The Single Most Important Thing for Anti-Aging Skin Care
There is nothing more important to slow the facial signs of aging than to protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreen is put to the test in a randomized controlled trial to see if it can actually slow skin aging.
Spoiler alert: The single most important thing? Wear sunscreen. The next two videos go into more detail: Does Sunscreen Cause or Prevent Skin Cancer? ( ) and The Best Type of Sunscreen to Use ( ).
I did a lot of research on skin aging for my new book, How Not to Age ( ). Some of that research has also come out in videos:
• What Is the Most Important Anti-Aging Cream Ingredient? ( )
• Topical Retinoids to Reverse Skin Aging ( )
• The Benefits of Topical Niacinamide for Reversing Skin Aging ( )
• The Benefits of Topical Vitamin C for Reversing Skin Aging ( )
• The Efficacy, Safety, and Side Effects of Botox and Facelifts ( )
• The Efficacy and Safety of Fillers, Chemical Peels, and Laser Skin Resurfacing ( )
• What Causes Wrinkles? ( )
I also recently answered the question whether Collagen Supplements Work for Skin Aging ( ).
New subscribers to our e-newsletter always receive a free gift. Get yours here: .
Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it.
UPDATE: We are currently testing the removal of the comment section across all video pages until October, and it will either be reinstated thereafter or removed permanently based on the results. Please feel free to continue your discussions by commenting on our YouTube channel and social media accounts, where we will have Health Support volunteers available to address questions.
Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at . You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics.
Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
Captions for this video are available in several languages; you can find yours in the video settings. View important information about our translated resources:
• Subscribe:
• Donate:
• Podcast :
• Books:
• Shop:
• Facebook:
• Twitter:
• Instagram:
🌞 Blessings ❤️🔥
I believe this…I always wore makeup with spf and was told it wasn’t enough, didn’t do anything, well, let me tell you…every little bit helps. Now I use spf under makeup and in makeup, and sunglasses.
Brainwashed by the skincare industry
Reminds me of a song… Wear sunscreen. 😊
I wear a wide-hat and long sleeves every day, plus sunscreen on my hands and face on bright days, also polarized glasses any time the sun is shining or the clouds are bright. I work outdoors year around-I wish I’d taken these measures as younger person. I started seeing the sun damage on my skin 10-15 years ago. I’m 57 now.
I only take off the long-sleeves/roll-up after 4pm. Sleeves at the beach too. They now make brim extenders for hard hats (when I need to wear one of those). Shade is the ticket.
You want to hear the odd part: ALL the Mexican guys/gals working on these jobs use long sleeves and big hats to protect their darker-than-mine skin. NONE (very few) of the guys with skin light as mine (Scottish origins) use any protection at all, some go sleeveless, some don’t wear hats, some don’t wear sunglasses–These folks will pay.
This is great. However sunscreen should also be applied on non bright days aka cloudy days. Uva penetrates through clouds and windows
Terrible advice. Increased sun exposure is strongly correlated with decreased all-cause mortality. Look up the studies yourself. Don’t get burned. But try to get consistent moderate sunlight daily if possible. Sunlight exposure benefits go beyond increased vitamin D levels as well. Following Dr Greger’s advice on protein and sun exposure will make you unhappy, pasty and weak. It’s no coincidence that all the blue zones are in areas with plentiful sun exposure
Maybe consider sun protective clothing. I’ve read that cotton only protects only a little and you still get a lot of exposure through the clothing. There are some great companies that only make sun protective clothing and you can do layers or just a long sleeve over a regular t-shirt, and of course full length pants.
@@Maggie-zr2ow My shirts are SPF rated.
not–OMG never in this humidity- cotton.
What about your vitaD? Moderated sun exposure is cancer protective too
Please give guidance on what sunscreen to use. It’s hard to find one that doesn’t have bad chemicals. I find mine on the EWG app, but it takes a long time and the one I used last year didn’t seem to give much sun protection.
