We know wrinkles make you look old and a fresh dewy rosy glow makes you look young. But there are other, more surprising ways your appearance can age you or shave a fews years off. Here's what might get you called maam instead of miss according to Dr Amy Wechsler MD.

Thick yellow fingernails

You can look five years older: A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery compared bare fingers to ones that were "dressed up" with nail polish and jewelry, and found that naked nails were perceived as older.

That could be because the polish disguised thickness and yellowing, which are "associated with illness, and hence aging," Wechsler explains.

Have them? How to get rid of them: Vitamin and moisture deficiencies make nails look lousy. Wechsler suggests Carmol cream to hydrate, plus a biotin supplement for strength.

Avoid them! "The effect of a bad diet shows up in your nails," Wechsler says. Keep your hands off the junk food and junk food off your hands!

Veiny hands:

You can look seven years older: The same study that determined that nail polish makes hands look younger found that the number one thing that makes hands look older was the presence of prominent veins.

Have them? How to get rid of them: "The veiny appearance is due to a loss of tissue-bone loss, muscle atrophy, fat loss — so the injection of a dermal filler can plump them back up," says Wechsler, who uses Sculptra (off-label) for this purpose. "You can also use a squeezy ball to make the muscles stronger and less sunken-looking."

Avoid them! Staying fit and getting adequate calcium and vitamin A helps with muscle and bone loss.

Chest freckles:

You can look 10 years older. "These are what our grandparents called liver spots and some people call age spots," Wechsler says. But even though they're associated with aging, "they're absolutely a result of sun damage. I've seen 20-year-olds with chests so mottled that they shocked me!"

Have them? How to get rid of them: Retin-A or hydroquinone, a melanin-inhibiting agent can help lighten the brown areas. In-office chemical peels and a new Fraxel laser for pigmentation problems can make a big dent in the dark spots.

Avoid them! "Averting chest freckles is more than just a matter of applying sunscreen when you go outside," Wechsler says. You'll want to wear clothing that covers your chest, and reapply your sunscreen throughout the day."

Large pores:

You can look three years older. Accumulated sun damage can cause the support structure of the pores to sag, making them look wider. Pores are also more noticeable when they're clogged.

Have them? How to get rid of them: "Imagine that each pore is in the shape of a V-wider at the surface," Wechsler explains. In-office treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels, will remove the top layer of skin, eliminating the widest part of the pore and making the opening seem smaller.

Avoid them! "Anything that exfoliates will help keep pores clear and looking smaller," says Wechsler. Try topical retinoids (like prescription Renova or Atralin) and salicylic acid products (like Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy Acid 2 per cent Acne Wash, $35). And of course, always wear sunscreen to prevent sun damage and sagging.

Receding gums:

You can look 10 years older. "Everybody's gums recede" says Michael Apa. DDS, an expert in aesthetic dentistry. "But when gums recede significantly before your late 30s, it can be very aging. Think of it like an 18-year-old guy with a baby face and a receding hairline; it just doesn't look right."

Have them? How to get rid of them: Receding gums can be fixed, but it won't be that easy... or cheap. Your dentist can restore your gum line with AlioDerm grafts at a cost of about US$2,000 to US$3,000. Also, porcelain veneers applied over your teeth will cover up the receded area ($1,000 and up-per tooth).

Avoid them! "There's nothing like a professional cleaning to scrape the microbes out of the gum tissue and keep your gums in shape," Apa says. At home, Apa suggests microbe-killing the Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Mouth Rinse, $7.50. courtesy Redbook bottom one day when we were liming. I was so shocked at the time, I just got up and moved. Later when I confronted her, she admitted the affair and she was bold enough to tell me straight out that it was his choice and that she would continue to be with him for as long as he wanted her."