Skin Care through the Ages

It used to be that women would declare loyalty to a skin care routine and its required products year in year out. Wash your face, moisturize, put on makeup and you were done. Now drugstore aisles, department stores, online shopping sites, medical spas, dermatologist and plastic surgeon offices are filled with products for cleansing, toning, blemishes, acne, smoothing wrinkles, firming skin, plumping lips, getting rid of crow’s feet and lifting eyelids.

With so many advances in skin care products, procedures and technology, you can adapt your routine to address your skin’s changing needs through the years. The truth is there will be changes in your skin. Some good while others not so good. However, one thing is for sure, with all the product and treatment advancements in today’s world, most of them can help improve aging skin. And if you haven’t been doing anything to take care of your skin, it’s never too late. Here’s what to look for as you age through the years.

The 20s

The earlier you start practicing healthy skin care habits, the better off you will be as you get older. Stay away from smoking. No laying out in the sun or tanning beds. Follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and maintain a steady weight. Use broad spectrum sun protection daily of at least an SPF of 15 (SPF 30 is ideal).

Enjoy youthful, beautiful skin in your 20s. Unless your skin is very dry, don’t overly use moisturizers and treatments. If you’re still breaking out, go see your dermatologist and/or use a safe and effective regimen specifically formulated for adult acne such as the UNBLEMISH regimen.

If you are opting for procedures and treatments to enhance your appearance in your 20s, laser hair removal, microdermabrasion and facials are popular for 20-somethings. During these years, it’s not so much about wrinkles as it is about prevention and enhancing your appearance.

The 30s

In your 30s, you are probably going to start seeing some fine lines and wrinkles. Elasticity will start to diminish. You may also start to see some uneven skin tone, redness, dark spots or a combination of both. Prevention is very important in your 30s, so you should consider adding a retinol treatment and/or alpha hydroxy acid to your routine. Skin care products with these ingredients in them can help to reverse some of the damage that has already been done.

You may want to consider Botox or fillers, not because those lines are deep but because they aren’t yet. If getting injectables scares you, you can go for a needle-less option such as Acute Care patches. They contain 98% hyaluronic acid and 2% peptides in an advanced liquid cone technology patch. If your Mom has deep lines between her eyebrows or lip lines and she doesn’t smoke, then chances are you could get them too. These options can help prevent you from getting those little creases and laugh lines. Once they appear, you can diminish them but you can’t reverse them. And men…this applies to you too! Men are becoming more vain and also partaking in these procedures and treatments in today’s world.

The 40s

It’s all about skin sagging, loss of collagen and elastin in your 40s. Make sure you give your body 8 hours of sleep a night so your skin has a chance to repair itself. Also, now is the time to add additional anti-aging skin care products to your routine. Exfoliating your skin 2-3 times a week along with using a retinol or retinoid treatment can help speed cell turnover. In your 40s, using a safe and effective anti-aging regimen consistently is so important to skin care maintenance.

If you’ve abused your skin and feel you need a treatment at the doctor's office, Ultherapy is an option. It is non-invasive and helps lift skin on the neck, eyebrows and under the chin with ultrasound heat and helps improves lines and wrinkles on the décolletage. Thermage is another treatment option that helps tighten skin around the eyes, jowls or your body using radio frequency. Kybella is a treatment that melts fat when injected into the chin and stimulates the skin to retract up. There are also laser and IPL treatments that can make reddish-brown damaged skin look more flesh-toned in color. IPL treatments also help with rosacea, little red veins and skin redness from menopause and hot flashes.

An at home alternative treatment that can help with skin firmness and fine lines is the AMP MD roller system. This microneedle roller with its patented 192 microscopic stainless steel needles creates channels in your skin to help products penetrate better and encourages natural collagen and elastin production. When used with the REDEFINE regimen, clinical studies show there is a 40% improvement in visible skin firmness.

The 50s+

Wrinkles, skin sagging, skin tags, brown spots, dullness, peach fuzz…it may seem as if your entire face and body are turning against you. Botox can help lift droopy brows, put volume back in a receding chin or help with jowls. Your dermatologist or skin specialist can remove skin tags. Fillers also help add volume to sagging skin. But don’t overdo it or you can look unnatural.

Even if you regularly get fillers, injectables, chemical peels, laser treatments, facials or have had a face lift, maintaining your skin on a daily basis with safe and effective products is still so important in the long run, especially in your 50s and beyond. Invest in a regimen that works for your specific skin type and issues. Maintain a simple but effective morning and nighttime routine to ensure you're doing everything you can to take care of your skin, regardless of having any surgeries, procedures and treatments done.

Popular Cosmetic Procedures by Age Group

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, among the 14.2 million cosmetic minimally invasive procedures performed in 2015, the top 5 were as follows:

• Botox: 6.7 million procedures
• Soft tissue fillers: 2.4 million procedures
• Chemical peel: 1.3 million procedures
• Laser hair removal: 1.1 million procedures
• Microdermabrasion: 800,340 procedures

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the 35-50 age group accounted for the most surgical AND nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in 2015. Here is a breakdown of the age groups:

• Age 35-50: 40.4%
• Age 51-64: 30.2%
• Age 19-34: 17.5%
• Age 65+: 10.2%
• Age 18 and under: 1.7%

Average Cost of Several Cosmetic Procedures

RealSelf.com provides online patient reviews and patient Q&As. According to RealSelf.com, Kybella averages $800-$1,000 a treatment, with 2-4 treatments needed to see results. Ultherapy cost varies by area of the face or neck, but the average cost is $2,750. Thermage cost also varies by body part, but averages $1,000 or more per treatment. IPL treatments vary from $350-$600 per treatment, again depending on body part. Botox costs around $10-$15 per unit. Average cost per area ranges from $300-$550 with results lasting anywhere from 3-6 months. Restylane average cost is $750 with results typically lasting 3-6 months.

Even if you are getting procedures done, maintain your skin on a daily basis with quality skin care products. Again, this is still so important for your skin in the long run. Investing in safe and effective skin care products that produce real results should cost you $600-$1,500 a year on average.

I think it's safe to say that when it comes to taking care of your skin, the earlier you start, the better off your skin will be. However, later is still better than never!