Skin Care at 20, 30, 40, 50 and Beyond

Introduction

As we age, the skin loses collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, resulting in wrinkles and sagging. The skin also loses moisture and natural oils and combined with years of facial expressions, sun exposure and other factors such as smoking or poor diet, the results can include deep lines, creases, folds and age spots. The cell renewal rate also slows down, resulting in a build-up of dead skin cells and dull-looking skin.

Even those who have had beautiful skin in their teens and twenties will need to change their skin care regime as they age. What was effective in your youth may no longer work in your thirties or forties and by the time you reach your fifties and sixties, everyone will require an intensive moisturizing routine to combat age-related dryness and loss of elasticity.

Skin Care in Your 20s

A good skin care regime should begin as soon as possible and that includes protecting your skin from the sun, which is responsible for 90% of skin damage and wrinkles in later years, not to mention life-threatening skin cancers. Amazingly, many young people are still in pursuit of deep suntans and only four in 10 young women wear sunscreen. Many still visit tanning salons and one in four young people admit to using sunbeds. Sunbeds are not a safe way to tan. It takes just 15-30 minutes on a sunbed to be exposed to the equivalent amount of UV light that you would acquire from a day on the beach.

After the hormonal upheaval of the teenage years, many people find that their skin settles down in their twenties, although some may still suffer from acne and problems associated with oily skin. Towards the end of their twenties, many women experience increasing dryness and possibly the formation of fine lines forming around the eyes.

It is important to help keep you skin hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day (not including soft drinks, tea and coffee) and wearing a moisturizer formulated for your skin type twice daily. However, one of the best things that you can do to maintain beautiful skin is to stay out of the sun, avoid smoking and avoid consuming too much alcohol.

Skin Care Tips:

" Follow a basic skin care regime of cleanse, tone and moisturize, using a gentle exfoliating product once or twice a week, depending on your skin type
" Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Protecting your skin from UV light at this age will prevent problems later, including premature aging and skin cancer
" Use a cream or gel especially formulated for the eye area, which is too delicate for heavy facial moisturizers

Skin Care in Your 30s

The 30s is the time when many women first begin to notice the appearance of lines around the eyes, laughter lines either side of the mouth, expression lines across the forehead and frown lines between the eyes. The depth of these very much depends on ethnicity, skin type and how much sun exposure you had when you were younger.

Collagen and elastin begin to break down and most skins become drier more quickly. After a night of sleeping on your face, any creases that form during the night will take longer to disappear and will not spring back into shape as quickly as when you were in your teens and twenties. Under-eye puffiness may also become an early morning problem, but sleeping on your back rather than you side helps to minimize this. It is also important to get enough sleep, since our bodies and skin are no longer so forgiving of late nights and sleep deprivation. Again, depending on past sun exposure, your late thirties is the time when age spots and spider veins begin to show.

As you skin becomes less resilient and more prone to aging influences, your skin care regime needs to be adjusted accordingly. Even if you suffer from oily skin, it can still be dehydrated, something that will be apparent if you have fine lines and wrinkles.

Skin Care Tips:

" Begin using a good night cream in addition to a richer, daily moisturizer
" Try using products that contain low concentrations of Retin-A or glycolic acid. Retin A (also known as Tretinoin) is an acid derivative of retinol, or Vitamin A. When applies very sparingly to the skin, it produces a superficial peel of the upper skin layers, revealing smoother-looking skin. It also improves blood supply to the skin and an increase in the turnover of dead skin cells
" Try to get at least 8 hours sleep a night, one of nature's best beauty aids

Skin Care in Your 40s

The 40s is the time when fine lines become deeper and fat begins to bulge through the muscle beneath the eyes, creating bags, although this often depends on hereditary factors too. Some women will begin to experience peri-menopausal changes, which include noticeably dry and sensitive skin, larger pores, a slight crêpy appearance on the neck and possibly an increase in facial hair. This is due to acceleration in the breakdown of collagen and elastin and an increase in androgen hormones. Age spots and spider veins may become more noticeable and abundant. Because the skin is less resilient at this age, any excessive weight loss over too short a period of time may lead to saggy skin, because of loss of elasticity.

Since skin can change quite dramatically in your forties and from year to year, it is a good idea to readdress your skin care regime and the products that you at least twice a year.

