The Ultimate Guide to Aging Skin: Tips and Treatments for Every Decade

When you're in your twenties, the last thing on your mind may be aging skin. However, the truth is, the choices you make today will shape how your skin looks and feels in the years to come. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you on a journey through the decades, exploring the evolving needs of your skin and the steps you can take to maintain a youthful complexion. From battling dullness and acne in your twenties to addressing fine lines and pigmentation irregularities in your thirties, forties, and beyond, we'll provide expert insights and recommendations to help you put your best face forward at every stage of life. So, let's dive into the world of skincare, from your carefree twenties to the graceful wisdom of your fifties, and discover the secrets to radiant and resilient skin.

Skincare Tips for Your 20s

It’s no secret that at age 20 you likely aren’t thinking much about aging skin, but the facts are you are already on your way and what you do daily to take care of it will certainly impact how you look throughout the decades. In your mid to late 20’s the biggest concerns tend to be dullness, acne and starting to look a bit tired. This is the time to make sure you have started a good skin care routine at home. You should also make sure you use sun protection to defend your skin not only from the rays from the sun but also those that come from other light sources such as blue light from laptops and smart phones. Protection should be worn daily even on days that you spend entirely indoors, or the sun is hidden behind dark clouds on a hazy day.

Understanding Skin Renewal and Care

Cell renewal rate averages at about 28-40 days and continues to slow over time. A baby’s skin looks so fresh and vibrant because of the fast rate of renewal (14-18 days) due to the fact, they are growing and developing so quickly Over time this process slows and our skin is renewed with fresh new cells at a much slower rate resulting in a more dull and dehydrated appearance.

This is a good time to introduce mild exfoliation treatments and home care products such as AHAs to gently slough off dead skin and encourage new skin cells to move up more quickly. Also using a daily antioxidant serum in the morning, under sun protection, offers additional protection against environmental damage which accelerates the signs of aging by triggering negative chain reactions that lead to collage degradation and pigmentation irregularities.

Professional Skincare Treatments in Your 20s

Professional treatments at this stage may include facials with enzyme exfoliation, LED light therapy for acne, AHA peels, HydraFacials, dermaplaning and even minimally invasive EMatrix Sublative resurfacing.

Facial Contouring, Fillers, and Natural Features

Living in an age of selfies and influencers certainly leads to facial contouring services using dermal filler to correct one’s facial shape and add definition to perfect facial features. Keeping in mind less is more, natural looking facial features are always the most attractive. Neuromodulators are used to slenderize the face by relaxing masseter muscles or soften a frown line between the brows. These are also used for a lip flip to add volume to the lips.

This is the time to develop good self-care habits that include very good skin care, getting enough sleep, destressing, exercising, making smart food choices as close to whole as possible and absolutely understand that everyday lifestyle choices including drinking, smoking or sun tanning, may not show up immediately now, but they certainly will later.

Skincare Tips for Your 30s

In our 30’s the effects of environmental damage may begin to show more obviously with the formation of fine lines and some pigmentation irregularities showing brown and red spots on the skin. Cellular turnover continues to decline and is impacted by the diminishment of collagen and elastin production.

Advanced Treatments in Your 30s

This is typically when we see people having neuromodulators to soften fine lines in the glabella and forehead area, more advanced resurfacing procedures like fractional lasers to soften lines and improve the appearance of the skin’s texture and tone.

Microneedling is also introduced during this time, to stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, also known as collagen induction therapy. LED light therapy is also ideal to stimulate collagen production and can be done in conjunction with microneedling. IPL, also known as photo therapy, is an excellent treatment to diminish pigmentation irregularities and redness in the skin.

I also suggest adding a Vitamin A serum to your evening skin care routine to stimulate cell renewal and the fibroblast cells to synthesize collagen to regenerate the skin. Eye cream is essential to help with lymph drainage and to keep this thinning skin hydrated and smooth.

Skincare Tips for Your 40s

In our 40s we will start to see the loss of fat in the subcutaneous tissue which results in the hollowing in the cheeks and orbital eye area. Dermal fillers can help to naturally restore the loss of volume while radio frequency can also help to lift, tighten, and tone. IPL treatments continue to keep the skin free of pigmentation irregularities, while resurfacing treatments soften the lines and wrinkles.

Maintaining Skin Vitality in Your 40s

As we age, dermal levels of ATP decline and create an energy deficiency, thereby affecting skin appearance. ATP is effective in providing anti-aging protection, as well as skin-moisturizing and soothing properties. Microcurrent is an excellent option to stimulate ATP and keep cellular functions at an optimal level. Regarding your skin care routine, stimulating sluggish cell activity is key so adding additional peptides and stem cells are helpful in regulating declining cell activity.

Navigating Skin Changes in Your 50s

In the 50s we will now experience hormonal changes. As estrogen levels decline skin continues to lose volume and take on a thinner appearance, decreased collagen and elastin resulting in increased lines and wrinkles, increased dryness, and the slowing down of many processes including wound healing and oxygenation of the cells.

Combining modalities in one treatment is ideal during this stage, for example offering Radio Frequency with needling and Fractional resurfacing. IPL for irregularities in pigmentation and tone. Dermal fillers restore lost volume, and neuromodulators relax muscles that cause wrinkles but can also alter one’s expressions. Such as marionet lines and flaring nostrils. Skin care can include the addition of hydrating serums to boost the loss of moisture due to menopause.

Comprehensive Treatments for Your 50s

Maintenance facials should always be part of all facial pre-juvantion and rejuvenation programs as they offer exfoliation, hydration, nourishment, stimulation, and repair combined with stress reduction. We can all benefit from a minimum of one hour each month for this type of self-care and pampering with a purpose at the spa. Relaxing quiet time before and after your treatment is very beneficial by allowing stress hormones to turn off so your body can rejuvenate.