Skincare tips for every age

The skin is the largest sensory organ of your body. As we age, our skin suffers natural wear-and-tear, just like the rest of our bodies. You might notice signs such as wrinkles and age spots, as well as thinning and sagging of the skin. There are a variety of factors that can affect how your skin ages, such as your lifestyle, diet, genes, and personal habits such as smoking and excessive drinking.

“Ultraviolet rays are the main cause of ‘extrinsic’ ageing, so sun protection and using a sunscreen of SPF30 daily should be part of your daily regime even in your 20s. Smoking also accelerates the ageing process by reducing your body’s ability to make collagen and also causes wrinkling,”

How Will You Age?

In his book, Your Future Face, New York City dermatologist, Dr Dennis Gross, explains how to foresee your beauty destiny. He suggests making notes of the particular risks that seem to apply to you, so that you can create a customized skincare plan targeting your skin’s vulnerabilities.

“Want to stay youthful? Try to avoid these top five bad habits as they can age your skin faster than you’d think.”

It is never too soon to start taking preventative steps against ageing. There are specific skin concerns that we need to pay more attention to during particular decades of the ageing process. Here are some tips you can look out for:

Your 20s

At this point in your life, your skin is the best it can be. However, for some people, acne may occur due to a combination of blocked hair follicles, excessive oil production and bacteria. Symptoms include open and closed comedones (white and blackheads), painful inflamed spots that may occur on the face or upper body.

Your skin is still young, but environmental factors can prematurely age your skin (especially the sun!)

Your 30s

In your 30s, your skin may begin to show the damage based on your past lifestyle and skincare habits. Coupled with decreased cell turnover and a dip in estrogen levels, you may notice that your skin has become uneven and dull. Areas around the mid-face and chin will become more angular and slimmer due to the loss of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.

Your skin may look dull and lifeless because the natural process of exfoliation stops. More water is lost = drying skin & a decrease in your skin’s natural protection barrier.

Your 40s

So long, estrogen. During this decade, expect less firmness, elasticity and moisture, leaving you with sunken-looking eyes and laxity of skin. Your face will also start losing more subcutaneous fat around mid-face, temples and the front of the ears. The thinning of the epidermis on your skin may lead to more pronounced lines and wrinkles, and a drier complexion.

Signs of damage are more visible: age spots, freckles, discolouration, and uneven skin tone. Your skin may lose more moisture.

In your 50s and beyond

In your 50s, you will find that your skin has lost its moisture and glow due to menopause. Your skin will also be more vulnerable to sun and pollutant damage. If you have not been strictly following a good skincare regime, you may also find that your skin will start to sag and become droopy, accompanied with sun spots. Wrinkles and fine lines seen in your 40s will also become more pronounced.