Although many people say that wrinkles come with the blessing of a long life, many of us prefer to keep "character lines" at bay. As we get older, we lose collagen and elastin, which gives our skin its firmness and elasticity. As a result, our skin becomes looser, weaker, and less elastic. The fat pads under the skin disappear and as the skin sags, we get wrinkles.

"I view wrinkles as a badge of wisdom instead of a beauty blunder," Dr. Ellen Kamhi, Ph.D, aka The Natural Nurse and author of "The Natural Medicine Chest" tells Newsmax. "However, if you would like to slow down the development of wrinkles, there are ways to keep your skin more youthful looking from the inside out."

Dr. Kenneth Beer, a noted dermatologist from Palm Beach, Florida, and the creator of top-of-the-line skin care products, recommends "religious use of good skin care" and the use of antioxidant creams to minimize the appearance of wrinkles.

Here are five top tips to help prevent wrinkles:

1. Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water is paramount to keeping your skin smooth and to remove toxins that cause wrinkles. Invest in a high-quality water filtration system for your home or office in order to drink plenty of pure water.
2. Eat healthy fats. We all know that consuming omega-3 fatty acids found in wild fish and walnuts are good for cardiovascular health, but they are also an excellent way to keep your skin cells plumped and smooth.
3. Avoid sun damage. Dr. Beer says that smoking, over exposure to the sun, and the use of tanning beds are extremely unhealthy for your skin.  In fact, experts say that sun damage accounts for 95% of our wrinkles. Use SPF 30 or more when venturing outdoors or wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face.
4. Practice good skin care. Dr. Tony Youn M.D. recommends applying a retinol cream first and foremost. "It's the flagship product in my personal skin care line," he tells Newsmax. Youn also recommends applying vitamins E and C topically to help reverse wrinkles and reduce the appearance of fine lines as well as uneven pigmentation and spottiness.
5. Try light chemical peels. You can opt for a chemical peel at your dermatologist to stimulate skin repair. Beer uses Fraxel laser therapy in his office to resurface and stimulate new skin growth and help renew new skin cell growth. "For patients with more damage, we use the CO2 laser to do a deeper peel. I like this because CO2 really does a nice job of tightening the skin." You can also find products at pharmacies and beauty supply distributors that contain alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid and lactic acids, which are substances derived from fruit and dairy products. However, these products may have side effects that include burning, blistering, or redness, so proceed with caution, trying a small patch test on your skin before applying the cream or lotion to the entire facial area.

"There are so may things to do to prevent wrinkles or minimize their appearance that I would encourage you to see your dermatologist to map out a plan you can live with to look and feel your best," Beer tells Newsmax.