Summer’s here, and the sun is hot as Jessica Alba eating Jello off of Keira Knightley’s bare swashbuckles (is that a word?). Yes, you’ll be able to show more skin and get a tan, but it also means you’re investing for some battered wrinkly leathery iguana skin once you hit your latter years. According to SkinCarePhysicians.com, the sun can really wreck your skin worse than jet fuel wrecks your liver.

Without protection from the sun’s rays, just a few minutes of exposure each day over the years can cause noticeable changes to the skin. Freckles, age spots, spider veins on the face, rough and leathery skin, fine wrinkles that disappear when stretched, loose skin, a blotchy complexion, actinic keratoses (thick wart-like, rough, reddish patches of skin), and skin cancer can all be traced to sun exposure.

See, spending too much time in the sun really will turn you into a human iguana with polka dots. So unless you want to be that old guy with the skin that matches a pair of old leather shoes, take some care of that epidermis. Here’s some tips from SkinCarePhysicians on how to prevent nasty old person skin.

Dermatologists recommend comprehensive sun protection to prevent premature aging caused by the sun. Comprehensive sun protection includes:

* Avoiding deliberate tanning, including use of indoor tanning devices.
* Staying out of the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest.
* Wearing protective clothing, such as a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeves, when outdoors during the day.
* Applying sunscreen year round. Sunscreen should be broad spectrum (offers UVA and UVB protection) and have a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors to all skin that will be exposed. It should be reapplied after sweating or being in water.

Just putting on some lotion with some SPF goodness will help keep your skin from getting pounded from behind. So in recap, yes it’s summer, yes it’s sunny, yes Keira Knightley is the hot, but if you don’t take some preventive measures now, you’re gonna be a pruney leathery sack in your later years.