned that maybe the ladies have some reason when it comes to their intense skincare regimes.

You have to remember that the skin is the largest organ in your body and so, by adopting a skincare program you are looking after yourself in more ways than one. So what can you do about it?

Well to start with, after every shower even after you have dried yourself, your skin is still damp and by applying moisturizer you are trapping moisture into your skin which is a great plus factor. Another one is to drink water and this hydration helps your skin as well. However, if you notice that even after this your skin is always dry and sometimes a little flakey, just visit your doctor to check things out. One other reason you should quickly visit is if there is a major change such as dark, (or lighter), skin patches and any changes or growth to moles you may have. Get these checked out just to make sure you have no problems.

One thing to watch out for is the effect the sun has on your skin. The sun is at its fiercest when it is highest, which is generally at midday, so just take care. Applying a good sunscreen helps, and another thing to take into consideration is that elastin, which is a substance in your skin, breaks down under strong sunlight. This can cause the skin to sag so be careful and preventative.

Rather than buying various skincare products on the market, there is a lot you can do by making small changes in your every day lifestyle to help your skin. Developing your own personal skincare program is key.

Healthy skin is helped by a healthy diet, and a healthy diet is usually a balanced diet containing fresh vegetables and fruit. Both of these have been found to contain antioxidants which can help your skin protect itself from day to day living. To get the best values from fruit and veg though it must be fresh or only lightly cooked. Another important factor in skincare is skin hydration and this is helped by drinking a sensibly amount of water. I have seen it suggested that 4 to 8 cups a day is sensible but if you are drinking bottled mineral water check the chemical makeup of the water as some are high in sodium which means high salt levels.

PRO TIP: Do not fall into the trap that drinking 4 to 8 cups of coffee a day, (which is mainly water after all), is as good for you. Coffee contains plenty of caffeine which helps the body to dispose of water. I had a great idea that I would drink beer instead of coffee as that is mainly water, but drinks containing alcohol, (including wine,) do not class as water either. It does not have to be bottled water either; tap water is fine as long as it is pure and clean. Not at bedtime though as drinking late at night means your body may retain this water causing your skin to stretch a little which is something you likely want to avoid.

Your skin also stretches when you gain and/or lose weight. You will need to exercise to tone your skin into shape again. A younger person has more flexible skin but when you are older your skin is not as flexible and it becomes harder to tone your skin after loosing weight. The answer is not to try and put on weight in the first place - but that is not always easy especially as we get older.

Whatever you decide to do, do some research and find out what will work best for you. One way of doing this is to talk to people in the skincare industry- Whether it be sales people or skin specialists at a local clinic. Although their job is to try and sell you product and/or services, they will still give you knowledgable advice. You could ask your friends as well, as some of them may be able to guide you in the right direction. Whatever you decide to do, good luck.