The sun is the single biggest cause of aging skin I cannot stress enough how important it is to avoid sun exposure for the sake of your skin. Chances are that everything you don’t like about your skin ultimately comes from the sun.

The sun breaks down the collagen in your skin, causing it to thin and become less elastic. It can also cause your skin to sag, your pores to enlarge and your capillaries to look more pronounced. More important, sun exposure can be deadly. Let’s look at the dangers and downfalls of sun exposure:

• Melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. In the worst case scenario, sun exposure can cause melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. There are four signs to watch for that can suggest skin cancer: asymmetry in a mole, an irregular border in a mole, variable color in a mole, and a mole that is larger than 5mm – about the size of the head of a pencil eraser. Also, if a mole begins to itch or change suddenly, you should see a doctor.

• Skin discoloration. While some skin discoloration, like moles, can signal melanoma (as noted above) other skin discoloration, while not dangerous, can be unsightly and upsetting. Skin discoloration caused by the sun can include freckles, sun spots, age spots (also known as liver spots) and redness. These all can give your face an aged look. In addition, skin discolorations are hard to treat.

• Wrinkles and thin skin. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can dry out and burn the skin. These rays also break down the collagen in your skin and allow free radicals to form. The thinning of your skin by harmful UV rays leads to the loss of youthful, plump skin and causes fine lines, wrinkles and sagging.

• Elastosis. Extreme sun exposure can radically reduce your skin’s strength and elasticity. This is known as elastosis, producing the leathery, weather-beaten appearance common to farmers, sailors and others who spend a great deal of time outdoors. While most of us aren’t subject to this level of sun exposure, it’s a good reminder of how much damage the sun can do to the skin and the effect it can have on your appearance.

Protecting yourself from sun exposure I recommend that you wear SPF 30 sunscreen protection every day, no matter if you’re going to be indoors or out, and no matter the season. Be advised that sun exposure can occur on cloudy days, too. To make protection easier, I recommend using a day cream with built-in SPF 30 protection rather than a day cream plus a sunscreen. If you do choose to use two separate products, be aware that they dilute each other and that the sun protection averages out to be only SPF 15. In addition to sunscreen, if you are outdoors for any length of time, I recommend wearing protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat. And, although you probably know this, let me also stress the importance of avoiding tanning booths. They are incredibly damaging to the skin, and can lead to skin cancer.