| The Changes in Skin through the decades |
Ageing of the skin
Skin ages:
Each individual will age differently due to their genetic makeup, exposure to the environment, their lifestyle and how well they have cared for their skin. However in general there are naturally occurring physiological changes that occur to the skin in relation to the chronological age no matter what other factors come into play.
TEENS photo courtesy of Martin Walls
Boys seem to suffer more than girls because the skin becomes coarser during puberty and the sebaceous glands in the skin produce a lot more oil in response to the increase in male hormones. Girls however fare better because they produce more of the female hormone oestrogen and this reduces sebum production but during ovulation and menstruation young girls may find that their skin becomes oilier and they suffer from outbreaks of spots because there is a drop in female hormones produced at this time.
Advice Efficient skin care is important to control or prevent these problems. Cleanse the skin at least twice a day using a mild soap and rinse with warm water before patting dry with a disposable tissue. Avoid moisturisers that add more oil to the skin, if you have dry patches use a light moisturiser but only on the dry parts of the skin Use non comedogenic products to prevent blackheads forming and use an spf 15 to prevent damage from Ultra Violet Radiation. It is never too early to protect the skin from sun damage.
TWENTIES
The changes that are occurring are invisible. The lower epidermal layers being affected by UV light and pollution causing damage to the collagen and elastin. Damage is gradual and will not be noticeable for some time. Unless the skin is exposed to the sun and cigarette smoke, the skin's own defence mechanisms are still able to cope with pollutants. Lifestyle is very busy and may include drinking alcohol, smoking and eating out more, often at irregular times and 'burning the candle at both ends'. This may cause the skin to look dull. Advice Make sure you look after your skin no matter how tired you are, cleansing and very gentle exfoliation - maybe a gentle buff with a face cloth. Moisturise with a UV protective, antioxidant rich cream. Vitamin C boosts radiance, stimulating circulation and boosting collagen production, eat plenty of food rich in vitamin C and maintain a healthy well balanced diet. Start having regular professional treatments as it is never too early to help delay the signs of ageing.
THIRTIES
Advice Skin cleansing must be thorough with more regular exfoliation. Your moisturiser should be upgraded to offer other benefits such as increased hydration, UV protection, soothing and calming effects or with added vitamins such as Vitamin A. The neck and eye area will need special care as the skin is thin and mobile and will show early signs of ageing if neglected. Regular professional treatments are advisable. Continue eating a well balanced diet and include the essential fatty acids required to keep skin looking healthy, these are found in brazil nuts, sesame seeds, salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna fish, avocado and dark leafy vegetables.
FORTIES The skin is becoming thinner and drier, hormones are in flux, contours begin to drop and fine lines develop into deeper wrinkles, furrows and creases. Fine lines around the mouth begin to develop causing lipstick to 'bleed' into the surrounding skin. Areas of hyper-pigmentation also begin to appear as well as patches of redness and tiny dilated capillaries. The damage that has been building up in the deeper layers now becomes more evident, skin becomes drier, looks duller and loses firmness. The dermis becomes less elastic causing the pores to look larger even on a drier skin and in some cases the skin becomes sensitive. Advice In addition to your normal skin care routine use special eye and lip care treatments. Change to sensitive products if necessary and use products containing AHA's rather than manual exfoliation, which is too harsh and antioxidants to counteract free radical damage. Sunscreen should be included in all skin care and makeup products. Include plenty of anti ageing vitamins in the diet, particularly vitamins A, C and E. Have regular anti ageing treatments to delay the effects of ageing and stress on the skin.
FIFTIES
Advice User richer cleansers, treatment creams and a night cream, exfoliation is essential but the degree will depend on the sensitivity and texture of the epidermis. Botox and wrinkle fillers are an option, use makeup with lots of light reflecting ingredients, eat a healthy well balanced diet, limit consumption of salt, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods, take regular exercise and get plenty of sleep. Professional, anti ageing facial treatments and anti stress massage will help balance hormones and improve skin condition.
SIXTIES
The skin becomes much thinner as collagen production slows down. There is a greater loss of fat from the subcutaneous layer which contributes to the skin appearing very loose and exaggerating the dropped contours of the face. The wrinkles become much deeper and the pigmentation is very patchy. There appears to be a total lack of sebum present making the skin look, dull, dry and flaky.
Advice A healthy diet and gentle exercise is advisable. Continue with a regular skin care routine using richer formulations and making sure that skin is handled gently, using products, that suit sensitive skin. Special eye and neck creams may be incorporated into the skin care routine, as well as products containing AHA's to refine and hydrate the skin and increase collagen production making the skin look fresher and more radiant.
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Unfortunately for most teenagers they will suffer from spots and blemishes to some degree at some point in their teens. During puberty the hormones are having a major effect on all the body systems but the effects on the skin are obvious for all to see. The skin becomes more oily and this in turn may lead to spots forming. With other hormonal factors an acne skin condition can develop. The skin often looks sallow (yellow toned) and it feels thicker to touch. The spots may be very sore to touch and must be treated gently. 
Skin now starts to look its age as sun damage becomes apparent in the form of wrinkles, dropped contours, areas of hyper-pigmentation and spider veins. The skin will appear far less radiant with patchy skin. These characteristics will be more marked if you have been an avid sun worshipper. The effects of the menopause will now be making an impact on the skin. Loss of oestrogen reduces elasticity and slows down sebum production so the skin becomes very dry. Underlying fat in the skin starts to diminish and this could cause wrinkles to look more evident and the cheeks hollow. 