Always protect yourself from the sun. Make it a habit to wear sunscreen no matter how cloudy or rainy the day is. Reuters file photo

The appearance of wrinkles is one of the main reasons for premature ageing. While your genes do play an important roles, a few simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in keeping wrinkles away, reports The Times Of India.

Whether or not you have a sweet tooth, keep an eye on the sugar that you consume. A diet rich in sugar is also known to cause premature ageing. When your blood sugar levels are high, it damages the collagen in your skin. This damage causes the collagen to harden, which leads to wrinkles and eventually sagging skin. Cut down on sugar in your diet to a minimum.

Always protect yourself from the sun. The worst thing that can damage skin is sun exposure. While the detrimental effects might not be seen immediately, they eventually do show up. Make it a habit to wear sunscreen no matter how cloudy or rainy the day is. A sunscreen with SPF 30 or 45 is ideal for Mumbai. Reapply it every few hours.

Smoking is one of the major causes of skin problems. Not only is it bad for health, it does nothing for your skin as well. Smoking deprives your skin of nutrients as well as oxygen and causes wrinkles near your mouth. Stop smoking and see how your skin goes from dull and wrinkly to healthy and glowing.

Just as you body needs to stay well hydrated, so does your skin. Water is the best way you can ensure that your skin remains healthy and hydrated. This will maintain your skin's moisture levels. You should also include fruits and vegetables that contain a high water content.

Use moisturisers that suit your skin type. Those containing vitamin E or almond oil are good for skin.

Sometimes a change in your eye number can cause you to frown or squint unconsciously. And this causes fine lines and crow's feet. Get your eyes tested once a year.

Your diet also plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy. Ensure that the foods you eat are full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, which keep the skin healthy from within, prevent dehydration and dryness. On the other hand, antioxidants will fight against free radicals that are known to cause wrinkles. Eat oily fish, flaxseeds, spinach and berries.

While stress in unavoidable and inevitable, you must find ways to not let it affect you. Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga and any hobby that calms you down should be a part of your daily routine because experts say that chronic stress leads to premature ageing.