Glow up!

Ana Cotham

It’s something we’ll all confront. “There are no hard and fast rules about aging skin,” says Dr. Christie Carroll, a dermatologist at Woodland Healthcare. “It happens in different degrees and at different speeds, depending on genetics and multiple external factors.” But generally speaking ...

20 to 30 something

Post-teenage acne and pre-wrinkles, our skin is likely to look its best in our 20s—but it’s also when the visual aging process begins. Heading toward and through our 30s, that healthy glow begins to fade as the skin’s ability to retain water and produce collagen (that gives skin its firmness and elasticity) decreases. There is also a minor depletion of oxygen, and possible hyperpigmentation (discoloration). Compounding the process are external stress factors such as previous sun damage, excessive nicotine or alcohol use, lack of a proper diet or exercise and exposure to pollution or environmental toxins. Note: If you sunbathed frequently in your earlier years, you likely have more advanced damage.

30 to 40 something

Our skin continues to become drier and thinner, and deeper lines begin to form as underlying fat tissue breaks down. “Sun damage increases the rate of collagen and elastic fiber degradation,” says Carroll. “We start to see more permanent laugh lines and crow’s feet. The fewer collagen and elastic fibers you have, the earlier you notice these changes.”

50 to 60+

“Volume loss usually becomes significantly noticeable in the 50-60s,” Carroll says. “As elasticity decreases, gravity starts to have its effect.” The skin’s texture is visibly less smooth, with more wrinkles and discoloration, such as lentigines, more commonly known as age or liver spots. The skin cells’ turnover is slower, and so is recovery from any damage such as cuts and sunburns. To add insult to injury, the drop in estrogen production during menopause causes the skin’s oil glands to decrease, so oil production decreases—making the skin even drier, thinner and less elastic, especially around the eyes and neck. Recent studies have shown that thanks to the decrease of collagen and elastin levels, women’s skin tends to age faster than men’s. (We just can’t get a break, can we?)

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