Ignore ewg and their scare tactics on ingredients.Dr dray recommends many sunscreens on her channel. Her advice is to find the sunscreen you enjoy using and applying
I highly recommend zinc oxide mineral sunscreen (SPF50), it stays on even in water and I find I actually enjoy putting it on, compared to the ‘chemical’ sunscreens which never worked for me OR I was allergic lol, but always ended up red
He’s covered this.
@@adamlee3333 I was going to say the same! A key ingredient, according to my dermatologist, is the zinc oxide. The actual brand I found and like is Seaweed Bath SPF50 at Natural Grocers.
01:56 We need some clarification on the NIR wavelengths that cause skin aging, because research in photobiomodulation indicate that NIR wavelengths of up tp 850nm promote skin health, reverse aging, reverse wrinkles, etc.
I was thinking the same thing
It is my understanding that “red light” is different than NIR? Interested in learning more though. However, imo it doesn’t change the basic premise: sunscreen!
Wonder the same. Red/NIR light photons cannot directly break the normal biochemical bonds – unless in tricky combinations made for photosynthesis, retinal sensing etc.
Maybe some effect via thermal heat by high intensities.
@@xcast1 red light is not supposed to emit heat in thought
You ignored reapplication! However, yes this is a great start for everyone myself included
Thanks Doc!
Good advice as usual!
@Dr.Greger I am interested, if there was a difference in the incidence of skin cancer in both groups. Thanks!
The general rule for safe sun exposure that will produce Vitamin D:
Light complexion – 15 minutes
Medium complexion – 30 minutes
Dark complexion – 60 minutes
Vitamin D is produced by UVB rays which are available outdoors between 10am – 2 pm. UVA rays cause the most skin damage and can penetrate glass.
I’ll take a few wrinkles and skip the sunscreen.
Or you can just take your vitamin D supplement and not become a old looking fella and develop melanoma, how about that?
@@sidilicious11take a few skin cancer, and skip ot 🤣
@@user-zg2bx4oz2phealth over modern beauty concepts
I started using parasols, they also protect a little from the heat here in Florida 🌴☀️
It’s unfortunate that reducing sun exposure prevents signs of aging. Because Sun exposure seems to be the only thing that keeps my acne at bay. And I already use prescription topicals like tretanoin!
So, as an FBA only thing I notice living mostly in Houston and walking in the sun 2 to 3 hours daily, plus doing track and field practice in the sun 1 to 2 hours 2 to 4 days per week is that my skin is darker. Albeit, I was in DFW in 2020 and Houston since 2021 and Houston is much hotter.
Could be humidity that’s the factor?
I only got sunburnt once in my life and that was in DFW pre-walking daily 2 to 3 hours. I had almost fainted, was dehydrated and soccer player gave me water. Was so out of it, I couldnt even go faster than a slow walk before my vision darkened and feeling lightheaded that day.
Since then, all I did was slowly ramp up my exposure to the sun. I purposely do my training during the hottest part of the day, since my competition could be during that time. Otherwise, walking is random, like going to the store instead of driving or catching a bus.
Just sharing my thoughts
Thank you so much <3
my skin secret is beta carotene eating loads of raw greens and carrots, and also avoiding monosaccharides including fruit and high carb grains/starches as well, and also avoiding salt, alcohol and caffeine. And equally important as what goes in, is getting it out the other end efficiently/ sufficiently.
Can you do a video on photo bio modulation and anti aging?
Bit harsh on the trucker with the batman villain comment lol
The trucker will flip a coin to decide Dr. Greger’s fate.
I agree, my fella wasn’t that bad
I’ve gotten badly burned while wearing sunscreen. So instead, I started taking polypodium leucotomos capsules daily, adversely as a kind of oral sunscreen . I also found one study indicating that it fights skin cancer. After taking it for a year or so and not getting sunburned, I also realized that the actinic keratosis on my hands had disappeared in spite of continued sun exposure
Never heard of this before!
Thank you for mentioning that, the resesarch seems interesting.
My mum’s been saying that the sun ages the skin for 50 years. I’m glad I’ve sort of partially followed her advice.
I use titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as white pigment on my linseed paint that I use on the external 140 year old oak window frames.
Maybe I should paint myself with this, whenever I go out on sunny days?
😆🤔