Irrespective of skin type, everyone in their forties should be using a rich night cream.

Skin Care Tips:

" Some women may benefit from estrogen supplements and find that this makes their skin more supple and reduces dryness
" Try using a cream that contains AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHA (beta hydroxy acid). Alpha-hydroxy acids are found in all types of fruit, which is why they are often referred to as fruit acids. That is why they are referred to as fruit acids. AHAs have an exfoliating action, stripping away dead skin cells and accelerating skin cell regeneration. They also act as a humectant, absorbing moisture from the atmosphere and keeping the skin hydrated
" Give skin a weekly intensive moisturizing treatment by using one of the many products now available on the market.

Skin Care in Your 50s

Once you reach your fifties, the speed with which your skin loses its elasticity accelerates enormously, with a significant reduction in the production of collagen and elastin. Wrinkles and deep folds may develop as a result of reduced estrogen production around the time of the menopause, which causes the skin to become thinner and more fragile. Those who haven't noticed it before, may find that they develop "jowls" where the skin on the cheeks sags and hangs down either side of the chin.

Skin can range from normal or combination to very dry. A minority of people will still suffer from oily skin occasionally, but this is rare.

Any sun damage will be very evident at this age, with age spots increasing and deep lines etched in the cheeks as well as around the eyes and mouth. The eyelids may also have developed a crêpy appearance, rather like the surface of a raisin. However, you can still protect your skin from further damage by avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, never sunbathing and always wearing a high sun protection factor cream, even in the winter months. If you have looked after your skin, then these signs may be less apparent, although some influences such as hormonal changes and illness are largely beyond our control.

Skin Care Tips:

" It is extremely important to take extra care of your skin now. It is more fragile and prone to bruising and injury, also taking longer to heal itself
" Use a sun block all year round either together with your usual moisturizer, or incorporated into your moisturizer or foundation. Many brands offer skin care products with an SPF factor
" Exfoliate once a week with a very gentle exfoliator
" Use rich creams and night creams containing a high proportion of oil and always use a cream especially formulated for the eye area to reduce puffiness
" HRT and Estrogen Replacement Therapy, despite the controversy over safety, does help to restore and prevent the loss of skin's support tissue and elasticity, improving thickness and texture. However, there are alternatives to HRT, such as herbal remedies
" It is important to check birthmarks, moles and spots regularly, particularly if you have had extensive exposure to the sun over the years. If you notice any changes, consult a doctor immediately

Skin Care After 60

Dry skin is the most common type of skin after the age of 60 and itching can become a problem. Patchy pigmentation and age spots are often very noticeable and wrinkles and expression lines have become etched into the surface. Skin texture no longer has a dewy feel or appearance, but this is also the time when past influences and hereditary factors will make their mark. Fair skinned people and those with dry skin are more likely to suffer from signs of aging than those who have been blessed with darker or oilier skin. Whilst oily skin brings its own problems, people who suffered when they were younger are likely to have fewer lines and wrinkles when they reach this age, especially if they have followed a good skin care regime.

Skin ages very rapidly from the mid sixties onward, with many people developing skin lesions or growths, most of which are harmless. Nevertheless, some may be early signs of skin cancer and should always be seen by a doctor.

Elderly people are more susceptible to skin diseases such as shingles and seborrheic dermatitis, a disease that causes flaking of the skin and usually affects the scalp.

Skin Care Tips:

" Sun blocks and emollients containing lactic acid can help to protect very fragile skin
" Avoid harsh soaps and cleansers at all costs
" An exfoliator is not recommended at this age, since the skin can tear easily
" Retin-A, AHAs and BHA may be useful, since they remove dead skin cells without scrubbing and can stimulate the production of collagen, but should not be used if you have very sensitive skin
" Using skin care products containing generous quantities of antioxidants may be beneficial
" Some people may wish to consider more invasive cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels, lasers or surgical facelifts

Conclusion

Not everyone's skin ages at the same rate. We have all seen women who seem to defy the aging process, even without surgery, whereas others look ten years older than their biological age. Our genes are partly responsible for the speed with which our skin ages, but we can do a great deal to stall the process by avoiding too much sun, not smoking, not drinking to excess, eating a healthy diet, taking regular exercise and keeping our skin moisturized.

 

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