BATHING suits or low-cut tops will soon be the next eye-catching scene as summer returns and you definitely want your skin to be a smooth and age-spot-free as possible.

Take these steps and have your back ready and look younger this summer:

* Use a back scrubber. Every day, gently exfoliate and cleanse all the areas of your back that you wouldn't be able to reach without a long-handled brush. Go easy so you don't harm your epidermis, but be thorough. Rinse completely and then pat dry rather than rubbing.

* Use sunscreen and moisturizer. Because you don't see telltale wrinkles and age spots on your back very often, you may ignore that area. Get into the habit of treating it just as well as you do the rest of your body like the face and neck.

* Eat a calcium-rich diet. Avoiding the hump in your upper back as you age has a lot to do with keeping your bones strong. Experts now say that calcium supplements are not protection against osteoporosis and may even cause it. However, foods with high calcium content are very good for bone health. Make sure you have servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt every day. Other good choices: broccoli, apples, berries, and nuts.

* Take vitamin D. The Mayo Clinic recommends a dose of vitamin D no higher than 250 micrograms daily. According to the Institute of Medicine, there is reliable evidence to support the use of vitamin D for strong bones. Be sure to read the label on your multivitamins and take the amount of vitamin D into account when choosing a supplement. Also, your body makes its own vitamin D with some daily exposure to sunlight.

* Tone your back. Here's a simple way to get an elegant rear view: Raise both arms over your head and let your upper arms touch your ears. Now, find the muscles in your back that pull your shoulders down and back so that your arms can no longer touch your ears. Hold to the count to 10. Release to the count of five. Repeat four times and build up to ten times for each daily session.