Premature skin ageing and growing old gracefully
To help us learn more about the ageing process and how it affects our skin, Dr Unnati Desai breaks down the lifestyle and genetic factors that can have the biggest impact.
The ageing process
Getting older is part of life. While we can (and should) strive to accept ourselves as we are, for some people, the ageing process can kickstart and amplify negative thought patterns.
This negative self-talk can have a lasting impact on our mental health and even amplify conditions like anxiety and depression.
So, what can we do to better understand and control the process?
Lifestyle factors and the ageing process
Before considering treatment, it’s important to analyse your lifestyle.
There are several lifestyle factors that can cause rapid ageing and make you look older than you are. Skin treatments and products can only do so much, and if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle, they will have a minimal effect on your complexion.
- Smoking: The toxins in nicotine actively damage the cells in your body, causing the levels of collagen (the primary protein in the human body) to deteriorate. This causes the skin to break down, sag, and wrinkle over time.
- Drinking Alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates the skin, leaving your complexion sallow and sunken.
- Poor Diet: A diet rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals can help reduce the effects of premature ageing. Studies indicate that a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables improves the hydration and elasticity of our skin and reduces the presence of wrinkles.
- Stress: It’s no secret that stressed individuals look worn out and fatigued. This is because stress releases cortisol from the brain. Cortisol is a stress hormone which reduces the presence of collagen in the skin.
- Limit Sun Exposure: Prolonged exposure to UV rays can cause significant damage to our skin, making us look older than we are. Click here to learn more about the impact the sun can have on your skin.
- Poor Sleep: The myth of beauty sleep may not be a myth after all. Studies indicate that a lack of good quality sleep may make your cells age faster. Poor quality sleep is also associated with drinking alcohol and smoking, which exacerbates the effects of a night out on your skin.
The power of prevention
The most important factor for maintaining a youthful appearance is prevention. Treatments and surgeries are not a substitute for making positive and healthy lifestyle choices before issues arise.
Taking positive action early in life with regards to diet, sun exposure, smoking, and alcohol consumption will help prevent serious illness and keep the wrinkles at bay as we age.
Spotting the early signs of damage
Many of us are unhappy with the way our skin looks because of damage that has occurred over many years.
In cases where there is visible damage to the skin, consulting a dermatologist or similar healthcare professional before acting can be wise. Because skincare products often contain chemicals, it can be difficult to self-prescribe without knowing what’s best for your skin. A general practitioner can also help prescribe a suitable treatment that works for you.
Looking after your skin the right way
If you are addressing wrinkles or surface skin damage, medical-grade prescription skincare products can help combat the cosmetic effects of skin ageing. They contain active ingredients to counteract dry or rough skin and fine lines or uneven pigmentation. Professional skincare products can also exfoliate the surface layer of skin to stimulate new collagen growth.
Wrinkle-relaxing injections and dermal fillers can also reduce early signs of ageing without the need for surgery. While these treatments are widely available, there are advantages in having them administered by a medical professional who properly understands the anatomy of the face and can ensure the best outcome for you.
Treatments for ageing skin
When your skin has become loose and deep with wrinkles, surgery can be the most effective treatment.
Nuffield Health offer a range of surgical procedures that can help you feel better about your skin, including:
- Eyelid Lifts: Brighten the appearance of your eyes by removing any excess loose skin that creases around the eyelids.
- Browlifts: Restore your eyebrows to their original position, greatly improving the appearance of heavy, sagging, or tired-looking eyes.
- Facelifts: Reposition and tighten the skin and its supporting tissue along the jawline, cheeks, and neck. The type of facelift you choose depends on the area you want treated and the effect you wish to achieve.
The importance of diet
If you’re wondering about how you can tweak your diet to improve the health of your skin, you’re not alone.
One of the easiest changes you can make to your lifestyle for better skin health is eating a healthier diet. A diet that’s low in processed, sugary foods and high in minerals, vitamins, and nutrients promotes the growth and regeneration of collagen in your skin.
Treatment tips and tricks
It’s important you feel comfortable with your chosen treatment before you meet with a consultant. You should also shop around for a consultant you feel comfortable with before you commit to a treatment. Investigate their work and ask as many questions as you can.
Most Consultant Plastic Surgeons will see patients at least twice before surgery to guide them through their options and have them understand exactly what they are trying to achieve.
Growing old gracefully
Whilst research and developments in the field of dermatology are great for those of us who want to use treatments to rejuvenate our skin, it’s important to remember that none of us can completely reverse or halt the ageing process.
No matter how much money, time, or access to treatments we have, there is nothing we can do to avoid growing old. Our skin will age naturally and at a certain rate no matter how well we take care of it.
Treatments are a great way to restore and revitalise our skin, however, they should not be used as an attempt to alter appearance or to try and reverse the natural process of ageing.
Last updated Monday 2 December 2024
First published on Monday 27 July 2015