A woman's skin tends to age faster than a man's. In fact, skin ageing accelerates when we reach our 20s. Ignorance makes matters worse - we may be doing further damage by unconsciously committing skin taboos. Find out what these skin sins are, and how you can fight the signs of ageing in 9 steps.

It may come as a total surprise: you look into the mirror one day, and realize how your smile is etching fine lines at the corners of your mouth. It is only natural that we want to look our best at all times, yet nothing can reflect the passing of time better than our skin.

The complex process of skin ageing is confounding, but scientists are beginning to understand the mechanisms of ageing:

What Causes Skin Ageing?
The amount of collagen and elastin in your skin is influenced by the estrogen levels in your body. Collagen production crests then starts slowing down as you progress through each decade. The dawdling rate of renewal of skin cells is why you're seeing the first fine wrinkles on your face.

How We Unwittingly Make Our Skin Worse
Like most modern women, we have our hands full juggling career and family. City stress takes it toll on our skin, as early as when we're in our mid-twenties.

We move through even more skin distress as we aspire to gain success in our lives. While we're keen about eating healthy and staying fit, more often than not, healthy living morphs into yet another tedious upkeep in our hectic life.

Add to this all the assaults on our skin each day by harmful external forces - devastating UV rays from the sun and pollution, as well as internal influences - nutritional neglect, dietary imbalance and alcohol consumption, in some cases, and you've got a recipe for skin that looks 10 years older than it really is! It's called premature skin ageing.