We’re told that our skin is the body’s largest organ. Because skin is on the outside of our bodies, it’s not protected like our other vital organs. Our skin is very durable as it sheds and re-grows. With time it ages and becomes weathered and due to fluctuations in our size due to weight gain or loss and pregnancy, our skin can be left with stretch marks and wrinkles.

While these marks aren’t going to hurt us in any way, they can be unsightly. In a world where people want to hang onto their beauty and youth for as long as possible, stretch marks aren’t considered our friends. They can make us too self-conscious to wear a bathing suit or shorts and remind us of how fragile our skin actually is.

If you want to hang onto your youth for as long as possible, take care of your skin. It’s exposed to the elements while it does a very important job of helping to protect your other vital organs. Here are some tips to help you take good care of your skin and keep it looking young for as long as possible:

• Eat well. Eat healthful foods. After all, you are what you eat
• Stay hydrated. Hydration through food and drink will keep your skin elastic
• Antioxidant foods, supplements and skincare products can help your skin fight free radical damage and antioxidants really are like the fountain of youth
• Sun protection. Use sun screen to protect your skin from UVA and UVB damage
• Use decent skin care products. Wash off cosmetics and carefully decide which products to use on your skin for moisturizing, for acne, for anti-aging and for fighting stretch marks.

Time won’t stand still but you can hang onto your youthfulness a bit longer when you take the time to care for your body’s largest and only visible organ.