Youth is one of the most elusive qualities of life. It is given to us freely at birth but over time slowly ebbs away. It seems that no matter what we do to try to hold onto it, it slips through our fingers like water. From the moment we take our first breath we actually begin the aging process; however, the signs of it do not always become evident at the same time for everyone. Usually around the age of 30 we start to see evidence that life has taken its toll and our youth is fading.

The first signs usually appear around the corners of our eyes with those fine lines that tell the tale of a life well spent. From then on we launch ourselves into a regimen of treatments that seem to defy the natural order of things. While most people believe that aging and wrinkles is just a part of the natural order of things, researchers have discovered some very effective ways to slow down and sometimes even reverse the signs of wrinkles around our eyes. According to Robin Ashinoff of WebMD,

Many women as well as men believe that aging skin is inevitable, but with the information and technologies we have today, you really can look as young as you feel.

While few people can put off the aging process indefinitely, there are some very definite ways that you can at the very least slow down the process and in some cases even reverse it. Just some simple, natural steps can help to eliminate those first signs of aging that have begun to appear around your eyes.

Avoid the Sun

Researchers have discovered that the number one cause of wrinkles in most people has been overexposure to the sun. Even more important than heredity, sun exposure has been found to put a lot of wear and tear on the skin's condition and sometimes cause irreversible damage.

The facts have shown that there are two different types of wrinkles that can form around your eyes: expressive and static. Expressive wrinkles are the tiny little "crow's feet" that form at the corners of your eyes. They are usually not noticeable until you smile while the static wrinkles that form underneath the eye are usually always visible to the onlooker.

90% of these wrinkles have been discovered to be secondary to excessive sun exposure that causes a breakdown of the skin's collagen and elastin in the skin. This breakdown is not the result of squinting in the sun but from the effects of the sun on the skin's ultra thin layer around the eyes. Notice what The Skiny explains about these eye wrinkles,

The three most common causes are sun, sun and sun! Other causes are trauma to the eye area (rubbing and pulling), a history of atopy (also known as allergies), genetics (look at your mother), fluid retention and thyroid disease.

This doesn't mean that you need live like a hermit and never go outdoors however simple steps like wearing sunscreen, a hat, and making sure that your skin is properly hydrated can actually protect you from getting skin cancer and prevent the development of wrinkles at the same time.

Don't Smoke

Another cause of those unsightly eye wrinkles is sometimes associated with our bad habits. One of those is the practice of smoking. When a person is exposed to the toxic smoke that is left behind by cigarette smoke it releases an enzyme that can cause damage to the skin's collagen and elastin. These two ingredients are the major components the skin uses to give it its youthful look and helps it to recover from other damage much more quickly. According to MSN Healthy Living,

Nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn't get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin.

Without the collagen and elastin in your skin it will lose strength and pliability causing the sagging bags and wrinkles under the eyes leading to premature aging.

Your Diet

It has been brought out repeatedly that your body needs natural antioxidants like vitamins A and E to be able to repair itself. Our skin is a natural healer and given the chance will work hard to heal itself. However, without the proper tools to do its job it may not be able to recover from all the exposure it receives.

The skin around the eye is second only to the skin around the genital area in thinness and needs even more protection than the rest of your body. This is why it is also the area that will show the very first signs of aging before any other region of the body. A diet high in nutrient rich foods like fruits and vegetables can help to ward off the damage your skin receives from exposure to free radicals. This will help your sun to show that natural glow that is only associated with youth.

Your diet also needs to be rich in protein and essential fatty acids - both major building blocks for good skin. One of the best sources for these proteins and essential fatty acids is a regular intake of cold-water fish like salmon, soy products, cocoa, fresh fruits, berries and vegetables. You also want to make sure that you stay well hydrated so that your skin is moisturized internally as well as externally.

It doesn't matter what age you are when you first begin to see the signs of aging appearing around your eyes. Eye wrinkles are for most people the first indicator that we are not indestructible and life will eventually take its toll on us. Still, by taking practical steps to care for our skin we can be very effective in slowing down the process and delaying those signs for a time.

For many fighting the battle against aging is ongoing but it doesn't have to be a losing one. Taking these practical steps to treat your skin the right way will bring you many happier and youthful years to come.