Believe it or not, there is a magic number that many skincare experts agree upon as the time that a person starts aging, and that number may be lower than you'd expect...
According to Joanna Czech, the esthetician behind Kate Winslet, and Christy Turlington’s skin, the aging process starts around 29. “That’s about the age that collagen fibers start losing their elasticity,” Czech says.
While 29 is the generally-accepted number that marks the beginning of the aging process, lifestyle and genetics, as well as diet and sun exposure, can change everything — and so can a good anti-aging routine!
Understanding the skin's aging process can help inform your decisions about how best to care for it. We've compiled a guide to aging by decade to help you along! As we age the structure of our skin changes. This is mainly due to the amount of collagen and hyaluronic acid in our skin decreasing. Collagen and hyaluronic acid acts as the scaffolding and building blocks to healthy plump skin, so when we age our levels decrease, causing the signs of aging to become more visible. As the scaffolding in our skin weakens, fine lines and wrinkles appear, along with gradual sagging and volume loss.
And believe it or not, it all starts in our 20s! Here’s how to detect and deal with the early signs of aging and the top regimen tips and non-invasive cosmetic treatments for your ever-evolving skin:
Your 20s - A time of management & prevention.
What your skin is doing:
Even youthful skin requires nourishment and preventative measures in order to determine how your skin will appear when you are in your 30s, 40s and post-menopause. A greater understanding of the aging process means people in their 20s are taking better care and seeking preventative action. The rate at which our skin produces new cells is at its peak during our 20s creating collagen and elastin. This gives the skin its plump and firm appearance however cell damage may have begun through a combination of other factors such as poor skincare, UVA and UVB exposure, genetic influences, pollutants, poor diet and hormonal changes.
How to adjust your Anti-Aging Routine:
First and foremost, wear SPF! It's so important in maintaining the skin you have in your 20s and protecting against pigmentation and wrinkles. During these years identifying problems, addressing immediate areas of concern and starting long-term preventative regimes is key. Mild forms of exfoliation, like Peels and Hydrafacials are recommended for clear, healthy skin. Laser treatments like Clearlift and Photofacials can be helpful in treating discoloration, sun spots and loss of firmness.
Your 30s - Aging becomes evident.
What your skin is doing:
You are likely to begin to see the first visible signs of aging in your 30s, caused by the reduction of new skin cells being produced, thinning of the skin, a noted reduction in skin hydration and thickening of the outer layers of the skin. Skin may appear wrinkled, lined, dull and with uneven tone. Other skin imperfections such as rosacea, pigmentation, red veins and milia often become more pronounced.
How to adjust your Anti-Aging Routine:
A combination of treating visible issues together with a program to prevent further damage and aging is required. The 30s are the time to start using Botox. Non-invasive laser treatments like Ultherapy or VShape that stimulate the production of collagen should also be considered at this stage. For loss of volume, or smile lines dermal fillers are recommended.
Your 40s - Active aging.
What your skin is doing:
The majority of women will become more aware of visible signs of aging and of their own inner aging process as the pre-menopausal years begin. Volume is lost firstly in the upper face, and structural changes present in the mid-face, such as volume loss in the cheeks. Skin elasticity starts to breakdown in the lower face and neck causing crepey skin and lines.
How to adjust your Anti-Aging Routine:
A combination of treatments is advised including resurfacing, volumizing and defining to rejuvenate at a deeper level. It is also recommended to incorporate Retinol into your regimen at least three times a week, and use Fillers in the lateral cheeks to help beef up lost volume. To target fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, uneven texture, superficial pigmentation, vascular redness or scars, try Laser360. These treatments support natural skin rejuvenation by augmenting new elastic fibers and remodeling collagen reversing the signs of premature aging by promoting collagen production and stopping fine-line wrinkles and other skin imperfections in their track. Continued use of Botox or Xeomin will keep crows feet and forehead wrinkles at bay.
Your 50s - Menopausal aging.
What your skin is doing:
In the menopausal and post-menopausal years the aging process is accelerated more rapidly than any other decade. Superficially skin elasticity, hydration and tone visibly deteriorates. This can be improved by skin resurfacing treatments complemented by an intensive skincare regime. Loss of moisture is a huge issue in your 50s, thanks to hormonal changes. Eyes will definitely see significant changes—think crow’s feet, crepiness, puffiness, and dark circles—and facial skin may become depressingly saggy, especially as the decade progresses.
How to adjust your Anti-Aging Routine:
At a deeper, more fundamental structural level, the facial shape changes, which can be remedied by non-invasive remodeling techniques like Dermal Fillers or NovaThreads. This redefines the facial shape and restores hollow and sunken areas. At this age, if one hasn’t already done so, it will likely be time to address the cumulative effects of sun damage such as brown spots, crepey eyelids, fine lines, and wrinkles. We recommend VShape to eliminate signs of aging on the face, hands and body. Some patients might also consider CoolSculpting fat-freezing technology to deal with stubborn fat and/or Kybella for addressing under-chin fat. Laser treatments—such as Clearlift can address fine lines and wrinkles on the face. while firming and tightening delicate areas around the eyes & mouth, neck and chest. Ongoing Botox or Xeomin injections to treat wrinkles is also a must.
Your 60s & Beyond - Post-menopausal aging.
What your skin is doing:
Gravity is the biggest contributing factor during these years. Cell renewal and repair has decelerated, fine lines and wrinkles are deeper, veins are more prominent, skin has thinned and become more translucent. Skin healing is impaired by a significant reduction in collagen production leaving the skin weakened and lax.
How to adjust your Anti-Aging Routine:
A subtle combination of resurfacing and contouring treatments are recommended to have an immediate visible impact as well as stimulating collagen production. Volumizing dermal fillers can help lift and correct mid-face volume loss, and restore fullness to medium and deep facial wrinkles, such as smile lines, marionette lines, nasolabial folds and chin wrinkles, and other sunken areas, such as your cheeks and temples. Ultherapy is recommended to help tighten and lift the skin of the face and neck, making it a good alternative to a traditional facelift. The ultrasound energy contracts the muscles and deep tissue and stimulates the body’s own collagen to grow and strengthen, enhancing the scaffolding that supports the skin, and resulting in tighter, smoother, more lifted skin. Continued use of Botox or Xeomin will soften horizontal lines across the forehead and perpendicular frown lines between the brows, crow’s feet, nasal squint lines, and lines around the neck.
Let Cosmetic Laser Center help you address the signs of aging.
However well one prepares for the inevitable aging process, there is no skincare fountain of youth. That’s not to say that prevention and proactive skincare regimens aren’t key to slowing down the signs of aging. Through treatments including wrinkle-relaxing injections and dermal fillers, as well as non-invasive laser skin treatments, Cosmetic Laser Center can help you choose the right advanced cosmetic treatments to achieve natural results, so you look and feel better than ever... no matter what your age!
Schedule your Free Consultation today!
