Dermatologists have long prodded their patients to apply more sunscreen, claiming it not only protects against skin cancer, but aging as well.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, looked at 900 people under 55 and discovered those regularly using sunscreen were less likely to have increased skin aging after 4.5 years -- even those in middle age.

"Those who even had a good amount of sun damage had an improvement in the aging of the skin,"says Dr. Doris Day, who was not associated with the study.

Now there's evidence to prove it.

"As dermatologists, we have been saying for years and years, use SPF every day all year round. I always say, if you don't need a flashlight to see outside, you need protection."

In a new study, Australian researchers report that people who apply sunscreen every-day show 24% less skin aging compared to participants who only used sunscreen part of the time.

The study comes out just in time for summer and coincides with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new sunscreen regulations.

The European Commission started requiring these label changes in 2007.

The new guidelines also mandate that products include directions to reapply regularly and prohibit brands from claiming on their labels that their sunscreens are sweat proof or waterproof.

After a few delays, major manufacturers are now required to distinguish between which brands and products can be labeled "broad spectrum", meaning they protect against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays.

The new regulations were highly anticipated and arguably long overdue.

But the new requirements are far from perfect. Thank you.

It's a major move in the right direction for American skin protection, since skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U. S.